RoadVitals

1995 Volkswagen Cabrio Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
15
Latest Mar 5, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine422.2%
  • Brakes316.7%
  • Visibility211.1%
  • Electrical211.1%
  • Interior & seats211.1%
  • Body & structure15.6%
  • Fuel system15.6%
  • Airbags15.6%
  • Driver assistance15.6%
  • Transmission15.6%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THEN KICK BACK ON. ALSO, IF SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ENGINE WILL STALL. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, BUT CANNOT REPRODUCE THIS DEFECT TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID 889554 · filed Jun 1, 2001

I WAS DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 65 MPH AND VEHICLE SURGED, LOSS OF POWER. CONTINUES TO DO THIS 10-15 TIMES A WEEK. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID 729676 · filed Aug 31, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH W/SPEED CONTROL ON; HAD TO BRAKE; SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE; ABS BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. STEERED TOWARDS A HILL TO SLOW DOWN. HAD 2 FLATS & AXLE BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER & NOT DOING ANYTHING TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 815262 · filed Jul 28, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR LEFT BRAKE DRUM SPLIT IN HALF WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO FLY OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 810945 · filed Apr 14, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLES TRUNK HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN, THE KEY AND LOCK ASSEMBLY APPEARED DEFECTIVE. *SCC

NHTSA ID 567845 · filed Nov 14, 2002

WINDOW MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID 604093 · filed Nov 4, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AT COLD STARTS THE HEAD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. *JB

NHTSA ID 10015231 · filed Apr 4, 2003

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING (ALWAYS UPHILL, WITH ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, AND USUALLY IN 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 30 MPH) THE ENGINE (AND POWER STEERING) SIMPLY CUTS OUT (TACH DROPS TO ZERO). IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART IT BY PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH AND TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED A FUEL RELAY AND CONDUCTED THE FULL 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND IS A LEMON-LAW BUYBACK ('COURSE THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT UNTIL I HAD MY HEART SET ON BUYING IT). AS I DRIVE 20 MILES EACH WAY ON A VERY CURVY ROAD WITH FEW TURNOUTS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, THIS PROBLEM POSES A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE FUEL GAUGE IS UNRELIABLE AS WELL, BUT THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES! *AK

NHTSA ID 724335 · filed Jun 21, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER/FUEL METERS AT NIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ID 10060490 · filed Mar 5, 2004

THE VEHICLES TRUNK HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN, THE KEY AND LOCK ASSEMBLY APPEARED DEFECTIVE. *SCC

NHTSA ID 567845 · filed Nov 14, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BOTTOM CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE FRAME TOGETHER HAS COME LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID 978184 · filed Jan 25, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR WANTS TO STALL WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND RUNS VERY ROUGHLY, AS THOUGH IT MIGHT JUST STOP RUNNING UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL WAS EMPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID 723027 · filed May 22, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOBILE REPAIR DEALER THAT COMPUTER FOR AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING, AND THEREFORE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN IMPACT. *AK

NHTSA ID 877801 · filed Jan 9, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH W/SPEED CONTROL ON; HAD TO BRAKE; SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE; ABS BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. STEERED TOWARDS A HILL TO SLOW DOWN. HAD 2 FLATS & AXLE BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER & NOT DOING ANYTHING TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 815262 · filed Jul 28, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AUTO TRANS FAILS TO SHIFT. TRANNY REPLACED AT 40K MILES. SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WILDLY DURING INCLINES, ACCELLERATION W/ NEW TRANNY. CAR CAN NOT SHIFT, POWER LOST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. TERRIFYING.

NHTSA ID 727728 · filed Aug 13, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .