Volkswagen Cabrio years to avoid
The Volkswagen Cabrio years to avoid are 1999, 2001, 2002, 1998 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1989 is the cleanest year on record.
302
Total complaints
5
Recall campaigns
1989–2002
Years covered
4
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Cabrio years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 66 | |
| 2001 | High complaint rate | 58 | |
| 2002 | High complaint rate | 39 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 37 |
Every Cabrio year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002avoid | 39 | 0 | |
| 2001avoid | 58 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 18 | 1 | |
| 1999avoid | 66 | 0 | |
| 1998avoid | 37 | 1 | |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 19 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 18 | 0 | |
| 1992 | 12 | 1 | |
| 1991 | 7 | 3 | |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Volkswagen Cabrio years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Cabrio years to avoid are 1999, 2001, 2002, 1998. The cleanest year on record is 1989.
What is the best year for the Volkswagen Cabrio?
By complaint volume, 1989 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Cabrio years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Cabrio have?
Across all model years, the Cabrio has 5 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 302 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.