1997 Volkswagen Cabrio Problems
- Complaints
- 14filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 92,500miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio. The part named most often is electrical system, with 4 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 92,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 29 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system4 29%
- Engine cooling2 14%
- Air bags1 7.1%
- Brakes1 7.1%
- Equipment1 7.1%
- Exterior lighting1 7.1%
- Fuel system1 7.1%
- Other or unknown1 7.1%
Also reported: Body and structure (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10214882, filed 2008-01, 169,000 milesEngine cooling: “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”
NHTSA complaint #710814, filed 1999-09Vehicle speed control: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #719629, filed 2000-03Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 75,000 and 110,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrio FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Cabrio FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 29 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10241177Aug 21, 2023Engine cooling. Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- 10237427May 30, 2023Engine cooling. Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10235138Apr 24, 2023Engine cooling. Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10193577May 11, 2021Engine cooling. Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
- 10159010Mar 27, 2019Equipment. The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
- 10159014Mar 22, 2019Equipment, Electrical system. Alternative method for radio code retrieval.
- 10159016Mar 12, 2019Engine. Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standards
- 10158533Feb 18, 2019Exterior lighting. Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. TB updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
- 10157828Sep 14, 2017Electrical system. Updated to include model year 2014 thru 2018 applicability.
- 10157302Sep 14, 2017Equipment. Updated to include model year 2014 thru 2018 applicability.
Other model years of the Volkswagen Cabrio
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 23 | 52,450 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Stable |
| 2001 | 38 | 42,750 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 16 | 39,500 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 29 | 62,500 | 0 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 21 | 85,000 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 14 | 92,500 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 6 | 200,000 | 0 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 15 | 63,000 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 8 | 10,000 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 9 | 125,750 | 1 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 7 | 87,000 | 3 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
All Volkswagen Cabrio model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio have?
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 4 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.
Has the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio get?
The EPA rates the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio (Cabrio, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 92,500 miles and the middle half falls between 75,000 and 110,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.