Most common 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio problems
Share of the 16 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 →
2000 Volkswagen Cabrio recalls (1)
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." child seat anchorages installed in the vehicle's rear seats must be identified by markings, and their location and use be described in the owner's manual.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for the owner's manual and also one set of four guidance fixtures intended to use in conjunction with child seats equipped with rigid or semi-rigid lower anchorage attachments.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2000 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 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Purchased a 2000 vw Cabrio from a used car dealership in new jersey (that was my first mistake as I am a new york resident.) test drove and visual inspection appeared great. Drove the car off the lot and within 3 miles, check engine light came on. Checked fluids, proceeded with our trip home. Within 10 miles, the car's manual transmission jumps out of fifth gear while going 65mps on a 4 lane highway. With the dealership closed (and being the car was sold "as-is", we limped home. The 2 hour trip ended up taking nearly 3 hours. Mechanic found the transmission had been replaced but not refilled with transmission fluid. Brand new tranny installed only to find the starter was also malfunctioning. Meanwhile, the check engine light was on due to a $409.00 secondary air pump failure. I hadn't even owned the car 2 weeks and had already spend over $2000 in repairs. …
Manual transmission in 2000 vw Cabrio went bad sept. 05, replaced car garaged for winter driven very little approx 15oo miles in April 06 transmission went again - same symptoms problem - transmission replaced again oct 07 - transmission bad again after approx 5000 miles. Gears chipping accused of driver error. Have had 3 other cars with manual transmissions that I owned for 10 years never a problem.
2000 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 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Cabrio rates average: 14% fewer complaints than 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 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio?
The transmission & drivetrain — 5 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the body & structure (2) and speed control & acceleration (2).
How many recalls does the 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio have?
There is 1 recall for the 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio, the most recent from September 12, 2002 (owners/service/other manual). 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 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 63% 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.