Volkswagen Cabrio Complaints

186 consumer complaints on file.

#10159849June 14, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SYSTEM IN VW CABRIO FAILED (FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON) JUST AFTER VEHICLE HAD PASSED WARRANTY PERIOD. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (ELIZABETH GWYNN AT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN ROCHESTER HILLS MI) STATED THROUGH TWO SUBORDINATES THAT AIRBAG SYSTEMS ARE NOT WARRANTED BEYOND ANY OTHER ITEMS EVEN THOUGH THESE SYSTEMS ARE ALLEGEDLY DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE STATEMENT (FROM MR. ERIC NEVINS) WAS THAT SAFETY ITEMS ARE NOT WORTH ANY SPECIAL OR EXTENDED COVERAGE AND THAT SAFETY IS NOT THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY BEYOND A BASIC WARRANTY. WE HAVE HAD OUR DEALER DO THE NEEDED REPAIRS ON THIS MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. THIS IS NOT A DEALER ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER (PER GWYNN AND SUBORDINATES) HAS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IT TAKES NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLE SAFETY EVEN A SINGLE MILE AFTER THE BASIC WARRANTY, WHICH COVERS NON-CRITICAL PARTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149186February 1, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE WAS GAS LEAKING WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVING AT THE RESIDENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEAK WAS IDENTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN ROUTE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146519December 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER IN THE DASHBOARD FAIL INTERMITTANTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137429September 23, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CAR: 1997 VW CABRIO: AT 92.890 MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. VW DETERMINED, THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING (RESISTANCE TOO HIGH). AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING WITHOUT CLOCKSPRING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133840August 22, 2005
EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131068August 2, 2005
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. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129197July 18, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
1-2) I FOUND THE FOLLOWING RECALL FOR THE VW JETTA. THE DEFECTIVE HAZARD AND TURNSIGNAL PORTION OF THE RECALL HAS HAPPENED TO MY 1997 VW CABRIO HIGHLINE SINCE 2001 GETTING WORSE EACH YEAR. SEE BELOW, RECALL DATED DECEMBER 24, 2004. I HAVE NOT HAD A CONSEQUENCE DUE TO THIS, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT MY CAR COULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND WITHOUT HAZARDS OR TURNSIGNALS. 3) I TOOK MY CABRIO IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2003 TO REQUEST HELP WITH DEFECTIVE HAZARD AND TURNSIGNALS AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR LABOR TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE EXTEREMLY EXPENSIVE TO IDENTIFY AND FIX. SO I DON'T KNOW THE CORRECTION. NOTE: I WAS UNABLE TO SEARCH FOR VW, CABRIO RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE SITE LIMITS ME TO SEARCHING FOR THE JETTA ONLY. DECEMBER 24, 2004 VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 369,284 CARS FOR VARIOUS DEFECTS, INCLUDING LEAKING FUEL PUMPS AND DEFECTIVE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCHES, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION AGENCY (NHTSA) SAID. VW IS RECALLING 300,000 GOLF, GTI AND JETTA CARS FROM 2000-2002 MODEL YEARS BECAUSE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME DUE TO HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM TURN-SIGNAL BULBS, ACCORDING OT NHTSA. VW, EUROPE'S BIGGEST AUTOMAKER, IS ALSO RECALLING 19,284 GOLF, JETTA, BEETLE AND PASSAT CARS FROM 2004-2005 MODEL YEARS BECAUSE A LEAKING DIESEL FUEL PUMP COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP. ALSO, VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT IS CHECKING AS MANY AS 447,000 CARS MADE BETWEEN 2001 AND 2003, INCLUDING THE GOLF, GTI AND JETTA MODELS, FOR POSSIBLE AIRBAG PROBLEMS AFTER OFFICIALS CAME UP WITH 107 CASES IN WHICH SIDE-DOOR AIRBAGS MAY HAVE DEPLOYED IMPROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125053June 12, 2005
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120558May 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, 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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116539April 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, TIRES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
PURCHSED VEHICLE NEW.. HAVE RETURNED IT VARIOUS TIMES FOR ENGINE LIGHT - FIRST TIME WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE SENSOR GAUGE REPLACED TWICE, A GAS SENSOR REPLACED ONCE, THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED TWICE. I TOO HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING - THE LAST TIME THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN 'MISSED' A WIRING ISSUE; THE VINYL NEAR THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS IS PEELING OFF FOR THE SECOND TIME (FIRST TIME VW REPLACED AT NO COST AFTER I COMPLAINED TO VW AMERICAN); WITH JUST 45000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES (AT MY EXPENSE AT 22000 MILES) AND HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES. IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES NOT COUNTING THE 5000 MILE OIL CHANGES. ALL WORK HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED SO THAT I CAN PROVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116479April 6, 2005
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).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117202March 31, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCK MODULE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH DOES NOT CATCH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114741March 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH REAR TAIL LIGHTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110780February 19, 2005
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106868January 5, 2005
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 *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100818November 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE CAR HAD 8,000 MILES ON IT. YOU PUSH ON THE GAS AND THE CAR GOES JUST ENOUGH TO PUT YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE FOR 3-4 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX TWICE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME IT'S FIXED, BUT IT'S NOT. MY CAR NOW HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ONE WANTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101500November 22, 2004
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097290November 3, 2004
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 *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093640October 5, 2004
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.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088869August 31, 2004
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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