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Volkswagen CabrioletYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 44 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on record for the Volkswagen Cabriolet.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints44Top: Fuel system, gasolineSafety recalls61984–1990 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Volkswagen Cabriolet years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cabriolet median. Tap a year for its full report.

'84'85'86'87'88'89'90
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1990Not rated–/1008 complaints · 4 recalls1989Not rated–/1009 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/10011 complaints · 3 recalls1986Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Volkswagen Cabriolet problems

All model years combined: 44 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline230
Air bags50
Structure40
Electrical system40
Engine and engine cooling40
Visibility31
Steering20
Fuel system, other20
Suspension20
1 other systems10
6 recalls

Volkswagen Cabriolet recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Storage: tank assembly94V-065 · 1987–1989 · Apr 8, 1994 · 7,500 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings92V-058 · 1990 · Apr 14, 1992 · 358,000 vehicles–Air bags91V-215 · 1990 · Dec 13, 1991 · 8,500 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly91V-201 · 1987–1990 · Nov 18, 1991 · 51,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control91V-162 · 1990 · Sep 11, 1991 · 11,300 vehicles–Delivery: fuel pump87V-053 · 1985–1987 · Apr 14, 1987 · 278,520 vehicles
3 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Cabriolet

  1. HEATER CORE FAILUREEA91054 · 1985–1990 · closed Jun 12, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-050
  2. GAS TANK LEAKSEA91016 · 1987–1989 · closed Nov 27, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-201
  3. GAS TANK LEAKSPE91007 · 1987–1989 · closed Feb 28, 1991
    No recall