2001 Volkswagen Cabrio problems

SUSPENSION

I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO, WHICH VW DOES NOT MAKE ANYMORE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHY. THE CAR IS ALWAYS BEING FIXED. ONE MAJOR ISSUE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE FRONT AXLES IN THIS CAR. 3/27/07 KARL'S CUSTOM VW; 6/28/08 BIG O TIRES; AND NOW, 11/16/2010 I AM TOLD BY SUNDEVIL AUTO ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ARE SAGGING CAUSING AXLES TO BIND, THE CAR NEEDS 4 TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND 2 AXLES. VW PARTS ARE OBVIOUSLY INFERIOR. I THOUGHT VW VEHICLES WERE SUPPOSE TO LAST OVER 200,000 MILES. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS $1100 REPAIR, BUT I NEED MY VEHICLE. WITH EACH TIME I'VE HAD THIS FIXED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10367381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

ON MOST VOLKSWAGENS (AND SOME AUDI'S) THAT WERE BUILT BETWEEN THE YEARS 1998 TO 2002 IT APPEARS THAT THE ABS COMPUTERS FAIL AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FAULT IN THE INTERNAL WIRING OF THE COMPUTER THAT ALLOWS WIRES TO OVERHEAT, RENDERING THE UNIT INOPERABLE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SEVERAL FORUMS AS WELL AS SEVERAL COMPANIES HAVE STARTED UP WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF REPAIRING THESE UNITS. VOLKSWAGEN IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM OR PROVIDE IN COMPENSATION IN REPAIRING THE DEFECTIVE UNITS.

NHTSA complaint #10353509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FUNCTION OF TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO HAS BEEN DEGRADING OVER TIME. BOTH SYSTEMS ARE NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THERE IS AN ACTIVE VW RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V584000) FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2000-2002 GOLF, GTI, BEETLE AND JETTA (BUT NO CURRENT RECALL FOR THE CABRIO). I AM REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CABRIO MODELS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY WIDESPREAD ON 2000-2002 VW VEHICLES OF ALL MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10290013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

FUNCTION OF TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO HAS BEEN DEGRADING OVER TIME. BOTH SYSTEMS ARE NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THERE IS AN ACTIVE VW RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V584000) FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2000-2002 GOLF, GTI, BEETLE AND JETTA (BUT NO CURRENT RECALL FOR THE CABRIO). I AM REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CABRIO MODELS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY WIDESPREAD ON 2000-2002 VW VEHICLES OF ALL MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10290013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V096000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA complaint #10250377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I HAVE HAD 5 TIRES FAIL ON ME IN A 6 MONTHS PERIOD, THEY HAVE EITHER BEEN BLOW OUTS AND OR FLATS. I DRIVE A 2001 VW CABRIO. THE LAST 2 TIMES HAVE BEEN 3 DAYS APART, WITH THIS PAST SATURDAY DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS TO VAIL COLO. BY MYSELF AND MY YOUNG DAUGHTER. MY FRONT D/S TIRE BLEW IN A VERY BAD LOCATION ON I-70, NEEDLESS TO SAY WE WERE VERY SCARED BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION IT BLEW. YESTERDAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE BACK D/S WENT FLAT. I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE ON THIS RISKING MY RIM TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION. I WAS TOLD BY A FIRESTONE LOCATION THAT I STOPPED AT THE TIRE IS DEFECTIVE AS HE FOUND A HOLE THE SIZE OF AN ERASER HEAD INSIDE THE WALL OF THE TIRE AND THAT WALL WAS VERY FLIMSEY AND SOFT. I CAN ACCOUNT FOR EVERY TIME IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD A TIRE FAIL ON ME. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, THESE TIRES HAVE ALL BEEN DOUGLAS TIRES 195 60R14 86H PERFORMANCE GTH EVERYTIME I HAVE HAD A TIRE FAIL ON ME THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING FOUND HAVING CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL (NO NAILS OR ANY OTHER OBJECTS THAT COULD HAVE ENTERED INTO THE TIRE) THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT THE WAL-MART NEAR MY HOME, WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS, THEY JUST ANSWER THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE NO WARRANTY WAS PURCHASED. I HAVE NEVER PURCHASED WARRANTIES ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED WHEN I PURCHASED TIRES. NOR HAVE I EVER RAN INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS BEFORE IN THE PAST. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND MONEY I HAVE HAD TO PUT TOWARDS TIRES I AM QUITE FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED AS WELL. ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES EXACTLY 2 YEARS TO DATE ON THIS CAR AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL TIRES OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. I CAN UNDERSTAND A TIRED THAT HAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, AND THEREFORE HAVING TO BE REPLACED. BUT TIRES THAT BLOW ON YOU IN AREAS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIFE THREATENING, IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. MY TIRES ARE ALWAYS CHECKED AND AIR IS PUT IN THEM BY MY HUSBAND AND MY CAR MAINTAINED.

