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1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
19853
198611
19876
19889
19898
1990
Compare all Cabriolet years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
4Engine And Engine Cooling
2Structure
1Suspension
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Structure complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Structure

IN DEC. 1999 THE FRAME OF MY WIFE LANETTE PARKS CABRIOLET WAS CRACKING AND SPLITTING WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR ABNORMAL DRIVING EVENT TO CAUSE IT. THE FRAME SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THEY SEE THIS QUITE OFTEN ON VW RABBITS, GOLFS AND CABRIOLETS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FRAME. APPARENTLY THEY ADDED A METAL SUPPORT BAR BETWEEN THE…

Read full complaint

IN DEC. 1999 THE FRAME OF MY WIFE LANETTE PARKS CABRIOLET WAS CRACKING AND SPLITTING WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR ABNORMAL DRIVING EVENT TO CAUSE IT. THE FRAME SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THEY SEE THIS QUITE OFTEN ON VW RABBITS, GOLFS AND CABRIOLETS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FRAME. APPARENTLY THEY ADDED A METAL SUPPORT BAR BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT WHEELS THAT VW INCLUDES ON THE SPORTY GTI MODELS, BUT ELIMINATES ON THE CABRIOLET. WHY THIS IS DONE IS BEYOND ME, THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS TO SAVE MONEY ON MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718623

Official recalls

2

94V065000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Apr 8, 1994

A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE THE FUEL TANK IF THE DEFECT IS PRESENT.

91V201000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Nov 18, 1991

A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULDCATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE FUEL TANK IF DEFECT IS FOUND.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

EA91054 · Heater Core Failure

Opened Dec 9, 1991 · Closed Jun 12, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available

EA91016 · Gas Tank Leaks

Opened Feb 28, 1991 · Closed Nov 27, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE91007 · Gas Tank Leaks

Opened Oct 29, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available