Volkswagen Cabrio Complaints

186 consumer complaints on file.

#10088451August 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086807August 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR, THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THAT INCIDENT, MY BRAKES AGAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER, MY BRAKES AGAIN NEEDED WORK. MY CAR FAILED ITS YEARLY INSPECTION DUE TO TIE RODS. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086715August 12, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE AT FUEL TANK RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING. VW DEALERS WILL NOT WORK ON THE CAR STATING IT IS OLDER THAN 8 YEARS. VW CANNOT SUPPLY A REPLACEMENT PART TO MY MECHANIC. GIVEN LOCATION, RUBBER CANNOT BE USED AND BENDS ARE TO TIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086717August 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
LIGHT SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND GOT VERY HOT BEFORE I COULD TURN OFF THE CAR, ABOUT 5 SECONDS. DEALER REPLACED LIGHT SWITCH AND COMMENTED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL. ABOUT 5 YEARS LATTER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. DASH LIGHT AT SWITCH HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE 1ST INCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083107August 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE FIRST SUFFERRED SERIOUS POWER AND IGNITION PROBLEMS ONE RAINY DAY. ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER WE WERE INFORMED THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND IT WOULD BE $750.00 FOR NEW SPARKPLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, AND ROTOR. I AM AN ENGINEER AND FOUND THAT PRICE OFFENSIVE WRT THE WORK ASSOCIATED. I REPLACED THESE ITEMS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF DEBUGGING THE IGNITION SYSTEM I FINALLY FOUND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AT THE CONTROL LINES TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WHEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER WAS APPLIED. I SEALED AND WATER PROOFED THIS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH SILICON AND COULD THEN DOUSE THE ENGINE IN WATER WITHOUT ANY MISFIRES. MY WIFE REPORTED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ACCELLERATION AND MISSING ON HUMID MORNINGS. I TOOK THE CAR FROM HER ONE DAY AND IT RAINED. SINCE THEN THERE IS A MASSIVE MISFIRE AT THE COIL. THIS MAKES STARTING DIFFICULT AND RUNNING IMPOSSIBLE. AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENETS IN THIS VEHICLE ARE AMATURE BORDERING ON RETARDED. SOMEONE PLEASE TRANSLATE THIS TO GERMAN AND FORWARD IT TO BOSCH AND VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081002July 13, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, PARKING BRAKE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF A NEW 1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT QUIT WORKING. IN JULY 2001 THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WENT BAD. THREE YEARS LATER, THE CABLE HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. IN OCTOBER OF 2001 A COMPUTER CHIP WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IN JANUARY 2003 THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON BUT NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. BUTTONS, LIKE THE LOCK BUTTON, FALL OFF THE CAR. MY TAILLIGHTS FREQUENTLY GO OUT AND COME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES BUT NO ONE CAN FIND A LOOSE WIRE. THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN JANUARY 2004. THE AUTO SHOP ORDERED PARTS AND THEY DIDN'T FIT. IT TURNS OUT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 1999, THERE ARE SOME 2000 PARTS ON IT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075055June 9, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GAUGE CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN NO SPEEDOMETER OR TACHOMETER. THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO GUESS YOUR SPEED. THE ONLY CORRECTION IS REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER AND THE ODOMETER CANNOT BE RESET. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT IN 12 MONTHS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074918June 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072938May 21, 2004
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066129April 14, 2004
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). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065950April 12, 2004
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT BOLT SHEERED OFF CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN SEAT SLID ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDALS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063883March 25, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062188March 15, 2004
TIRES
HOWEVER THE CAR IS MADE, IT KILLS THE TIRES. TODAY I WILL BE BUYING MY SECOND TIRE IN TWO YEARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060490March 5, 2004
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER/FUEL METERS AT NIGHT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061262March 3, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057111February 12, 2004
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).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070189January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INITIAL PROBLEM: STARTER SEIZED UP; WOULD NOT START. STARTER SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED; NEW STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY (CLASHING W/FLYWHEEL), SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO FLYWHEEL; DEALER REPLACED FLYWHEEL AND INSTALL ENTIRELY NEW STARTER; PROBLEM PERSISTED, WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. DEALER INSTALLS ANOTHER ENTIRELY NEW STARTER, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED, STARTER (3RD NEW ONE) STILL NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY. GAVE UP ON DEALER. AM NOW TALKING AROUND TOWN WITH NUMEROUS MECHANICS; SOME SAY THIS, SOME SAY THAT. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE. DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS STARTER DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY TYPE OF SHIM ADJUSTMENT; I WONDER. DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THIS POOR FLYWHEEL CAN PUT UP WITH THIS KIND OF ABUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050609December 16, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITH AN IMPACT OF 30-35 MILES PER HOUR AND $6,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. IT WAS A REAR-END COLLISION. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10048946December 1, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING TOUCHED. THE CAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL, THEN THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 5000. THE GAS PEDAL WAS CHECKED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T STUCK DOWN, OR BEING PRESSED BY THE RUG. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED BEFORE IT COULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047633November 26, 2003
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. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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