1999 Volkswagen CabrioRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“THE FUZEBOX IN THIS CAR IS UNPROTECTED FROM WATER AND CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND ANY TIME WATER MAY LEAK INTO CAR. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO HER BACK IN IT A HOUR LATER IT WOULDN'T CRANK THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED THE FUZE BOX WAS MELTED FROM GETTING TOO HOT DUE TO IT LEAKING THRU THE ANTENNA O TO THE RELAYS FILLING THEM WITH WATER AND THEN CAUSE A DRIP TO COME FROM RELAYS ONTO FUZE AND BURN OUT THE FUZE SLIT FOR THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CAUSED MY CAR NOT TO CRANK AT ALL. THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE A HUGE PROBLEM”

“1) DUE TO VANDALISM, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE SHOP. I USED THE POWER TOP ONCE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THEN FOLLOWING THAT WINTER, THE POWER TOP FAILED. IT WAS BEYOND WARRANTY ACCORDING TO DEALER WHEN I DISCOVERED THE FAILURE. DEALER WANTS $1200 FOR REPLACEMENT. 2) THE 6 CD CHANGER STOPPED WORKING JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 3) CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INTERMITTENT AFTER A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT IN MARCH 2003. DEALER WANTS $800 FOR REPLACEMENT. 4) THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER BECAME INTERMITTENT IN SEPT 2003. IT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE CONTACTS CLEANED. IT ONLY WORKS ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS, ONLY ON THE FIRST START. ALL OTHER GAUGES WORK ON THE MODULE. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 5) THE RADIO SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING (NO POWER) AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE IN JAN 2004. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 6) THE SMOG PUMP FAILED DEC 2005, AND CHARRED THE HARNESS WIRING. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A SALVAGED SMOG PUMP BY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. DEALER WANTED $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. *NM”

“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. MY TAILLIGHTS FREQUENTLY GO OUT AND COME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES BUT NO ONE CAN FIND A LOOSE WIRE. THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN JANUARY 2004. THE AUTO SHOP ORDERED PARTS AND THEY DIDN'T FIT. IT TURNS OUT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 1999, THERE ARE SOME 2000 PARTS ON IT. *LA”