1997 Volkswagen Cabrio problems
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Common 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio problems
The Volkswagen Cabrio 1997 has been known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners of this car. Here are some of the most frequently reported issues:
- Reverse Gear Failures and Noise in Manual Transmission Models: Many owners of the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio have reported issues with the manual transmission, including reverse gear failures and noise. The problem can be caused by worn synchronizers or other transmission components, and can result in difficulty shifting or even complete transmission failure.
- Electrical Problems: The 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio has also been known to have various electrical problems, including issues with the ignition coil, starter, and battery. Some owners have reported intermittent starting issues, which can be caused by a draw on the battery or a faulty ignition coil. Other electrical problems include issues with the headlights, ABS and brake lights, which can be caused by a variety of factors, including faulty sensors or wiring.
- Manufacturing Problems in the Electrical Systems: Despite some minor manufacturing problems in the electrical systems, the overall car was well built. Any issues the car had when new were surely repaired by the time we purchased the one we got. The one we purchased was a '97, 91,000 miles, one owner and Carfax indicated this owner was religious on Dealer Maintenance. The car was impeccably "clean", inside, outside, underneath and under the hood. Everything was a 10 on a 10 scale. The dealer we purchased it from hadn't had a chance to even detail it yet. They had washed the exterior vacuumed and armor all's the interior. Thus far 4,000 miles later the car is perfect and exactly what we expected. Though it's no high performance car it's zippy and fun to drive. Handles well and is economical on gas. On the nice days we drop the top for more fun. Interesting enough the car has very little air noise. I've owned convertibles for over 30 years as well and nearly all have air noise or leak water. This car is nearly silent with the top up, very quiet and very little "blowing around" with the top down and it doesn't leak in heavy rain or even the car wash. We're looking forward to turning over 250,000 miles on this car. Which, with regular preventative maintenance it should reach with no problem.
- Typical Mk3 Problems: The 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio is part of the Mk3 generation of VW models, which has been known to have several common problems, including issues with the fuel system, ignition system, and suspension. These problems can result in poor performance, reduced fuel efficiency, and difficulty driving.
- Exterior Problems: The 3rd generation Cabrio (1995-1998) ranks 11th in reliability out of 46 generations. There are 4 complaints mostly about exterior problems. Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills. Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies. Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com. Overall reliability rank out of 46 eligible generations.
In summary, the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio has been known to have several common problems, including issues with the manual transmission, electrical systems, and exterior components. While some of these issues can be relatively minor, others can result in significant repair costs and reduced reliability. It's important for owners of this car to stay up-to-date on regular maintenance and to address any issues as soon as they arise to minimize the risk of more serious problems down the line.
What is the difference between a cabriolet and a cabrio?
There is no functional difference between a cabriolet and convertible in modern automobiles. Which word you use generally depends on where you're from. Cabriolet—often shortened to cabrio—is the common name for a convertible in many European countries.
What year did VW stop making Cabrio?
The second generation were introduced in 1994, the third in 1998. The engines for the Cabriolet are almost the same as for the regular Golf. The Golf Cabriolet was discontinued in 2002, and succeeded by the Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet and the Volkswagen Eos.
What was the last year for VW Cabrio?
2002
Cabriolet versions of the fourth-generation Golf and sixth-generation Golf were produced between 1998 and 2002 and 2011 and 2016, respectively. Overall, more than 770,000 Golf cabriolets were produced over a 37-year period – all at the Karmann plant in Osnabrück, which recently ceased production of the Porsche Boxster.
How big is the gas tank on a VW Cabrio?
14.5 gal
Fuel & MPG
304.5/406.0 mi. 14.5 gal.
1997 Volkswagen Cabrio car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Cabrio problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Service brakes problems
- Air problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1997 Volkswagen Cabrio complaints
The NHTSA has received 15 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-05-02
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WAUAA8867VN
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
- Summary: 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 PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2008-01-14
- VIN: 3VWBA81E7VM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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 PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-08-03
- VIN: 3VWAA81E1VM
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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 PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-01-01
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: 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 YOUR WEBSITE. THE SITE LIMITS ME TO SEARCHING FOR THE JETTA ONLY. DECEMBER 24, 2004 VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 369,284 CARS FOR VARIOUS DEFECTS, INCLUDING LEAKING FUEL PUMPS AND DEFECTIVE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCHES, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION AGENCY (NHTSA) SAID. VW IS RECALLING 300,000 GOLF, GTI AND JETTA CARS FROM 2000-2002 MODEL YEARS BECAUSE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME DUE TO HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM TURN-SIGNAL BULBS, ACCORDING OT NHTSA. VW, EUROPE'S BIGGEST AUTOMAKER, IS ALSO RECALLING 19,284 GOLF, JETTA, BEETLE AND PASSAT CARS FROM 2004-2005 MODEL YEARS BECAUSE A LEAKING DIESEL FUEL PUMP COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP. ALSO, VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT IS CHECKING AS MANY AS 447,000 CARS MADE BETWEEN 2001 AND 2003, INCLUDING THE GOLF, GTI AND JETTA MODELS, FOR POSSIBLE AIRBAG PROBLEMS AFTER OFFICIALS CAME UP WITH 107 CASES IN WHICH SIDE-DOOR AIRBAGS MAY HAVE DEPLOYED IMPROPERLY.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-01-01
