1998 Volkswagen Cabrio Owner Complaints

1998 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO GLS FRONT WINDSHIELD HEADER HAS RUSTED AND NO LONGER CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER HAD TO INCUR THE COST OF HAVING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE DEFORMITIES IN THE WINDSHIELD HEADER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS NO LONGER SAFE ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A ROLL OVER SINCE THE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT. THE SUPPORT WAS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND A VEHICLES FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT.(LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT) *JB

NHTSA ID

10290674

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

MANUFACTURER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR CAN LURCH FORWARD, FROM 1ST GEAR TO 3RD GEAR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A BAD TRANSMISSION (CAR HAS ONLY 46,100 MILES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE, AND SHOULD BE WARRANTY, AND REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN IF THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD).*AK

NHTSA ID

10116479

Incident

Mar 6, 2005

Mileage

46,000 mi

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PLACED OIL INTO THE VEHICLE, AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE, AND NO OIL WAS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10106868

Incident

Dec 3, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP RIPPED ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB.....THE DEALER STATED THIS CAR OF DIFFERENT YEARS WAS RECALLED. CONSUMER FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF SAME TEAR/RIP IN RAG AT SAME SPOT. THE MATERIAL THE ROOF WAS MADE OFF DISTINTEGRATED A SA FEW YEARS WENT BY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOISY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BY NOT HAVING A SECURE ROOF. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101500

Incident

Nov 22, 2004

CONVERTIBLE TOP SHREDDING. HUGE RIPS ALL OVER IT. CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED IN CALIFORNIA. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD LIKE ME TO OBTAIN AN ATTORNEY OR PAY FOR HALF THE REPAIR COSTS. HOWEVER, THOSE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIRS REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093640

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

1) NO KNOWN EVENT LEADING TO THIS RADIO SYSTEM FAILURE. 2) RADIO SUDDENLY AND INEXPLICABLY MOVED FROM NORMAL 'ON' TO MAXIMUM BLARING VOLUME WITH NO ONE TOUCHING IT... AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED, TURNED OFF, OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY. RADIO CONTROLS HAD NO EFFECT, EVEN TURNING OFF THE AUTO AND REMOVING THE KEYS DID NOT SHUT OFF RADIO. DRIVING SUDDENLY BECAME DANGEROUS AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AS THE NOISE WAS DEAFENING AND TOTALLY DISTRACTING. I COULD NOT HEAR MY TEENAGE SON IN THE SEAT NEXT TO ME (NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING)... BUT COULD SEE WELL ENOUGH THAT HE WAS LAUGHING HIS HEAD OFF (AN ANNOYING IRRIATATION THAT DID NOT HELP!) :) AFTER 15 - 20 MINUTES AND SOME MILES OF TORTURED DRIVING, THE RADIO WENT SILENT ON IT' S OWN. 3) NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088869

Incident

Aug 29, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

WITH LESS THAN 75000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE DEFECTIVE WATER PUMPS REPLACEMENTS. THE SERVICE MAN AT VW HAVE COMMENTED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A BAD DESIGN AND WARRANTED THE PART. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY LONG TERM SOLUTION. I HAVE LOGGED A TROUBLE TICKET WITH VW AMERICA REQUESTING THAT THEY PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OR EXTEND THE WARRANTEE BEYOND 100000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072938

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

IN REF TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V026000 THE VW DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THIS RECALL AGAINST MY 1998 VW CABRIO. I CHECKED THE SUPPLEMENTAL RECALL LIST FILED WITH NHTSA DATED JUNE 2, 2003 AND FOUND THAT MY VIN [XXX] IS INCLUDED. HOW CAN I GET VW TO HONOR THE RECALL? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10066129

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOES UP AND THEN GOES BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN. YOU MUST HOLD THE UP BUTTON FOR THE WINDOW FOR IT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE AN AUTOMATIC UP AUTOMATIC DOWN WINDOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032947

Incident

Jan 30, 2001

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE TOP ON MY 1998 VW CABRIO HAS DRIED OUT AND IS CRACKING DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING IN THE VINYL USED FOR THE TOP. VW HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW 3 OTHER OWNERS LOCALLY WITH THE SAME EXACT YEAR/CAR/PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028751

