1998 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
1998 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO GLS FRONT WINDSHIELD HEADER HAS RUSTED AND NO LONGER CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER HAD TO INCUR THE COST OF HAVING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE DEFORMITIES IN THE WINDSHIELD HEADER. THE VE...
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...
Mileage: 46,000
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
Mileage: 85,000
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 CA...
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
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 REMOVI...
Mileage: 90,000
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 R...
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 TH...
THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOE...
Mileage: 50,000
THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOE...
Mileage: 50,000
THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ALSO OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER. YOU MUST GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS FLAW. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME, OR MORE IT GOE...
Mileage: 50,000
THE TOP ON MY 1998 VW CABRIO HAS DRIED OUT AND IS CRACKING DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING IN THE VINYL USED FOR THE TOP. VW HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW 3 OTHER OWNERS LOCALLY WITH THE SAME EXACT YEAR/CAR/PROBLEM.*AK
Mileage: 85,000
MY TAN-VINYL CONVERTIBLE TOP BEGIN TO CHEMICALLY BREAK-DOWN AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY VW OF AMERICA THAT I WAS PAST MY WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE TOP CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE OVER TIME. I HAVE FOUND 15 OTHER 1998 CABRIO OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAM...
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED, DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH RELAY UNIT WAS THE PROBLEM. *SLC
ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER HAS TO LOCK THE VEHICLE AT THE PASSENGER SIDE, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP HALF THE TIME. *SLC
AFTER ONE YEAR, THE TOP STARTED DEVELOPING BLACK MARKS, THE MARKS DO NOT COME OFF WITH SOAP AND WATER, THE TOP ALSO STARTED TURNING ORANGE AND BECAME STICKY, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS SUN DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS MOSTLY KEPT IN A GARAGE, THE TOP IS NOW RIPPING NEAR THE BACK WINDOW, VW...
VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK, DEALER STATED THE BATTERY HAD FAILED. *SLC
SCREW SECURED FACTORY WHEEL WEIGHTS CREATE LEAKS IN COLD WEATHER WHEN TIRES COLD CAUSING RAQPID DEFLATIION AND SEPARATION FROM RIM. THOUGHT IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT UNTIL IT HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL (RIGHT REAR WHEEL) AND EXIT FROM HIGHWAY. TIRE DISINTEGRATES FROM HEAT WITH...
IGNITION SWITCH OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AND WAS MAKING REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF AND ON AND SO DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
DEALERSHIP DID NOT REMOVE SHIPPING COVER TABS FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP, CAUSING BLACK MARKS ON VINYL TOP, AND MAJOR WATER LEAKAGE
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELING 60MPH, HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND WENT INTO MEDIAN. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO A STOP. SEAT BELT DIDN'T WORK. NOTICED THE PROBLEM 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE. ALSO, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELING 60MPH, HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND WENT INTO MEDIAN. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO A STOP. SEAT BELT DIDN'T WORK. NOTICED THE PROBLEM 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE. ALSO, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
I DO NOT HAVE WITH ME NOW THE EXACT DATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AT HOME THAT I CAN REVIEW AND UPDATE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW SEVERAL TIMES FOR BOTH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (FAILURE TO ACCELERATE) AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE MUFFLER CAME AP...
I DO NOT HAVE WITH ME NOW THE EXACT DATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AT HOME THAT I CAN REVIEW AND UPDATE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW SEVERAL TIMES FOR BOTH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (FAILURE TO ACCELERATE) AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE MUFFLER CAME AP...
CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LIT...
CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LIT...
CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LIT...
CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LIT...
CLUTCH INHIBITOR RELAY WAS FAULTY--CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON 4 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT TOOK CAR INTO CHAPMAN'S TO BE FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT I PRESSED ON BREAKS AND IT SLOWED A LIT...
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RADIO OUT OF ORDER. YH
GLOVE BOX DOOR OUT OF ORDER. YH