RoadVitals

1996 Audi Cabriolet

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 20, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 8, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Audi Cabriolet, most frequently naming the electrical, body & structure and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical770.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Exterior lighting110.0%
  • Visibility110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V175000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Oct 8, 1997
39,300 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
The risk: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
96V017000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Jan 29, 1996
24,000 units potentially affected
The defect: DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
The risk: SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2007

IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD. CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: TURN SIGNAL FAILURE, A/C FAILURE, POWER WINDOWS FAILURE, HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THESE OCCUR WHEN CAR IS STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10197024
Incident
Jul 18, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Oct 4, 2005

DT: THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE LATCH BROKE INSIDE THE DOOR. ALL THE OTHER MECHANISMS WORKED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON APRIL OF 2005. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE LATCH WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS STILL NOT GUARANTEEING THAT THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10138571
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
96,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 4, 2005

NHTSA RECALL 96V017000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10106724
Incident
Dec 27, 2004
Electrical
Filed Nov 5, 2003

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 96 V 017 000; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS, IT AFFECTS THE WIPERS, RADIO, LIGHTS AND WINDOWS. *PH

NHTSA ID
10022830
Incident
Jun 7, 2002
Mileage
80,317 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES WORK, BUT THE IGNITION DOES NOT START. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK. A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10027109
Mileage
38,900 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 14, 2003

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE STARTER TO "BURN" OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10027122
Incident
Jul 12, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 2001

IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED STARTER TO BURN OUT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
896074
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 2, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS/ LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS/HORN/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
862963
Incident
Jun 2, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-44-08-14

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

AUDI: WHEEL BOLTS REQUIRE TORQUE ADJUSTMENT. TORQUE STICKS AND TORQUE EXTENSION BARS ARE NOT APPROVED BY AUDI OF AMERICA, INC. AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO APPLY TORQUE TO WHEEL BOLTS. ALL AUDI MODELS INCLUDED. *PE

20056243

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB

2012749-2

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOSITURE ACCUMULATION. *PE

9711039701X

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONDITION WITH VEHICLES CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION IS SLOW OR INOPERATIVE. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi Cabriolet by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003500—
2002000—
2001000—
2000100—
1999000—
1998100—
1997210—
1996Viewing820—
1995330—
1994220—
1993010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.