IllustrationLESS 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
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
What owners actually said
29 reportsABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF A NEW 1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT QUIT WORKING. IN JULY 2001 THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WENT BAD. THREE YEARS LATER, THE CABLE HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. IN OCTOBER OF 2001 A COMPUTER CHIP WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IN JANUARY…
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ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF A NEW 1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT QUIT WORKING. IN JULY 2001 THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WENT BAD. THREE YEARS LATER, THE CABLE HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. IN OCTOBER OF 2001 A COMPUTER CHIP WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IN JANUARY 2003 THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON BUT NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. BUTTONS, LIKE THE LOCK BUTTON, FALL OFF THE CAR. MY TAILLIGHTS FREQUENTLY GO OUT AND COME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES BUT NO ONE CAN FIND A LOOSE WIRE. THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN JANUARY 2004. THE AUTO SHOP ORDERED PARTS AND THEY DIDN'T FIT. IT TURNS OUT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 1999, THERE ARE SOME 2000 PARTS ON IT. *LA
GAUGE CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN NO SPEEDOMETER OR TACHOMETER. THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO GUESS YOUR SPEED. THE ONLY CORRECTION IS REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER AND THE ODOMETER CANNOT BE RESET. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT IN 12 MONTHS.*AK
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON, AS DOES THE ABS LIGHT, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT, THE CARS BATTERY EXPLOADED, THE DRIVERS POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS, THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE RADIO HAS A MALFUNCTION, THE HYDROLIC PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC TOP MALFUNCTIONED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS SOME OTHER MORE …
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON, AS DOES THE ABS LIGHT, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT, THE CARS BATTERY EXPLOADED, THE DRIVERS POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS, THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE RADIO HAS A MALFUNCTION, THE HYDROLIC PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC TOP MALFUNCTIONED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS SOME OTHER MORE MINOR PROBLEMS.
BATTERY LITERALLY EXPLODED UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. *LA
CONVERTIBLE TOP ACCUMULATING SOME KIND OF BLACK SUBSTANCE THAT HARDENS AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AT THE THREE YEAR MARK, THE CAR JUST BEGAN TO DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY. TIMING BELT, CONVERTIBLE STOPPED WORKING, ABS BRAKES KICK IN WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40K MILES. KEY LOCK BUTTON FELL OUT, CANNOT …
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CONVERTIBLE TOP ACCUMULATING SOME KIND OF BLACK SUBSTANCE THAT HARDENS AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AT THE THREE YEAR MARK, THE CAR JUST BEGAN TO DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY. TIMING BELT, CONVERTIBLE STOPPED WORKING, ABS BRAKES KICK IN WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40K MILES. KEY LOCK BUTTON FELL OUT, CANNOT GET IT TO STAY IN. SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FELL APART. INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES NOT MADE WELL, LOOSENED AND FEEL AS IF THEY MAY FALL OFF. CD CHANGER HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. *NLM
BEIGE CONVERTABLE TOP DISCOLORING AND DETERATING. TEARING AROUND REAR WINDOW AND TURNING A RUST COLOR.
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS OVER. THE DRIVER THEN SWIPED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT. THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AT THIS TIME IS $6,000.00. *JB CONSUMER STATED THAT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG WAS REPAIR…
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WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS OVER. THE DRIVER THEN SWIPED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT. THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AT THIS TIME IS $6,000.00. *JB CONSUMER STATED THAT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG WAS REPAIRED. *YH
WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH ON A FLAT SURFACE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
BOTH SIDE DOOR MOULDINGS ADHESIVE FAILED. REPORTED TO VOLKSWAGON AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT HAPPENS A LOT. THEY SAID THEY CHARGE AT LEAST $100.00 FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS SINCE FAILURE OCCURS ON THE ADHESIVE DURING DRIVING AND COULD INJURE SOMEONE.*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.