RoadVitals

1989 Volkswagen 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.
9
Latest Mar 20, 2008
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 Apr 8, 1994
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.
3
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 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Volkswagen Cabriolet, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

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
94V065000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Apr 8, 1994
7,500 units potentially affected
The defect: A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.
The risk: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The 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.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
91V201000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Nov 18, 1991
51,000 units potentially affected
The defect: A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.
The risk: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULDCATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE FUEL TANK IF DEFECT IS FOUND.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA91054ClosedEngineering Analysis

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Opened Dec 9, 1991
Closed Jun 12, 1992

There is no summary currently available

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEMLed to recall 92V050000
EA91016ClosedEngineering Analysis

GAS TANK LEAKS

Opened Feb 28, 1991
Closed Nov 27, 1991

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGESLed to recall 91V201000
PE91007ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

GAS TANK LEAKS

Opened Oct 29, 1990
Closed Feb 28, 1991

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 9
Fuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE SHE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. THE TRANSMISSION TYPE, RECALL NUMBER, AND MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER REPAIR IS PERFORMED BY VW IS PLAINLY OBVIOUS THE RECALL IS ON THE SAME YEAR BUT DIFFERENT VIN NUMBER. UPDATED 04/11/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10221871
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Fuel system
Filed May 1, 2006

VOLKSWAGEN SAYS RECALL DOESN'T APPEAR IN THEIR SYSTEM, VIN [XXX] FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY AND NO LOCAL DEALERS HAVE DONE THIS RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE... GAS TANK IS LEAKING FROM SAID AREA PROFUSELY , WHICH RUNS THE RISK OF AN EXPLOSION. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10156485
Incident
May 1, 2006
Mileage
130,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 18, 2005

VEHICLE HAD A WET SUBSTANCE ON THE GROUND. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND THE LEAK WAS DETERMINED TO BE GAS. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON A RECALL. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF REPAIRS WILL BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10115379
Incident
Mar 17, 2005
Mileage
125,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 8, 2004

1989 VW CABRIOLET FUEL TANK HAS DEFECTIVE SEAM WELD IN FUEL TANK AS DOCUMENTED IN CAMPAIGN # 94V065000. TANK HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED, YET VW SAYS THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10098476
Incident
Nov 8, 2004
Mileage
75,839 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 18, 2003

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER WILL FIX AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *PH TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED RELATED TO THIS FAILURE, 94V-065000 AND 91V-201000. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10039870
Fuel system
Filed Feb 9, 2000

RECALL # 94V065000 FUEL: FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: TANK; AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, FUEL TANK STARTING TO LEAK. DEALER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT IT COULD COST $700.00 TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND ACCUMULATOR. FUEL TANK WAS NOT LEAKING WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
856626
Fuel system
Filed Feb 7, 2000

RECALL # 94V065000: FUEL TANK: AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE GAS TANK STARTED TO LEAK. DEALER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $700.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND ACCUMULATOR. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK BEFORE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
856394
Fuel system
Filed Nov 3, 1999

THERE IS A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE GAS TANK, AND CONSUMER CAN SMELL THE GAS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

NHTSA ID
852457
Incident
Jan 1, 1990

Manufacturer communications

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

0101

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT

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

Volkswagen Cabriolet by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1990841—
1989Viewing923—
1988623—
1987113359.9
1986311—
1985611—
1984100—
1983000—
1982000—
1981000—
1980000—

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.