1998 Volkswagen Cabrio problems

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1998 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO GLS FRONT WINDSHIELD HEADER HAS RUSTED AND NO LONGER CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER HAD TO INCUR THE COST OF HAVING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE DEFORMITIES IN THE WINDSHIELD HEADER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS NO LONGER SAFE ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A ROLL OVER SINCE THE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT. THE SUPPORT WAS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND A VEHICLES FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT.(LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)

NHTSA complaint #10290674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MANUFACTURER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR CAN LURCH FORWARD, FROM 1ST GEAR TO 3RD GEAR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A BAD TRANSMISSION (CAR HAS ONLY 46,100 MILES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE, AND SHOULD BE WARRANTY, AND REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN IF THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD).

NHTSA complaint #10116479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PLACED OIL INTO THE VEHICLE, AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE, AND NO OIL WAS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10106868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP RIPPED ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB.....THE DEALER STATED THIS CAR OF DIFFERENT YEARS WAS RECALLED. CONSUMER FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF SAME TEAR/RIP IN RAG AT SAME SPOT. THE MATERIAL THE ROOF WAS MADE OFF DISTINTEGRATED A SA FEW YEARS WENT BY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOISY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BY NOT HAVING A SECURE ROOF.

NHTSA complaint #10101500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

CONVERTIBLE TOP SHREDDING. HUGE RIPS ALL OVER IT. CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED IN CALIFORNIA. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD LIKE ME TO OBTAIN AN ATTORNEY OR PAY FOR HALF THE REPAIR COSTS. HOWEVER, THOSE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIRS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10093640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1) NO KNOWN EVENT LEADING TO THIS RADIO SYSTEM FAILURE. 2) RADIO SUDDENLY AND INEXPLICABLY MOVED FROM NORMAL 'ON' TO MAXIMUM BLARING VOLUME WITH NO ONE TOUCHING IT... AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED, TURNED OFF, OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY. RADIO CONTROLS HAD NO EFFECT, EVEN TURNING OFF THE AUTO AND REMOVING THE KEYS DID NOT SHUT OFF RADIO. DRIVING SUDDENLY BECAME DANGEROUS AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AS THE NOISE WAS DEAFENING AND TOTALLY DISTRACTING. I COULD NOT HEAR MY TEENAGE SON IN THE SEAT NEXT TO ME (NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING)... BUT COULD SEE WELL ENOUGH THAT HE WAS LAUGHING HIS HEAD OFF (AN ANNOYING IRRIATATION THAT DID NOT HELP!) :) AFTER 15 - 20 MINUTES AND SOME MILES OF TORTURED DRIVING, THE RADIO WENT SILENT ON IT' S OWN. 3) NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN YET.

NHTSA complaint #10088869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WITH LESS THAN 75000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE DEFECTIVE WATER PUMPS REPLACEMENTS. THE SERVICE MAN AT VW HAVE COMMENTED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A BAD DESIGN AND WARRANTED THE PART. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY LONG TERM SOLUTION. I HAVE LOGGED A TROUBLE TICKET WITH VW AMERICA REQUESTING THAT THEY PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OR EXTEND THE WARRANTEE BEYOND 100000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10072938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

IN REF TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V026000 THE VW DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THIS RECALL AGAINST MY 1998 VW CABRIO. I CHECKED THE SUPPLEMENTAL RECALL LIST FILED WITH NHTSA DATED JUNE 2, 2003 AND FOUND THAT MY VIN [XXX] IS INCLUDED. HOW CAN I GET VW TO HONOR THE RECALL? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10066129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOES UP AND THEN GOES BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN. YOU MUST HOLD THE UP BUTTON FOR THE WINDOW FOR IT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE AN AUTOMATIC UP AUTOMATIC DOWN WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10032947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOES UP AND THEN GOES BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN. YOU MUST HOLD THE UP BUTTON FOR THE WINDOW FOR IT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE AN AUTOMATIC UP AUTOMATIC DOWN WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10032947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT

THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOES UP AND THEN GOES BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN. YOU MUST HOLD THE UP BUTTON FOR THE WINDOW FOR IT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE AN AUTOMATIC UP AUTOMATIC DOWN WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10032947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE TOP ON MY 1998 VW CABRIO HAS DRIED OUT AND IS CRACKING DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING IN THE VINYL USED FOR THE TOP. VW HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW 3 OTHER OWNERS LOCALLY WITH THE SAME EXACT YEAR/CAR/PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10028751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER HAS TO LOCK THE VEHICLE AT THE PASSENGER SIDE, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP HALF THE TIME. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK, DEALER STATED THE BATTERY HAD FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED, DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH RELAY UNIT WAS THE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

AFTER ONE YEAR, THE TOP STARTED DEVELOPING BLACK MARKS, THE MARKS DO NOT COME OFF WITH SOAP AND WATER, THE TOP ALSO STARTED TURNING ORANGE AND BECAME STICKY, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS SUN DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS MOSTLY KEPT IN A GARAGE, THE TOP IS NOW RIPPING NEAR THE BACK WINDOW, VW STATED THEY WILL PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS, CONSUMER FEELS THEY SHOULD BE FOR 100 PERCENT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

MY TAN-VINYL CONVERTIBLE TOP BEGIN TO CHEMICALLY BREAK-DOWN AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY VW OF AMERICA THAT I WAS PAST MY WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE TOP CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE OVER TIME. I HAVE FOUND 15 OTHER 1998 CABRIO OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL THESE 98 CABRIOS WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DE MEXICO PLANT BETWEEN 11/97 AND 10/98 AND HAVE ALL EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE WEATHER AND THE SUN. VW TOLD ME WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR THAT THE TOP WOULD BE GOOD FOR OVER 150,000 MILES AND I WAS RECENTLY TOLD MY A VINYL MANUFACTURER THAT THE MATERIAL VW USES ON THE CABRIOS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS. THE POBRLEM IS NOT SIMPLY AN AESTHETIC ISSUE. MANY OWNERS TOPS HAVE BEGUN TO RIP AND THE GLASS IN THE BACK OF THE TOP IS COMING OUT. EVEN MY TOP HAS BEGUN TO TEAR. CHEMICAL EXPERTS SAY SOMETHING THAT WAS USED ON THE TOP DURING PRODUCTION HAS CAUSED THE POLYMERS TO LEECH OUT OF THE PVC IN THE VINYL WITH EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. AND AS THE VINYL CONTINUES TO WEAKEN WE HAVE LESS MATERIAL KEEPING OUT WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE TOP WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY BARRIER FOR DIRVERS AND PASSENGERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE . I EVENTUALLY WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SEACOAST VW, AND THEY LOOKED THE CAR OVER AS DID THE VW DISTRICT MANAGER AND THEY OFFERED ME 50 PERCENT TOWARDS THE TOP REAPLACEMENT. SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $600 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR A DEFECT THAT ORIGINATED WITH VW. I HAVE VARIOUS AND NUMEROUS DOCUMNETED INFO OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH IF NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #764141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AND WAS MAKING REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #897162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF AND ON AND SO DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #865957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

DEALERSHIP DID NOT REMOVE SHIPPING COVER TABS FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP, CAUSING BLACK MARKS ON VINYL TOP, AND MAJOR WATER LEAKAGE

NHTSA complaint #718794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I DO NOT HAVE WITH ME NOW THE EXACT DATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AT HOME THAT I CAN REVIEW AND UPDATE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW SEVERAL TIMES FOR BOTH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (FAILURE TO ACCELERATE) AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE MUFFLER CAME APART. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON REPEATED OCCASSIONS AND HAVE NOT TO DATE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND THE BBB. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILIAR COMPLIANTS WITH EITHER THIS VEHICLE (CABRIO OR GOLF)? RECALLS? TECHNICAL BULLETINS?

NHTSA complaint #712915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

I DO NOT HAVE WITH ME NOW THE EXACT DATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AT HOME THAT I CAN REVIEW AND UPDATE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW SEVERAL TIMES FOR BOTH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (FAILURE TO ACCELERATE) AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE MUFFLER CAME APART. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON REPEATED OCCASSIONS AND HAVE NOT TO DATE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND THE BBB. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILIAR COMPLIANTS WITH EITHER THIS VEHICLE (CABRIO OR GOLF)? RECALLS? TECHNICAL BULLETINS?

NHTSA complaint #712915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.