NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Volkswagen Cabrio Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 6 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio.

1996 Volkswagen Cabrio owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio, describing incidents dated March 1, 1997 to March 16, 2016.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 2 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Power Train 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 6 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10850275 · Filed March 17, 2016
CAR INVOLVED IN FRONT END ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT AND PERSONAL INJURY WAS THE RESULT, THE CAR WAS TURNING LEFT ON CITY STREET AND WAS STRUCK IN RIGHT FRONT
ODI #893446 · Filed August 6, 2001
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SURGE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARMER WEATHER. *NOTE: TRANMISSION WAS REBUILT BY DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY FOR SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.*AK
ODI #825956 · Filed July 28, 1998
VEHICLE LEAKS GAS. GAS LEAK IS COMING FROM ENGINE AREA OF VEHICLE. ALSO VAVLE GASKET WAS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DELAERS THEN NOTED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. *AK

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE00-033: FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
Closed December 28, 2000

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio.

Air Bags

ODI #10850275

Crash 1 injury

Incident: March 16, 2016 · Filed: March 17, 2016

CAR INVOLVED IN FRONT END ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT AND PERSONAL INJURY WAS THE RESULT, THE CAR WAS TURNING LEFT ON CITY STREET AND WAS STRUCK IN RIGHT FRONT

Power Train

ODI #893446

Incident: August 4, 2001 · Filed: August 6, 2001

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SURGE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARMER WEATHER. *NOTE: TRANMISSION WAS REBUILT BY DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY FOR SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #825956

Filed: July 28, 1998

VEHICLE LEAKS GAS. GAS LEAK IS COMING FROM ENGINE AREA OF VEHICLE. ALSO VAVLE GASKET WAS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DELAERS THEN NOTED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. *AK

Air Bags

ODI #744112

Crash 1 injury

Incident: March 25, 2001 · Filed: April 16, 2001

UPON LOW SPEED IMPACT, 5 MPH, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS EXPANDED CAUSING MINOR BURNS AND 'CUTS' ON PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT. SINCE ACCIDENT ON 03-25-01, THE DEALER HAS YET TO RECEIVE THE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS-TODAY'S DATE, 04-16-01. IN SPEAKING WITH VWOA'S ENGINEERING & PARTS DEPTS, THEY SAID DO NOT USUALLY STOCK ITEM IN US AND THAT THE AIRBAGS RESPONDED "CORRECTLY" IN DECELERATION MODE. BESIDES THE COST OF REPLACING THE AIRBAGS, THE DAMAGE TO THE VW WAS MINIMAL (SCRATCH ON LT FT. FENDER & THE NEED TO REPLACE THE LT. FT. SIDE MARKER). IS THERE A PROBLEM W/THESE AIRBAGS? SHOULD THEY HAVE GONE OFF @ SUCH A LOW SPEED? IF SO, THEY COULD HAVE GONE OFF IN HITTING A PARKING GARAGE 'PYLON', NO? PLEASE INFORM ME ASAP ON WHY VWOA DOES NOT HAVE PARTS IN US! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #722583

Incident: March 1, 1997 · Filed: May 12, 2000

FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE GAS MILEAGE WAS GROSSLY LOW SO EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE I WOULD HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM NOTHING WAS EVER DONE AND THE GAS MILEAGE HAS NEVER GOTTEN BETTER NOW I HAVE APPROX. 42,000MI ON THE VEHICLE AND STILL HORRIBLE GAS MILEAGE AND NO POWER II THOUGHT IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS COVERED UNDER THE FED EMMISSIONS WARRANTY BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSORS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THESE O2 SENSORS AND EVERYTHING I HAVE READ LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE FAULTY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE!*AK

Visibility

ODI #604426

Filed: October 27, 1997

WINDSHIELD SCRATCHED.

Other Volkswagen Cabrio model years

Check your 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen Cabrio at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volkswagen VIN