NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2002

Volkswagen Cabrio recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 162 owner complaints for the Volkswagen Cabrio, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The 2001 model year drew the most complaints (38), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Volkswagen Cabrio VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
162 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
8 model years with data (1995–2002)

most complaints: 2001 (38 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (38 complaints)
latest recall 02V244000 (reported Sep 12, 2002)

20 complaints reporting a crash (12.3%)
10 complaints reporting a fire (6.2%)
15 complaints reporting an injury (9.3%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Volkswagen Cabrio complaints by model year

8 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2001 model year has the most complaints: 38 of 162, or 23.5%. Next come 1999 (29) and 2002 (23). The fewest are for 1996, with 6 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Volkswagen Cabrio complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Volkswagen Cabrio complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
1995	15	0	0	0
1996	6	2	0	2
1997	14	0	2	0
1998	21	4	0	2
1999	29	4	2	2
2000	16	1	0	1
2001	38	6	3	6
2002	23	3	3	2
All model years	162	20	10	15

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Volkswagen Cabrio components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 38 complaints (23.5% of all 162), followed by Engine and Engine Cooling (27) and Visibility (22).

Components named most often in Volkswagen Cabrio complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Volkswagen Cabrio complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	38	23.5%
Engine and Engine Cooling	27	16.7%
Visibility	22	13.6%
Air Bags	19	11.7%
Power Train	18	11.1%
Structure	18	11.1%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	15	9.3%
Vehicle Speed Control	15	9.3%
Exterior Lighting	9	5.6%
Equipment	7	4.3%
Fuel System, Gasoline	6	3.7%
Steering	6	3.7%
Latches/Locks/Linkages	5	3.1%
Seat Belts	5	3.1%
Seats	5	3.1%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Volkswagen Cabrio recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Cabrio, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model years 1998 to 2001. The 1998, 2000 and 2001 model years appear in the most campaigns (1 each).

2 recall campaigns

Volkswagen Cabrio recall campaigns covering each model year
1998: 1 campaign	1999: no campaigns	2000: 1 campaign	2001: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 02V244000
Reported Sep 12, 2002
Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual
Model years 2000–2001
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." Child seat anchorages installed in the vehicle's rear seats must be identified by markings, and their location and use be described in the owner's manual.
Consequence:
These vehicles were not marked or described as required by the standard.
Remedy:
Owners will be provided with a supplement for the owner's manual and also one set of four guidance fixtures intended to use in conjunction with child seats equipped with rigid or semi-rigid lower anchorage attachments. Also enclosed will be four decals together with installation instructions and a template for attaching the decals to the lower seat backs. Owner notification is expected to begin September 15, 2002. Owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.
Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 02V026000
Reported Jan 25, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Model year 1998
On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.
Consequence:
Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy:
Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began June 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Volkswagen Cabrio questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Volkswagen Cabrio have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the Volkswagen Cabrio, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The most recent, 02V244000, was reported on September 12, 2002 and is filed under “Equipment”. The 1998, 2000 and 2001 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which Volkswagen Cabrio model year has the most complaints?

The 2001 model year, with 38 of the 162 complaints in NHTSA’s file (23.5%). The next are 1999 (29) and 2002 (23). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Volkswagen Cabrio complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 38 complaints, or 23.5% of all 162. Engine and Engine Cooling (27) and Visibility (22) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Volkswagen Cabrio?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Volkswagen dealer.

How many Volkswagen Cabrio complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 162 complaints, 20 report a crash, 10 a fire, 15 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Volkswagen models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Volkswagen VIN decoder with every Volkswagen model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Volkswagen Jetta 1995–2026 · 60 recalls · 9,683 complaints
Volkswagen Passat 1995–2022 · 50 recalls · 7,514 complaints
Volkswagen Beetle 1998–2019 · 24 recalls · 2,586 complaints
Volkswagen Tiguan 2009–2026 · 39 recalls · 2,282 complaints
Volkswagen Atlas 2018–2026 · 48 recalls · 1,980 complaints
Volkswagen GTI 1995–2025 · 29 recalls · 1,397 complaints
Volkswagen Golf 1995–2023 · 42 recalls · 1,314 complaints
Volkswagen ID.4 2021–2026 · 26 recalls · 998 complaints

All Volkswagen models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.