IllustrationTHIS 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.
1999 Volkswagen Cabrio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cabrio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Steering complaints
3 reportsLESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR, THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THAT INCIDENT, MY BRAKES AGAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER, MY BRAKES AGAIN NEEDED WORK. MY CAR FAILED ITS YEARLY INSPECTION DUE TO TIE RODS. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS.*AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE LOCKS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND ALARM SYSTEMS ARE NOT OPERABLE. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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.