Most common 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Cabrio complaints by model year
Best Cabrio years: 1996, 1997, 1995. Years to avoid: 2001, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Volkswagen Cabrio recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.
Remedy: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio:
Fuel tank puncture
The office of defects investigation opened this investigation on August 10, 2000 based on 9 reports regarding punctured fuel tanks involving the jetta, passat, and cabrio models.the reports indicate additional reports in its response to the preliminary evaluation.this investigation has been upgraded for further study.
What 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio owners say
Body & structure
The top on my 1998 vw Cabrio has dried out and is cracking due to a defect in the manufacturing in the vinyl used for the top. Vw has refused to replace it even though I know 3 other owners locally with the same exact year/car/problem.
1998 Volkswagen Cabrio gls front windshield header has rusted and no longer capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle. The consumer had to incur the cost of having the front windshield replaced after the front windshield cracked because of the deformities in the windshield header. The vehicle was examined by an auto repair shop and their conclusion was that the front windshield was no longer safe enough to protect the occupants in the event of a roll over since the frame had rusted out. The support was a structural issue and a vehicles frame should not rust out.(lawyer wrote in on behalf of client)
Transmission & drivetrain
Clutch inhibitor relay was faulty--car would not start and had it towed to dealership to fix, passenger seatbelt has been replaced 3 times already, ABS light came on 4 days before accident took car into chapman's to be fixed but when I went to stop at a light I pressed on breaks and it slowed a little bit, and it didn't seem to very much so I then pressed harder and the car did not stop resulting in hitting the vehicle in front of me, passenger side mirror defroster inop, lack of power when shifting into 1, 2, and 3rd gear, finally get power when going about 60mph, e-brake would stick and could not get it down, when put into reverse, it would pop out of gear,
Manufacturer told me that the car can lurch forward, from 1st gear to 3rd gear, causing an accident due to a bad transmission (car has only 46,100 miles, which leads me to believe that the transmission is faulty and defective, and should be warranty, and replaced by the manufacturer, even if the car is 7 years old).
Windows, wipers & sunroof
The alarm system does not activate on the drivers side door. The door also occasionally does not lock on the drivers side door either. You must go to the passenger side to compensate for this flaw. Additionally the drivers side window does not always go up. About half of the time, or more it goes up and then goes back down on its own. You must hold the up button for the window for it to go all the way up when its suppose to be an automatic up automatic down window.
Convertible top shredding. Huge rips all over it. Class action suit filed in california. The manufacturer would like me to obtain an attorney or pay for half the repair costs. However, those included in the class action will be able to get theirs replaced.
1998 Volkswagen Cabrio engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Cabrio rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Cabrio at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio?
The body & structure — 7 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › roof and pillars. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and windows, wipers & sunroof (4).
How many recalls does the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio, the most recent from January 25, 2002 (filler pipe and cap). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Cabrio?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 1997 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001 and 1999. See the full Volkswagen Cabrio years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.