NHTSA complaint #10249924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

DRIVERS SEAT FALLS BACK TO THE BACK SEAT. SIDE ADJUSTMENT PIECE FELL OFF AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN CORRECT POSITION. DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR - SUGGESTS PURCHASING NEW SEAT $600. UNACCEPTABLE FOR A SEAT TO FALL APART WITH NORMAL USE.

NHTSA complaint #10237016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE PASSANGER FRONT WINDOW STOPPED WORKING.THE MECHANIS SAID THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILE DAND HE HAD TO REPLCE IT. THE REGULATOR COST ME $310 PLUS THE LABOR $200.

NHTSA complaint #10187294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED. I WENT TO DO THE E CHECK IN OHIO AND HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOW. WHEN I LEFT THE WINDOW DIDN'T COME UP ANYMORE. THE MECHANIC SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR WHICH COST $310 + LABOR = TAX.*AK NOTE: THIS THE SECOND REGULATOR MY CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10187296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

FAILURE: DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE ON A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. I WAS ENTERING A CAR WASH, HAD PUT THE WINDOW DOWN ON THE CAR TO CODE IN MY INFO, AND WAS PUTTING THE POWER WINDOW BACK UP. IT CRASHED DOWN LOUDLY, SO I BACKED IT OUT OF THE WASH, RISKING DAMAGE TO THE TIRES RATHER THAN FLOOD THE CAR. MY LOCAL REPAIR PLACE REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER RECALL SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE A KNOWN VW PROBLEM. BEFORE LOOKING AT THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REP SAID THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $125 TO FIX THE WINDOW. AFTER CALLING THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY HADN'T OPENED UP THE CAR YET, I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL BACK TELLING ME IT WAS INSTEAD THE WINDOW REGULATOR, THAT THE PART WAS ON INDEFINITE BACKORDER, AND THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE OVER $600 JUST FOR THE PART. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED A "7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY" ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND GOLF MODELS FROM 2001 FOR THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BUT REFERRED ME TO THEIR NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE 2001 CABRIO. CABRIO IS THE SAME AS A GOLF (WHICH THE DEALER SALES REP TOLD ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR), BUT VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAYS THEY WILL DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME FAULTY PART THEY PUT IN THEIR OTHER CARS. THE CAR WINDOW IS STILL STUCK DOWN IN THE DOOR, WHICH RENDERS THE CAR UNDRIVABLE HERE IN THE SF BAY AREA -- WHERE FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, YOU DO NOT PARK YOUR CAR OUTSIDE WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE VW OWNERS FORUM ONLINE, IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY OTHER CABRIO OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT AFTER REPAIR, ONE OR MORE OTHER WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE CAR BREAK, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL TRIPS TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR -- IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, THE LOUDNESS OF THE WINDOW CRASHING DOWN MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ME TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THE 2001 VW CABRIO HAS THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS THE 2001 VW JETTA AND GOLF MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10165172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FAILURE: DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE ON A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. I WAS ENTERING A CAR WASH, HAD PUT THE WINDOW DOWN ON THE CAR TO CODE IN MY INFO, AND WAS PUTTING THE POWER WINDOW BACK UP. IT CRASHED DOWN LOUDLY, SO I BACKED IT OUT OF THE WASH, RISKING DAMAGE TO THE TIRES RATHER THAN FLOOD THE CAR. MY LOCAL REPAIR PLACE REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER RECALL SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE A KNOWN VW PROBLEM. BEFORE LOOKING AT THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REP SAID THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $125 TO FIX THE WINDOW. AFTER CALLING THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY HADN'T OPENED UP THE CAR YET, I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL BACK TELLING ME IT WAS INSTEAD THE WINDOW REGULATOR, THAT THE PART WAS ON INDEFINITE BACKORDER, AND THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE OVER $600 JUST FOR THE PART. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED A "7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY" ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND GOLF MODELS FROM 2001 FOR THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BUT REFERRED ME TO THEIR NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE 2001 CABRIO. CABRIO IS THE SAME AS A GOLF (WHICH THE DEALER SALES REP TOLD ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR), BUT VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAYS THEY WILL DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME FAULTY PART THEY PUT IN THEIR OTHER CARS. THE CAR WINDOW IS STILL STUCK DOWN IN THE DOOR, WHICH RENDERS THE CAR UNDRIVABLE HERE IN THE SF BAY AREA -- WHERE FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, YOU DO NOT PARK YOUR CAR OUTSIDE WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE VW OWNERS FORUM ONLINE, IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY OTHER CABRIO OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT AFTER REPAIR, ONE OR MORE OTHER WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE CAR BREAK, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL TRIPS TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR -- IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, THE LOUDNESS OF THE WINDOW CRASHING DOWN MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ME TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THE 2001 VW CABRIO HAS THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS THE 2001 VW JETTA AND GOLF MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10165172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM SO AFRAID THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT ! THERE IS NO DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN AND I HAVE HAD NO TIME TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP 3 HOURS FROM HERE DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE.

