1998 Volkswagen Cabrio Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cabrio years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio. That ranks 4th out of 8 Cabrio model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (7 complaints, 33%), typically at around 85,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 2 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 21owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 7 | 33% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 24% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 19% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 19% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 14% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 5% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 5% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Volkswagen Cabrio recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Problem: On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.
Risk: Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began june 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel tank puncture (PE00033) — opened Aug 10, 2000, closed Dec 28, 2000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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
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…
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
Other Volkswagen Cabrio years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Cabrio | 23 | 0 |
| 2001 Cabrio | 38 | 1 |
| 2000 Cabrio | 16 | 1 |
| 1999 Cabrio | 29 | 0 |
| 1998 | 21 | 1 |
| 1997 Cabrio | 14 | 0 |
| 1996 Cabrio | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 Cabrio | 15 | 0 |
See all Volkswagen Cabrio problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio?
Owners most often report structure, visibility, electrical system problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cabrio model years, the 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.