I bought my VW Cabrio because I always wanted a convertible. After having owned the car for 3 months the first of may electrical problems started. The blower for the heater and air conditioner would work when it wanted to. I had to bring it back to South Shore Imported Cars in Hanover, MA 3 times before the problem could be fixed.
After having the car for 9 months the passenger side window decided that it would do what it wanted. I would put it down and when I tried to put it up it would then go up and down. I would have to try about 3 times to get the window to stay up. It went into the same dealer again and it took my brining it back 4 times to get this problem fixed. They finally ordered a new motor for the window and put it in and since then it as been fine.
After owning the car for a year I brought it in for it's annual inspection and it failed. It had failed because I did not have brake lights. Considering I don't drive behind myself ever I don't know how long it had been like this for. So back to the dealer I go and for once it was fixed in one visit. It was a faulty switch for the brake lights.
Shortly after my visit to the dealership for the brake lights I started having the same problem with the drivers side window that I had with the passenger's window just a few months before. I brought it in again and had the dealership look at it and they said that the inside of the door by the window was dirty and cleaned it. Seeing as I had the same problem with the other window only a few earlier one would think that they would just replace the motor. Well here I am and the window still does what it wants from time to time.
Owning my 2001 Cabrio GLX for 14 months now I was driving to work this morning and the interior light decided that it would just like to stay on. Now it is off again, but I am sure that it will come back on and stay on again some day soon.
For all that are considering purchasing a VW please think again. I have always dreamed of having a convertible ever since I was little and when I first bought this car I was going to drive it forever. Now all that I want is out. At any cost!
I have spoke to other people who have owned the Jetta, Golf and Cabrio and all have had serious electrical and/or mechanical problems.
My previous car was a Pontiac Sunfire and I had 2 basic problems with the car in the 2 years that I had it. I can't even drive by one now without feeling like a jerk for getting rid of it for the hunk of junk Cabrio I am driving right now.
If given the option buy American or Japanese.
I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 CABRIO- 21k MILES ON IT. TRYING TO GET RID OF IT NOW- GORGEOUS CAR- BUT NOT WORTH THE HASSLE. NON- STOP ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WARNING LIGHTS ALWAYS ON, THEN OFF, THEN ON AGAIN. AS WITH THE A/C , CRUISE CONTROL, WINDOWS. BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME.
I am currently having the same problems with my driver's side window. I was wondering if there was some sort of recall on the motor, but I guess not. I have a 2001 Cabrio GLX that is a very nice car other than the window problem.
This car is a hunk of junk! I have owned it 4 years and within the first year it spent time at the dealer. Currently the driver side window is down and won't go up, all of the ac/heater vents have broke off, the door handles have peeled (replaced twice, still peel), the center console has popped up and the drink holder cover in the back seat has fallen off. The little plastic piece next to the radio fell off so many times I've now lost it. I will NEVER buy another Volkswagen. I am so disappointed in this car.
I would have to say without fail... my car needs to go into the shop every SIX months. As soon as I get to the six month mark, I can feel something coming on. Trying to get rid of this diva now!
Only advice for new buyers of VW... BUY THE EXTENDED Warranty! Best thing I ever did when buy this car, but a month after the Warranty expired... exhaust system completely busted!
I agree with this poster, I had the same problems with
my 2001 Cabrio. I also had (still have) a 2001 GTi at
the same time. I could not understand that these are almost
the same typer of car, but the Cabrio was full of problems
from day one. The running lights, turn indicators and alarm
would turn on and off at any given time. The driver's window
would open and close when the car was off and parked. Also,
when it rained, it turned into a U-Boat.
I traded it for a Jetta after one year. I still have the
GTi and I love it.
2001 cabrio. All windows just quit working? Am about to run it off a cliff.
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