NHTSA complaint #10162356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM SO AFRAID THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT ! THERE IS NO DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN AND I HAVE HAD NO TIME TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP 3 HOURS FROM HERE DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE.

NHTSA complaint #10162356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I WAS CHANGING TIRES AND THE BRAKE PADS OF 2001 VW CABRIO USING VW ISSUED JACK THE JACK COLLAPSED BECAUSE IST SLIPPED FROM IT GROVE. IT HAPPENED IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I THINK IT IS UNIVERSAL JACK FOR VW CARS. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT HURT BECAUSE THE THE WHEEL WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAR WITH THE WHEEL NUTS LOOSENED. THIS JACK IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I CAN SEND THE JACK TO YOU TO BE EXAMINED IF NEEDED

NHTSA complaint #10133840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

I OPENED THE WINDOWS PART WAY TO COOL THE CAR OFF, AND WHEN I TRIED TO RAISE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, IT DROPPED INTO THE DOOR AND WOULD NOT COME UP. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR WORKING, BUT THE WINDOW WOULD NOT COME UP. HAVING HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. IT NEEDED A NEW REGULATOR, $370 FOR THE PART + LABOR + TAX.

NHTSA complaint #10125053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER STATES: HAD 2ND ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON THE ENGINE, THE WIRING HARNESS BURNT UP. UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED PARTIAL WIRING OF THE HARNESS. ALSO 3 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT IN. MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR,OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE FAILED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TWO HOLE WIRING HARNESSES, AN ORIGINAL HARNESS AND MAIN ENGINE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10120558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

CONSUMER STATES: HAD 2ND ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON THE ENGINE, THE WIRING HARNESS BURNT UP. UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED PARTIAL WIRING OF THE HARNESS. ALSO 3 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT IN. MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR,OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE FAILED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TWO HOLE WIRING HARNESSES, AN ORIGINAL HARNESS AND MAIN ENGINE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10120558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATES: HAD 2ND ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON THE ENGINE, THE WIRING HARNESS BURNT UP. UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED PARTIAL WIRING OF THE HARNESS. ALSO 3 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT IN. MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR,OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE FAILED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TWO HOLE WIRING HARNESSES, AN ORIGINAL HARNESS AND MAIN ENGINE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10120558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATES: HAD 2ND ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON THE ENGINE, THE WIRING HARNESS BURNT UP. UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED PARTIAL WIRING OF THE HARNESS. ALSO 3 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT IN. MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR,OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE FAILED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TWO HOLE WIRING HARNESSES, AN ORIGINAL HARNESS AND MAIN ENGINE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10120558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

LOCK MODULE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH DOES NOT CATCH.

NHTSA complaint #10117202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, SHE HEARD A NOISE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO TOLD HER THAT SHE HAD THREE (3) WHEEL BEARINGS GOING BAD AT ONCE. THEN SHE STATES THAT LAST WEEK SHE HEARD A SIMILAR NOISE, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER IN HER HOME TOWN, THIS TIME THE DEALER TOLD HER THE SAME THING, THAT SHE NOW HAS THE 4TH WHEEL BEARING GOING BAD. SHE STATES SHE HAS CALLED VW, AND HAS ALSO WRITTEN THEM. SHE SAID VW REFUSED TO RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATES THE FIRST 3 WHEEL BEARING STARTED TO GO AT 57,000 MILES, THEN THE OTHER ONE STARTED TO GO AT 59,200 MILES. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10097290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.