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VOLKSWAGEN · vehicle model

VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO

302 NHTSA complaints and 1 safety recall across model years 1989–2002.

Complaints
302
Recalls
1
Model years
12

The VOLKSWAGENCABRIO appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 302 consumer safety complaints and 1 recall campaign across 12 model years (1989–2002). That averages roughly 25 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 37 investigation files tied to this model, with 2 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
200239
200158
200018
199966
199837
199720
19967
199519
199318
199212
19917
19891

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

3
’95
14
’96
10
’97
5
’98
24
’99
26
’00
14
’01
37
’02
37
’03
38
’04
32
’05
6
’06
11
’07
11
’08
3
’09
6
’10
7
’11
2
’12
6
’13
3
’14
3
’16
3
’18
1
’21

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare VOLKSWAGENCABRIO to Similar Vehicles

VOLKSWAGENCABRIO vs FORD500 → VOLKSWAGENCABRIO vs MERCEDES-BENZC320 → VOLKSWAGENCABRIO vs MERCEDES-BENZGLC300 → VOLKSWAGENCABRIO vs MERCEDES-BENZGLE 350 →

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

EA24004Engineering AnalysisOpen2024-12-18

Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking

RQ24010Recall QueryClosed2024-05-16

Inadvertent Door Opening

RQ23007Recall QueryClosed2023-12-12

Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)

PE23017Preliminary EvaluationClosed2023-09-28

Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking

EQ22001EQClosed2022-04-01

LGES High Voltage Battery Failures

PE21008Preliminary EvaluationClosed2021-03-29

Fuel Injector Leak

DP19003Defect PetitionClosed2019-09-03

Vehicle Stalling - Manual Transmission

EA18005Engineering AnalysisClosed2018-07-03

Seat Belt Webbing Failure

EA18003Engineering AnalysisOpen2018-04-18

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

PE18001Preliminary EvaluationClosed2018-01-10

Seat Belt Webbing Failure

View all 37 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO?▼
The VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO has received 302 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1989 to 2002, with 1 recalls. That averages about 25 complaints per model year.
What years of VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO from 1989 to 2002 (12 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.