Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and engine categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 68 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 4 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 5 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 7 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 8 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 9 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 11 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 13 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 14 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 15 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 16 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 17 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 18 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 19 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 20 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 21 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 22 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 23 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 24 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 25 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 26 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 27 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 28 |
| Feb 2021 | 1 | 29 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE FUZEBOX IN THIS CAR IS UNPROTECTED FROM WATER AND CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND ANY TIME WATER MAY LEAK INTO CAR. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO HER BACK IN IT A HOUR LATER IT WOULDN'T CRANK THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED THE FUZE BOX WAS MELTED FROM GETTING TOO HOT DUE TO IT LEAKING THRU THE ANTENNA O TO THE RELAYS FILLING THEM WITH WATER AND THEN CAUSE A DRIP TO COME FROM RELAYS ONTO FUZE AND BURN OUT THE FUZE SLIT FOR THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CAUSED MY CAR NOT TO CRANK AT ALL. THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE A HUGE PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND COAST TO A STOP. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE RETAINER CLIP ON THE END OF THE CABLE THAT SECURED IT TO THE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT LEVER FAILED. . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 07/18/12
HELLO, I CONTACTED YOU ABOUT 2 YRS AGO WITHOUT F/U DUE TO RECOVERY FROM INJURIES. NOW I HAVE MY CASE ON THE DOCKET TO SUE VW FOR FAULTY DISC/HUB ASSEMBLY THAT SEPARATED DUE TO CORROSION. I HAVE THE PARTS AND PHOTOS TO SUBMIT. I INJURED MY RIGHT ANKLE ON JULY 9, 2009 WHEN THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM MY CAR WITHOUT WARNING AND AFTER IT HAD BEEN RECENTLY INSPECTED AND CLEANED BY BRAKE KING. SIMILAR TO THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE RECALL SINCE I OWNED ONE AND HAD THE HUB/DISC ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY STAINLESS STEEL ASSEMBLY. I WISH TO CONTINUE THIS INVESTIGATION SO THAT OTHERS ARE NOT INJURED HEAVEN FORBID. NOW I AM READY TO HANDLE THE CASE IN COURT AND AM PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW TO DEFEND MY CASE AS THE ONES THAT WERE TRIED ON THE JEEP RECALL AND ACCIDENTS. ALSO, IF YOU NEED MORE INFO PLS CONTACT ME. AFTER THE FINAL PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PERM PARTIAL DISABILITY I INCURRED IN THE ACCIDENT I FEEL THAT THIS CASE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED. I AM AN ENGINEER AND AM SURE THE CORROSION CAUSED THE WHEEL DETACHMENT WHICH WAS DEFINITELY A PRODUCT DEFECT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE THE RECORDS OF INSPECTION AND SERVICE OF THE BRAKE INVOLVED WHICH CAUSED DETACHMENT OF MY WHEEL ONLY 5 MONTHS LATER AND IN LIGHT OF THE JEEP RECALLS. HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. THANKS. UPDATED 01/20/12*LJ *TR INJURIES WERE FROM A PREVIOUS INCIDENT. UPDATED IVOQ 03/26/12 THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 99V340000. UPDATED 12/11/12
THIS HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS CAR. WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF WATER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP TEMPORARILY AND I'M UNABLE TO MANEUVER. IF I'M ON A CORNER I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGERS WHEEL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A HUB DISK SEPARATION THAT CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000
I HAVE A 1999 VW CABRIO, WHICH IS THE CONVERTIBLE MODEL OF THE GOLF. THERE IS A RECALL OF VWS BECAUSE OF FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION PARTS. I CALLED VW TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. THEY SAY THAT MY VIN IS NOT UNDER THEIR RECALL LIST. HOWEVER, IN SEPTEMBER 2006, I HAD THE EXACT SAME BRAKE LIGHT MAL-FUNCTION, INCLUDING THE TOTAL MELT DOWN OF ALL THE LIGHTS ON DECEMBER 14, 2006 WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY IN MY STATE. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THE GARAGE USED AUTHENTIC VW PARTS FROM A DEALERSHIP DOWN THE ROAD. MY CABIO HAS THE GOLF CHASSIS BUT CALLED THE CABRIO WHICH IS THE CONVERTIBLE VERSION. ALL MY CAR CARE BOOKS ADDRESS THE GOLF VERSION. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHY VW WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS SAME REPAIR. THE RECALL NOTICES ARE JUST GOING OUT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2006. *JB
1) DUE TO VANDALISM, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE SHOP. I USED THE POWER TOP ONCE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THEN FOLLOWING THAT WINTER, THE POWER TOP FAILED. IT WAS BEYOND WARRANTY ACCORDING TO DEALER WHEN I DISCOVERED THE FAILURE. DEALER WANTS $1200 FOR REPLACEMENT. 2) THE 6 CD CHANGER STOPPED WORKING JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 3) CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INTERMITTENT AFTER A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT IN MARCH 2003. DEALER WANTS $800 FOR REPLACEMENT. 4) THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER BECAME INTERMITTENT IN SEPT 2003. IT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE CONTACTS CLEANED. IT ONLY WORKS ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS, ONLY ON THE FIRST START. ALL OTHER GAUGES WORK ON THE MODULE. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 5) THE RADIO SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING (NO POWER) AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE IN JAN 2004. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 6) THE SMOG PUMP FAILED DEC 2005, AND CHARRED THE HARNESS WIRING. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A SALVAGED SMOG PUMP BY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. DEALER WANTED $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE WAS GAS LEAKING WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVING AT THE RESIDENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEAK WAS IDENTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN ROUTE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Update model year applicability to include 2023.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.