Model year record
1997 Volkswagen Cabrio recalls & problems
The 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 14 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 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 | 21 / 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/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* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; Ignition | 5 | 169,000 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly; Cooling system › Fan | 3 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, airAntilock | 2 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly | 1 | — |
| StructureBody › Roof and pillars | 1 | — |
| Exterior lightingHazard flashing warning lights | 1 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module | 1 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical systemFire
IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RETURN FROM STARTER POSITION -- BURNING OUT STARTER. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH 1997 A4 BUT WAS NEVER REPORTED/CARRIED OVER TO THE 1997 CABRIOLET. ALSO, KEY-IN-IGNITION-STATUS MAINTAINED EVEN AFTER KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION CAUSING BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. *TR
- Electrical system › Ignition
WHILE DRIVING MY VW CABRIO HOME LAST NIGHT THE HIGHLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, HEATER FAN AND RADIO ALL SUDDENLY WENT OFF AND THE ABS FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE LAST FEW MILES HOME. I SPOKE TO A SERVICE MANAGER AT VW TODAY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PART ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARS IGNITION SWITCH AND THAT IT IS WELL KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS CAR. I CALLED VW HEAD QUARTERS AND SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER ADVOCATE ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT VW HAD NOT CONSIDERED THIS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WARRANTED A RECALL. *TR
- Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module
CAR: 1997 VW CABRIO: AT 92.890 MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. VW DETERMINED, THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING (RESISTANCE TOO HIGH). AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING WITHOUT CLOCKSPRING. *NM
- Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights
1-2) I FOUND THE FOLLOWING RECALL FOR THE VW JETTA. THE DEFECTIVE HAZARD AND TURNSIGNAL PORTION OF THE RECALL HAS HAPPENED TO MY 1997 VW CABRIO HIGHLINE SINCE 2001 GETTING WORSE EACH YEAR. SEE BELOW, RECALL DATED DECEMBER 24, 2004. I HAVE NOT HAD A CONSEQUENCE DUE TO THIS, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT MY CAR COULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND WITHOUT HAZARDS OR TURNSIGNALS. 3) I TOOK MY CABRIO IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2003 TO REQUEST HELP WITH DEFECTIVE HAZARD AND TURNSIGNALS AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR LABOR TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE EXTEREMLY EXPENSIVE TO IDENTIFY AND FIX. SO I DON'T KNOW THE CORRECTION. NOTE: I WAS UNABLE TO SEARCH FOR VW, CABRIO RECALLS ON…
- Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
THE CONVERTIBLE TOP RIPPED OPEN ON THE SEAM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *LA
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
CONSUMER STATED THE GAS TANK CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, GASOLINE SPILLED ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY FOR SAFETY. *PH *JB
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
EXTREME EXHAUST INTRUSION INTO PASSANGER COMPARTMENT, INTO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS MANY TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. *AK
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT DECELERATE. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES TO CONTROL VEHICLE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. BUT, THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE SITUATION.*AK THE FLOOR MAT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO DECELERATE, THIS WAS ACCORDING TO 2 OTHER DEALERS.*YD
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.