1997 Volkswagen Cabrio: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 20 complaints
20
Total Complaints
92,500mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Top Issue
0
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

75,000 25th Percentile
92,500 Median Mileage
154,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
2
TIRES
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1

Severity Assessment

0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 PRO..."
"ELECTRICAL FIRE IN ENGINE - APPARENT SHORT IN STARTER WIRING"
"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 INFO..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28