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: THE CONVERTIBLE TOP RIPPED OPEN ON THE SEAM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *LA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-07-04
- VIN: 3VWBA81E2M8
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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 PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-01-01
- VIN: 3VWAA81E4VM
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: EXTREME EXHAUST INTRUSION INTO PASSANGER COMPARTMENT, INTO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS MANY TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-08-03
- VIN: 3VWBA81E0VM
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-02-01
- VIN: 3VWBA81E1VM
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON, IT WAS SAID TO BE A BAD SENSOR ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. THE WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM AS YET.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-02-01
- VIN: 3VWBA81E1VM
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON, IT WAS SAID TO BE A BAD SENSOR ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. THE WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM AS YET.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-01-23
- VIN: 3VWAA81E9VM
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: MY VEHICLES ACCELERATOR CLIMBED FROM 55 MPH TO 95 MPH AND I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FOR 15 MINUTES.IT COST ME APPROX $200 TO GET MY CAR "FIXED" AND I WANT THE DEALER TO REIMBURSE ME. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-08-14
- VIN: 3VWBA81E9VM
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: I'M NOT SURE IF THIS FALLS WITHIN YOUR AREA OR RESPONSIBILITY. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE A TWO YEAR OLD VEHICLE PURCHASED BRAND-NEW, SHOULD HAVE BOTH THE ALTERNATOR AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR FAIL SO SOON. I THOUGHT THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-04-27
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 3VWBA81E6VM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: ELECTRICAL FIRE IN ENGINE - APPARENT SHORT IN STARTER WIRING
EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 3VWBA81E4VM
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: AIR CONDITIONER FAILED, NEW UNIT SMELLS OF MILDEW. YH
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-11-08
- VIN: 3VWAA81E5VM
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: RIGHT REAR TIRE WALL BLEW OUT. DRIVER DID NOT HIT AN OBJECT. TIRE CUT GASH IN GASOLINE TANK AND CUT BRAKE LINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO SCENE. NO FIRE RESULTED. VW DISCLAIMS ALL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT A GAS TANK THAT CAN BE CUT THROUGH BY A BLOWN TIRE IS INADEQUATELY PROTECTED, TOO THIN OR OTHERWIDE DEFECTIVE. VW DENIES A DESIGN DEFECT. ALTHOUGH NOBODY WAS HURT, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPIC IF A SPARK HAD IGNITED TE SPILLING GASOLINE. PLEASE CONTACT OWNER AT ABOVE TEL. NUMBER OR AT HOME 818-360-5485 OR HER HUSBAND KENNETH HELD AT 909-596-1848 OR SAME HOME TEL.
Negative 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio car reviews
Positive 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio car reviews
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I got this as my first car and it has over 200k and I have had no trouble whatsoever! It is extremely reliable and totally fun! It is such a sound car mechanically, I would buy another one!
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I've been driving this car for the past 6.5 years and it has been a great experience. I have had virtually no problems with it, thanks to regular maintenance. Even when I was rear-ended twice in one week, the bumper withstood both accidents and protected the car frame. The only downsides are that the 1995 model does not have a glove compartment and the cup holders are only big enough to hold cans of soda. Additionally, the '95 Cabrio does not have a central door lock. Overall, I am very satisfied with my car.
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Outstanding driving experience! The car has great handling and is very comfortable. It's also good on gas and has a superb style.
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I hope you're doing well! I just wanted to say that I really love my car. It's been such a low maintenance vehicle and it's always been so much fun to drive.
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This is the fifth VW convertible I've had over the years and this has definitely been the best model. It's solid and great fun to drive. Everything about it is quality. The sound system is great, it has great pick-up and passing ability, and lots of room for a small vehicle. And when you drive down the road with the top down, the sun beaming down and the stereo cranked, there's nothing better!
Other years of Volkswagen Cabrio
Are you having problems with your 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio?
Hillard Okuneva 2024-09-22
I really appreciate the styling and design of this car, although I do have a small issue with the cup holders. It's been a really enjoyable car to drive and I receive many compliments and positive comments. However, I have experienced some challenges with its performance and reliability. The ABS brake light has been on for a while now and the A/C system stopped working after only three years. Additionally, there is a strange clunking sound coming from the rear tires that has been present since the beginning. I have invested a significant amount of money into this car, which has been a bit of a concern for me.
Morgan Kunze 2024-06-16
This car has been a complete disaster, despite my efforts to keep it in good condition. The repairs have been frequent and expensive, with recurring issues such as problems with the oxygen sensors and cooling system. Even after replacing the timing belt and radiator, it's currently back in the shop and may require a new catalytic converter. Given these ongoing issues, I have decided to start looking for a new vehicle with more reliable performance.
Lazaro Weissnat 2024-05-24
I purchased the car in 1999 and have had to make a few fixes outside of normal wear and tear. These include replacing the cloth top ($1200), the antenna, parts in the gear shifter, the whole windshield washer fluid system (tubes, sprayers etc), and the air-conditioning refrigerator ($1200). I have noticed that some plastic parts tend to fall off, such as the seat adjusters, parts of the handles, parts in the trunk, and the outside molding. While the car may not be of the highest quality, it does have a nice appearance. Just be careful not to touch it too much, as some parts may be delicate.