FaultScore

Worst years for a Volkswagen Cabrio

Owners have filed 302 complaints about the Volkswagen Cabrio with NHTSA across model years 1989 to 2002. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2001 Volkswagen Cabrio

58 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

1995 Volkswagen Cabrio

19 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Volkswagen Cabrio year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2002 D 39 4 7 51,000 Electrical System
2001 F 58 7 6 43,867 Electrical System
2000 C 18 1 0 49,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
1999 F 66 6 2 42,100 Electrical System
1998 C 37 13 0 50,000 Body & Structure
1997 B 20 0 3 92,500 Electrical System
1996 7 2 0 Engine & Cooling
1995 A 19 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1993 B 18 1 1 Brakes
1992 12 0 3 Engine & Cooling
1991 7 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1989 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion

What breaks on a Volkswagen Cabrio

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 1999

Engine & Cooling 36 11.9%

Worst in 1999

Brakes 29 9.6%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2001

Airbags 22 7.3%

Worst in 2001

Body & Structure 20 6.6%

Worst in 1998

Fuel & Propulsion 19 6.3%

Worst in 1991

Transmission & Drivetrain 18 6.0%

Worst in 2000

Lights 17 5.6%

Worst in 2002

Acceleration & Cruise Control 15 5.0%

Worst in 1999

Steering 8 2.6%

Worst in 1999

Tires 7 2.3%

Worst in 1993

Equipment & Accessories 7 2.3%

Worst in 1999

Seat Belts 5 1.7%

Worst in 1999

Exactly what failed on a Volkswagen Cabrio

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Power Window Devices AND Controls 12 14.8%
Frontal 10 12.3%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 9 11.1%
Automatic Transmission 9 11.1%
Gasoline 8 9.9%
Engine 8 9.9%
Switch 7 8.6%
Roof AND Pillars 6 7.4%
Door 6 7.4%
Tank Assembly 6 7.4%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Volkswagen Cabrio, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 1995 peak 14 Feb 2021

Compare the Volkswagen Cabrio

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.