Model year record
1996 Volkswagen Cabrio recalls & problems
The 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 6 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Cabrio
| City / highway | 20 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Cabrio
| City / highway | 19 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Emission control | 2 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 2 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch | 1 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield | 1 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Air bagsCrash1 injury
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 › Automatic transmission
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
- Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
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?…
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control
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
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
HOOD LATCH FAILED.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- FUEL TANK PUNCTUREClosed
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.