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FaultScore report

2000 Volkswagen Cabrio problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio with NHTSA between 1999 and 2008. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 8 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Volkswagen Cabrio All 2000 cars
C

FaultScore 45/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Volkswagen Cabrio.

How this is worked out

The numbers

18

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

49,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

44%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 26 vs 50 Severity 57 vs 50 Early failure 76 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 26
Against the median year of the Volkswagen Cabrio. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 57
11.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 76
44% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2000 compares with every other Volkswagen Cabrio

Click any bar 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

What breaks on a 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Transmission & Drivetrain 5 27.8%

Median failure at 50,500 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 11.1%
Body & Structure 2 11.1%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Electrical System 2 11.1%
Engine & Cooling 2 11.1%

Median failure at 66,150 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 5.6%
Seats 1 5.6%
Seat Belts 1 5.6%
Steering 1 5.6%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

Airbags 1 5.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 11.1%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 11.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 3 33.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 22.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 22.2%

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 1999 peak 3 Jun 2008

NHTSA investigations into the 2000 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.

PE00033 Opened 10 Aug 2000 Closed 28 Dec 2000 VEHICLE 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.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

ST Clair Shores, MI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE HIT MY SIDE GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I DRIVE MY GRANDMOTHER PLACES BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTOR WITH MY CAR AND SHE WAS PINNED IN THE CAR AND NOT EVEN HER AIRBAG WENT OFF. I THINK THIS IS A DISGRACE ON THE PART OF VW AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. I SPEND $450.00 A MONTH ON THIS CAR AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT!

NHTSA complaint #741963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 83,300 miles Stone Ridge, NY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

PURCHASED A 2000 VW CABRIO FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY (THAT WAS MY FIRST MISTAKE AS I AM A NEW YORK RESIDENT.) TEST DROVE AND VISUAL INSPECTION APPEARED GREAT. DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT AND WITHIN 3 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED FLUIDS, PROCEEDED WITH OUR TRIP HOME. WITHIN 10 MILES, THE CAR'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF FIFTH GEAR WHILE GOING 65MPS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. WITH THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED (AND BEING THE CAR WAS SOLD "AS-IS", WE LIMPED HOME. THE 2 HOUR TRIP ENDED UP TAKING NEARLY 3 HOURS. MECHANIC FOUND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED BUT NOT REFILLED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. BRAND NEW TRANNY INSTALLED ONLY TO FIND THE STARTER WAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. MEANWHILE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO A $409.00 SECONDARY AIR PUMP FAILURE. I HADN'T EVEN OWNED THE CAR 2 WEEKS AND HAD ALREADY SPEND OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR BACK FROM MY MECHANIC, DROVE IT FOR ONE DAY, AND NOW WE APPEAR TO HAVE A TIMING BELT ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THERE IS A POTENTIAL INTERFERENCE WITH MY PISTONS IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS WHILE DRIVING. OH, AND TO BOOT, I NEED A NEW SET OF REAR BRAKES. BOTTOM LINE, IF ANYONE EVER DREAMS OF BUYING A CABRIO, DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS AND A BACK UP CAR TO DRIVE. THIS CAR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A HOBBY AND NOT A RELIABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA complaint #10231227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,300 miles Stone Ridge, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PURCHASED A 2000 VW CABRIO FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY (THAT WAS MY FIRST MISTAKE AS I AM A NEW YORK RESIDENT.) TEST DROVE AND VISUAL INSPECTION APPEARED GREAT. DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT AND WITHIN 3 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED FLUIDS, PROCEEDED WITH OUR TRIP HOME. WITHIN 10 MILES, THE CAR'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF FIFTH GEAR WHILE GOING 65MPS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. WITH THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED (AND BEING THE CAR WAS SOLD "AS-IS", WE LIMPED HOME. THE 2 HOUR TRIP ENDED UP TAKING NEARLY 3 HOURS. MECHANIC FOUND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED BUT NOT REFILLED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. BRAND NEW TRANNY INSTALLED ONLY TO FIND THE STARTER WAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. MEANWHILE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO A $409.00 SECONDARY AIR PUMP FAILURE. I HADN'T EVEN OWNED THE CAR 2 WEEKS AND HAD ALREADY SPEND OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR BACK FROM MY MECHANIC, DROVE IT FOR ONE DAY, AND NOW WE APPEAR TO HAVE A TIMING BELT ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THERE IS A POTENTIAL INTERFERENCE WITH MY PISTONS IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS WHILE DRIVING. OH, AND TO BOOT, I NEED A NEW SET OF REAR BRAKES. BOTTOM LINE, IF ANYONE EVER DREAMS OF BUYING A CABRIO, DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS AND A BACK UP CAR TO DRIVE. THIS CAR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A HOBBY AND NOT A RELIABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA complaint #10231227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles NEW Hartford, CT

