26 of the
302 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Cabrio
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
26
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. ON AUGUST 29, 2017, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DAVID MAUS VOLKSWAGEN, 1050 LEE RD, ORLANDO, FL 32810) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT RETURNED ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER DAY TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOCKAGE THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $400 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STAFF BECAME VERY AGGRESSIVE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, FOR WHICH A LETTER HAD TO BE WRITTEN AND APPROVED BY THE SERVICE DIRECTOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM THE DEALER SINCE AUGUST 29, 2017. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,375. *TT
NHTSA complaint #11062171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WINDOW FELL OUT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED, HER MODEL YEAR WAS THE ONLY YEAR, WHERE THE WINDOWS WERE GLUED IN, INSTEAD OF SEALED, IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOPS.
NHTSA complaint #10480282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR. IT COMPLETELY FAILED ONCE IT BROKE AND THE WINDOW REMAINED OPEN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NO SECURITY AND UNSAFE. THIS WEEK THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DID THE SAME THING AFTER I PAID FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE TO BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10297895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO FAIL TWO WEEKS AGO. THE DIRECTIONALS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEATER DID NOT WORK. I WAS TOLD BY A VW DEALERSHIP IN MA THAT THE CAR ALARM SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS CAUSED THE SWITCHING GEAR AND OTHER VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN MY CAR TO MALFUNCTION. AFTER INFORMING THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE AROUND $1,000.00 I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THESE ISSUES ONLY TO BE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MY VW 1999 CABRIO IS NOTORIOUS ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER MAKES OF THE VW LINE TO HAVE FAULTY AND PROBLEMATIC ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WAS TOLD, "SORRY THIS IS NOT A COVERED ITEM" THERE ARE VARIOUS RESOURCES OUT THERE TO LEARN THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THIS HAPPENS TO THE CONSUMER OF THEIR CARS. WHEN YOU PAY $35000 FOR A CAR YOU EXPECT IT TO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BEFORE 50K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10110780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHEN STARTING CAR 75% OF THE TIME ABS AND (HAND) BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SWITCH ON THOUGH BRAKE NOT ENGAGED; AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS AND A/C DIDN'T WORK. WAS TOLD IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. ALSO, WINDOW AUTOMATIC CLOSE MALFUNCTIONING WHICH DEALER SERVICE SAYS IS UNRELATED. NECESSITATED ABOUT $1,800 PARTS AND LABOR. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MERCY GENERALLY OF VW DEALER SERVICE SINCE MANY MECHANICS DO NOT STOCK THE COMPUTER NECESSARY TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH TWO VW DEALERS IN MY AREA (NORTHERN VIRGNIA). ONE DEALER (ALEXANDRIA VW) FAILED TO TIGHTEN WHEEL NUTS AFTER A ROUTINE CHECK-UP AND CLAIMED AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR THAT NOTHING WAS AMISS. ANOTHER (STOHLMAN IN VIENNA, VA.) REPLACED THE IGNITIION SWITCH BUT BROKE A PART WHILE DOING SO, SO THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #10088451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 4/21 I TOOK MY 2001 CABRIO IN TO BE SERVICED AT ESSERMAN IN MIAMI. THEY ORDERED THE WIPER FLUID CONTAINER BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT. I PHONED EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT OBTAIN A DATE FROM THE NAT'L PARTS CENTER ON WHEN IT WOULD ARRIVE AND FINALLY SUGGESTED THAT I PHONED VW ADVOCATE. I PHONED VW ADVOCATE 800-822-8987 ON 6/1 AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK TO SEE WHEN THE PART COULD SHIP TO THE DEALER AND PHONE ME BACK. NO CALLS RECEIVED. ON 6/7 I PHONED AGAIN AND THE PART IS STILL ON ORDER WITH NO PROJECTED DATE. I'VE HAD THIS CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR ISSUES DURING THE 3 YEARS OF MY LEASE AND NOW THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHEN THEY CAN HAVE THE CONTAINER IN SO I CAN CLEAN MY WINDSHIELD? I WOULD AT LEAST EXPECT A DATE TO BE GIVEN. I AM IN THE MFG. BUSINESS AND WHEN AN ORDER IS PLACED YOU GIVE A DELIVERY DATE -EVEN IF IT HAS TO BE PRODUCED. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN TO GET AN ANSWER AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP. MY LEASE EXPIRES NEXT APRIL AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE PART PRIOR TO THEN AND I'M TIRED OF GOING TO GAS STATIONS TO CLEAN MY WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10074918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON, AS DOES THE ABS LIGHT, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT, THE CARS BATTERY EXPLOADED, THE DRIVERS POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS, THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE RADIO HAS A MALFUNCTION, THE HYDROLIC PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC TOP MALFUNCTIONED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS SOME OTHER MORE MINOR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10063883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH HEATER CORE BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP AND COOLANT TO LEAK FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE CONSUMER'S LEGS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10061262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: IN MARCH, 2003, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2000 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO CONVERTIBLE. WHEN THE CAR HAD 13,611 MILES ON IT, WE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NOT OPERATING. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AT THE TIME, SUCH AS THE WINDOW SWITCHES NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND THE FACT THAT THE ALARMS HAD GONE OFF AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES, LOCKING UP THE RADIO. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORT MYERS DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE CAR, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND THE OTHER PROBLEMS WERE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF. SHE REALIZED WHILE DRIVING AWAY THAT THE ODOMETER WAS SHOWING ZERO MILES, SO SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO QUESTION WHY. THE MEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BRUSHED HER OFF AND SIMPLY SAID IT'S OKAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION, AS SHE KNEW THAT CHANGING THE ACTUAL MILEAGE OF AN AUTOMOBILE IS VERY SERIOUS; BUT THEY CONTINUED TO REPEAT IT'S OKAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. AT THE TIME, THEY NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO EXPLAIN TO HER THAT THEY HAD PUT A STICKER IN THE DOOR JAM SHOWING HOW MANY MILES THE CAR HAD ON IT WHEN THEY ZEROED IT. WE DECIDED TO TRADE OFF THE CAR FOR A NEW MAKE OTHER THAN A VOLKSWAGEN. AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO US THAT THEY COULD NOT GIVE US A FAIR VALUE FOR THE CABRIO IN TRADE FOR THEIR MAKE. WE HAD EXPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE STICKER VOLKSWAGEN HAD PLACED IN THE DOOR JAM; AND BOTH SAID IT WAS IMMATERIAL FOR THEY WOULD HAVE TO AUCTION OUR TRADE AS A VEHICLE WITH UNKNOWN MILEAGE. BECAUSE OF VOLKSWAGEN'S ACTIONS, WE'RE BEING PENALIZED APPROXIMATELY $3,000 WHICH IS THE AMOUNT THE OTHER DEALERS INSIST THEY MUST DEDUCT FROM THE VALUE OF THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA SHOULD HAVE PROVISIONS WITHIN ITS LAWS THAT WOULD ALLOW A MANUFACTURER TO ASSURE THAT THE PROPER MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10041555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT OR REAR WINDOWS WOULD FAIL AND STICK IN THE SEAL CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LITTLE BIT, AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO VERY MUCH SO I THEN PRESSED HARDER AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP RESULTING IN HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR DEFROSTER INOP, LACK OF POWER WHEN SHIFTING INTO 1, 2, AND 3RD GEAR, FINALLY GET POWER WHEN GOING ABOUT 60MPH, E-BRAKE WOULD STICK AND COULD NOT GET IT DOWN, WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR,
NHTSA complaint #706080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.