Volkswagen Cabriolet 1996

Model Cabriolet made in 1996 by Volkswagen got 5 consumer complains as well as 7 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags and engine and engine cooling. Technical service bulletines regarding engine and engine cooling and equipment.

Cabriolet year 1996

Technical Service Bulletins
Consumer Complaints

Model 1996

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Item no.	Summary	Added
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
01 9706	04/10/1997	53603	Engine intermittently will not start, possibledtc's stored in tcm dtc memory	12/02/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
2015831	08/28/2008	10026848	Volkswagen: exhaust heat shield, replacement guidelines. heat shields are to be inspected after completion o any type of repair to the underbody (exhaust system transmission, etc.), and if damaged, replaced. *pe	12/29/2008
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
9708209701A	08/20/1997	53636	Concerns with cassette tape player, sound output low or distorted, tapes may be destroyed. *yc	03/30/1998
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - DOORS - LATCH
9701219701D	01/21/1997	53644	Conditions regarding exterior door locks cannot be locked or unlocked with key when ambient temperature is below freezing. *yc	03/30/1998
POWER TRAIN
9704169709F	04/16/1997	53608	Subject on the automatic transmission control module can additionally recognize two diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) not currently shown in the repair manual. *yc	03/30/1998
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9704169709F	04/16/1997	53608	Subject on the automatic transmission control module can additionally recognize two diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) not currently shown in the repair manual. *yc	03/30/1998
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2015831	08/28/2008	10026848	Volkswagen: exhaust heat shield, replacement guidelines. heat shields are to be inspected after completion o any type of repair to the underbody (exhaust system transmission, etc.), and if damaged, replaced. *pe	12/29/2008

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
03/25/2001		2	12/01/1996
	Upon low speed impact, 5 mph, both front airbags expanded causing minor burns and 'cuts' on passenger in front seat. since accident on 03-25-01, the dealer has yet to receive the needed replacement air bags-today's date, 04-16-01. in speaking with vwoa's engineering & parts depts, they said do not usually stock item in us and that the airbags responded correctly in deceleration mode. besides the cost of replacing the airbags, the damage to the vw was minimal (scratch on lt ft. fender & the need to replace the lt. ft. side marker). is there a problem w/these airbags? should they have gone off @ such a low speed? if so, they could have gone off in hitting a parking garage 'pylon', no? please inform me asap on why vwoa does not have parts in us! thank you, ira goldman. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE

	Vehicle leaks gas. gas leak is coming from engine area of vehicle. also vavle gasket was replaced which did not correct problem. delaers then noted that problem could not be found. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
03/01/1997			03/01/1996
	From the time i bought the car the gas mileage was grossly low so everytime i took it in for scheduled service i would have them check out the fuel system nothing was ever done and the gas mileage has never gotten better now i have approx. 42,000mi on the vehicle and still horrible gas mileage and no power ii thought it was catalytic converter which is covered under the fed emmissions warranty but when i took it to the dealer they said it was the oxygen sensors which are connected to the catalytic converter i have done some research on these o2 sensors and everything i have read leads me to believe that they were faulty from time of purchase!*ak
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - HOOD - LATCH
		1	03/30/1996
	Hood latch failed.
VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD
		1	03/30/1996
	Windshield scratched.