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY TAN-VINYL CONVERTIBLE TOP BEGIN TO CHEMICALLY BREAK-DOWN AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY VW OF AMERICA THAT I WAS PAST MY WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE TOP CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE OVER TIME. I HAVE FOUND 15 OTHER 1998 CABRIO OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL THESE 98 CABRIOS WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DE MEXICO PLANT BETWEEN 11/97 AND 10/98 AND HAVE ALL EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE WEATHER AND THE SUN. VW TOLD ME WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR THAT THE TOP WOULD BE GOOD FOR OVER 150,000 MILES AND I WAS RECENTLY TOLD MY A VINYL MANUFACTURER THAT THE MATERIAL VW USES ON THE CABRIOS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS. THE POBRLEM IS NOT SIMPLY AN AESTHETIC ISSUE. MANY OWNERS TOPS HAVE BEGUN TO RIP AND THE GLASS IN THE BACK OF THE TOP IS COMING OUT. EVEN MY TOP HAS BEGUN TO TEAR. CHEMICAL EXPERTS SAY SOMETHING THAT WAS USED ON THE TOP DURING PRODUCTION HAS CAUSED THE POLYMERS TO LEECH OUT OF THE PVC IN THE VINYL WITH EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. AND AS THE VINYL CONTINUES TO WEAKEN WE HAVE LESS MATERIAL KEEPING OUT WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE TOP WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY BARRIER FOR DIRVERS AND PASSENGERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE . I EVENTUALLY WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SEACOAST VW, AND THEY LOOKED THE CAR OVER AS DID THE VW DISTRICT MANAGER AND THEY OFFERED ME 50 PERCENT TOWARDS THE TOP REAPLACEMENT. SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $600 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR A DEFECT THAT ORIGINATED WITH VW. I HAVE VARIOUS AND NUMEROUS DOCUMNETED INFO OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH IF NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

764141

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED, DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH RELAY UNIT WAS THE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566623

SCREW SECURED FACTORY WHEEL WEIGHTS CREATE LEAKS IN COLD WEATHER WHEN TIRES COLD CAUSING RAQPID DEFLATIION AND SEPARATION FROM RIM. THOUGHT IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT UNTIL IT HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL (RIGHT REAR WHEEL) AND EXIT FROM HIGHWAY. TIRE DISINTEGRATES FROM HEAT WITHIN 10 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH THESE WEIGHTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

757120

IGNITION SWITCH OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AND WAS MAKING REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

897162

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF AND ON AND SO DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

865957

DEALERSHIP DID NOT REMOVE SHIPPING COVER TABS FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP, CAUSING BLACK MARKS ON VINYL TOP, AND MAJOR WATER LEAKAGE

NHTSA ID

718794

Incident

Jul 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELING 60MPH, HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND WENT INTO MEDIAN. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO A STOP. SEAT BELT DIDN'T WORK. NOTICED THE PROBLEM 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE. ALSO, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

855838

Incident

Jan 24, 2000

I DO NOT HAVE WITH ME NOW THE EXACT DATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AT HOME THAT I CAN REVIEW AND UPDATE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW SEVERAL TIMES FOR BOTH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (FAILURE TO ACCELERATE) AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE MUFFLER CAME APART. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON REPEATED OCCASSIONS AND HAVE NOT TO DATE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND THE BBB. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILIAR COMPLIANTS WITH EITHER THIS VEHICLE (CABRIO OR GOLF)? RECALLS? TECHNICAL BULLETINS?

NHTSA ID

712915

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

706082

Incident

Apr 13, 1999

CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LITTLE BIT, AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO VERY MUCH SO I THEN PRESSED HARDER AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP RESULTING IN HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR DEFROSTER INOP, LACK OF POWER WHEN SHIFTING INTO 1, 2, AND 3RD GEAR, FINALLY GET POWER WHEN GOING ABOUT 60MPH, E-BRAKE WOULD STICK AND COULD NOT GET IT DOWN, WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR,

NHTSA ID

706080

Incident

Apr 13, 1999

RADIO OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA ID

609958

Incident

Dec 1, 1998