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN 2000 VW CABRIO WENT BAD SEPT. 05, REPLACED CAR GARAGED FOR WINTER DRIVEN VERY LITTLE APPROX 15OO MILES IN APRIL 06 TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN - SAME SYMPTOMS PROBLEM - TRANSMISSION REPLACED AGAIN OCT 07 - TRANSMISSION BAD AGAIN AFTER APPROX 5000 MILES. GEARS CHIPPING ACCUSED OF DRIVER ERROR. HAVE HAD 3 OTHER CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS THAT I OWNED FOR 10 YEARS NEVER A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10205843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Louis Park, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER IN THE DASHBOARD FAIL INTERMITTANTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10146519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oceanside, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE HAD VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THE SPEEDOMETER FREEZING OR THE SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SOMETIMES MY AIR CONDITIONER WON'T START. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS OR THE CHECK TRUNK COMES ON HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE SUMMER HEAT. RECENTLY LAST MARCH I TOOK IT TO FREEWAY THEY SAID IT WAS ONE PART THAT WAS FAILING. I BOUGHT THE PART FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND HAD IT INSTALLED. THE LIGHT STILL CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO VOLKSWAGEN RIVERSIDE THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE YET I HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE OTHER PART. I ALSO BOUGHT A TURN SIGNAL SWITCH BECAUSE FREEWAY SAID THAT IS WHY MY HAZARDS COME ON INSTEAD OF A RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. IT STILL BLINKS HAZARDS TILL THIS DAY. EVEN AFTER I TOOK IT TO VOLKSWAGEN RIVERSIDE SINCE FREEWAY VOLKSWAGEN COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT. VOLKSWAGEN RIVERSIDE TOOK MY CAR APART AND STILL COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL. THE MECHANIC WAS LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM ALL DAY AND WHEN HE PUT MY CAR BACK TOGETHER HE FORGOT TO PUT THE LIGHT FIXTURE BACK INTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. BECAUSE OF THAT A BULB MELTED SOME PLASTIC AND IT WON'T FIT BACK IN SO IT'S HANGING IN MY TRUNK. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE I DRIVE TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY EVERY DAY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE PROBLEMS ANYMORE. I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS REALLY WRONG AND FIX IT. I HAVE SPENT APPROX 1,000 -2,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO EVEN BE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS . SO NOW I HAVE A NEW TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND SOME OTHER PART THAT WAS LIKE 300. NOT TO MENTION THE FUSES I HAVE BOUGHT AND WATER PUMPS, RELAY SWITCH AND MANY OTHER PARTS. I HAVE BEEN PAYING FIXING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EXISTED SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG JUST THE HEAT. YET, AFTER SOCKING ALL OF THIS MONEY INTO THE CAR THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. JUST THE OTHER DAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10131068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Plano, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

WATER CONTINUOUSLY ENTERS INTO THE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH POORLY DESIGNED RUBBER SEALS ALONG THE CONVERTABLE TOP, PERMENANTLY DEFORMED DUE TO POOR DOOR DESIGN. REPLACEMENT SEALS EXCESSIVELY PRICED (500 PER SEAL, 4 SEALS TOTAL, PLUS LABOR).

NHTSA complaint #10057111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,500 miles Chestnut Hill, MA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY, MANUAL TRANSMISSION BROKE. 5 TH GEAR DISENGAGED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR IT BEHAVED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. CAR DE-ACCELERATED TO A HALT.

NHTSA complaint #10047633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MY ENTIRE EXHAUSE SYSTEM ALL THE WAY UP TO THE MANIFOLD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I HAVE HAD THE MAIN PART OF THE SYSTEM REPLACED BUT NOW AM TOLD THAT THE PIPE LEADING TO THE MANIFOLD AND THE HEAT SHIELD ARE ALSO BAD AND ARE VIBRATING BADLY. I WAS TOLD BY THE VW DEALER-WHERE I HAVE MY WARRANTY THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THAT THIS IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MUFFLER PLACE THAT DID THE WORK TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE DONE MORE THAN 10 CABRIO'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK DONE AT VW AS THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE DROPPED...THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10030715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Teaneck, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED A CABRIO 2000 FROM JOE HEIDT IN RAMSEY NEW JERSEY THE CAR DID NOT START ONE MORNING IT WAS TOWED THEN WITHIN MONTHS IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN , IT WAS TOWED TWICE NOW IT HARDLY ACCELERATES IT GOES VERY SLOW WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE POWER TRAIN. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Teaneck, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, THE DEALER REPAIRED/REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10015155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Teaneck, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10015212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cary, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR WILL NOT START AT SEEMINGLY RANDOM TIMES. CAR EITHER HAS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP OR IN SOME INSTANCES LEFT ALONE FOR HOURS AT A TIME. SOMETIMES AFTER LETTING IT REST, IT WILL START AGAIN AND OTHERS NOT. THIS HAS OCCURED 4 TIMES SO FAR AND EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP TRIED FIXING THE ECM AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED IT, BUT IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH A NEW BABY AND VW CONTINUES TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10005352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Wilmette, IL

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA complaint #10004865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Clair Shores, MI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE HIT MY SIDE GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I DRIVE MY GRANDMOTHER PLACES BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTOR WITH MY CAR AND SHE WAS PINNED IN THE CAR AND NOT EVEN HER AIRBAG WENT OFF. I THINK THIS IS A DISGRACE ON THE PART OF VW AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. I SPEND $450.00 A MONTH ON THIS CAR AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT!

NHTSA complaint #741963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW York, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN THE SET BUTTON IS PRESSED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEED WILL ACCELERATE, WHEN PRESSING THE RES BUTTON, NOTHING HAPPENS, CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW York, NY

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

HEATED SEATS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Naples, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DOES NOT HAVE A BUCKLE. BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS MISSING. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #860951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weston, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS TOO MUCH CLOTH WHICH OBSTRUCTES THE REAR VIEW, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #853248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.