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Exterior lightingPart report

1999 Volkswagen Cabrio Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
10%of 29 total for the year
Median mileage
42,100miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio, 10% of the 29 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,100 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I have a 1999 vw Cabrio, which is the convertible model of the golf. There is a recall of vws because of faulty brake lights due to faulty ignition parts. I called vw to register my complaint. They say that my VIN is not under their recall list. However, in september 2006, I had the exact same brake light mal-function, including the total melt down of all the lights on december 14, 2006 while I was on a highway in my state. I had to have the vehicle repaired and the garage used authentic vw parts from a dealership down the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #10186934, filed 2007-04, 108,932 miles

“My car's electrical system started to fail two weeks ago. The directionals, interior lights, all exterior lights and heater did not work. I was told by a vw dealership in ma that the car alarm system malfunctioned and has caused the switching gear and other various electrical components in my car to malfunction. After informing that the cost to repair this problem would be around $1,000.00 I decided to look into these issues only to be surprised to find that my vw 1999 Cabrio is notorious along with all of the other makes of the vw line to have faulty and problematic electrical systems. …”

NHTSA complaint #10110780, filed 2005-02, 42,100 miles

“About three months after the purchase of a new 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio the entire cruise control system had to be replaced because it quit working. In july 2001 the emergency brake cable went bad. Three years later, the cable has gone bad again. In october of 2001 a computer chip went bad and the car wouldn't start. In january 2003 the front exhaust pipe had to be replaced. In addition to those problems, there are a number of other problems such as the check engine light coming on and staying on but no one can find anything wrong with the car. Buttons, like the lock button, fall off the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10081002, filed 2004-07, 400 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2002313%
200125%
1999310%
199717%
1992111%

Other parts of the 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio

Electrical system
10 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Engine cooling
6 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Body and structure
4 complaints
Equipment
3 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
3 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
Air bags
2 complaints
Fuel system
2 complaints
Seat belts
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology