1997 Volkswagen Cabrio Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio, and owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 101,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Ignition switch fails to return from starter position -- burning out starter. This is a know problem with 1997 a4 but was never reported/carried over to the 1997 cabriolet. Also, key-in-ignition-statu”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 15, 2013 · 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 sudde”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 15, 2008 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 26–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Volkswagen Cabrio model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Cabrio model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 Volkswagen Cabrio | 3 | 7 |
| 1992 Volkswagen Cabrio | 1 | 9 |
| 1993 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 8 |
| 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 15 |
| 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 6 |
| 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 14 |
| 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio | 1 | 21 |
| 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 29 |
| 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio | 1 | 16 |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio | 1 | 38 |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio | 0 | 23 |
Checking a specific 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio
How do I know if my 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Jetta10,000 complaints
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.