Owners have filed 19 complaints
about the 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 28
Against the median year of the Volkswagen Cabrio. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1995 compares with every other Volkswagen Cabrio
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
421.1%
Brakes
315.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
210.5%
Body & Structure
210.5%
Electrical System
210.5%
Median failure at 10,000 miles
Doors, Latches & Locks
15.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
15.3%
Lights
15.3%
Median failure at 116,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
15.3%
Airbags
15.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
15.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 1995peak 2Mar 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE00033Opened 10 Aug 2000Closed 28 Dec 2000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
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.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 116,000 milesHebron, OH
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER/FUEL METERS AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10060490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesWindsor, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT COLD STARTS THE HEAD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE.
NHTSA complaint #10015231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naples, FL
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE REAR WINDOW CANNOT BE LOWERED, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naples, FL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
THE VEHICLES TRUNK HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN, THE KEY AND LOCK ASSEMBLY APPEARED DEFECTIVE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Modesto, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THEN KICK BACK ON. ALSO, IF SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ENGINE WILL STALL. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, BUT CANNOT REPRODUCE THIS DEFECT TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #889554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shoreline, WA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOBILE REPAIR DEALER THAT COMPUTER FOR AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING, AND THEREFORE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #877801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Modesto, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 65 MPH AND VEHICLE SURGED, LOSS OF POWER. CONTINUES TO DO THIS 10-15 TIMES A WEEK. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #729676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randolph, MA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTO TRANS FAILS TO SHIFT. TRANNY REPLACED AT 40K MILES. SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WILDLY DURING INCLINES, ACCELLERATION W/ NEW TRANNY. CAR CAN NOT SHIFT, POWER LOST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. TERRIFYING.
NHTSA complaint #727728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder Creek, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING (ALWAYS UPHILL, WITH ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, AND USUALLY IN 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 30 MPH) THE ENGINE (AND POWER STEERING) SIMPLY CUTS OUT (TACH DROPS TO ZERO). IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART IT BY PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH AND TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED A FUEL RELAY AND CONDUCTED THE FULL 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND IS A LEMON-LAW BUYBACK ('COURSE THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT UNTIL I HAD MY HEART SET ON BUYING IT). AS I DRIVE 20 MILES EACH WAY ON A VERY CURVY ROAD WITH FEW TURNOUTS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, THIS PROBLEM POSES A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE FUEL GAUGE IS UNRELIABLE AS WELL, BUT THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES!
NHTSA complaint #724335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder Creek, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING (ALWAYS UPHILL, WITH ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, AND USUALLY IN 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 30 MPH) THE ENGINE (AND POWER STEERING) SIMPLY CUTS OUT (TACH DROPS TO ZERO). IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART IT BY PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH AND TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED A FUEL RELAY AND CONDUCTED THE FULL 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND IS A LEMON-LAW BUYBACK ('COURSE THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT UNTIL I HAD MY HEART SET ON BUYING IT). AS I DRIVE 20 MILES EACH WAY ON A VERY CURVY ROAD WITH FEW TURNOUTS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, THIS PROBLEM POSES A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE FUEL GAUGE IS UNRELIABLE AS WELL, BUT THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES!
NHTSA complaint #724335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunnellon, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
CAR WANTS TO STALL WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND RUNS VERY ROUGHLY, AS THOUGH IT MIGHT JUST STOP RUNNING UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL WAS EMPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #723027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #703858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orange, CA
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #604093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH W/SPEED CONTROL ON; HAD TO BRAKE; SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE; ABS BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. STEERED TOWARDS A HILL TO SLOW DOWN. HAD 2 FLATS & AXLE BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER & NOT DOING ANYTHING TO VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #815262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH W/SPEED CONTROL ON; HAD TO BRAKE; SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE; ABS BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. STEERED TOWARDS A HILL TO SLOW DOWN. HAD 2 FLATS & AXLE BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER & NOT DOING ANYTHING TO VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #815262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR LEFT BRAKE DRUM SPLIT IN HALF WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO FLY OFF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #810945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Radcliff, 00
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTTOM CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE FRAME TOGETHER HAS COME LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Radcliff, 00
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTTOM CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE FRAME TOGETHER HAS COME LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunnyvale, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKING PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #975699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.