Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Volkswagen CABRIOLET fuel problems

19 complaint narratives mention fuel terms.

Key facts

44 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

130,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1984 to 1990 model years. Data updated: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Fuel system concerns evidence

19 of 44 complaints match this topic (43.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.

Owner report 10024749 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS FUEL TANK AS STATED IN RECALL # 94V065000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024749 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 509357 · 1996-10-02 (October 2, 1996)

RECALL REPAIRS FOR FUEL TANK LEAKAGE REFUSED SINCE VEHICLE WA SPREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND 41/2 YEARS AGO (94V-065). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 509357 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 713289 · 1999-10-14 (October 14, 1999)

I BROUGHT THIS CAR TO THE DEALER FOR WORK ON A LEAKING FUEL TANK AND AFTER MUCH TALKING WITH THE DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE DEALER THAT THE WORK SHOULD BE DONE UNDER A RECALL (YOUR CAMPAIGN NUMBER EITHER 91V201000 OR 94V065000) THE DEALER ALSO FOUND THAT THE INTERNAL FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAY THAT THIS DOES NOT FALL UNDER A RECALL YET I HAVE A CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR THIS VERY THING THAT COVERS A MORE FAR REACHING NUMBER OF VEHICLES (87V053000). I WOULD NOT BE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 713289 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8016770 · 2002-08-20 (August 20, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8016770 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 816600 · 1997-09-23 (September 23, 1997)

THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. ONCE IN APRIL OF 97 AND ONCE IN AUGUST OF 97. THE FUEL TANK IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 816600 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

44 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

11.4%Usable mileage5 / 44 records
65.9%Valid incident date29 / 44 records
100.0%Valid filing date44 / 44 records
65.9%Ordered incident and filing dates29 / 44 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component1984198519861987198819891990
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 10041769 · 141,200 mi

FUEL LEAKS FROM TOP OF TANK WHEN TANK IS FULL OR OVER 1/2 FULL... PREVIOUS RECALLS OF THIS CAR AND THOSE SIMILAR LIST PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF ADVANCED AGE OF VEHICLE, RECALLS ARE NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEALERS OR COMPANY. AUTO IS A 1986 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET. *LA

Look up ODI 10041769 at NHTSA ↗

872.7%
ODI 10024749 · 170,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS FUEL TANK AS STATED IN RECALL # 94V065000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Look up ODI 10024749 at NHTSA ↗

350.0%
ODI 566566

CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS OVER THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK LEAKING AT THE TANK SEAM. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO TWO (2) RECALLS (91V201 AND 94V065). CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT ANY ONE FOR MAKING THE REPAIRS ON THE FUEL TANK.

Look up ODI 566566 at NHTSA ↗

777.8%
ODI 10039870

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER WILL FIX AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *PH TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED RELATED TO THIS FAILURE, 94V-065000 AND 91V-201000. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED. *NLM

Look up ODI 10039870 at NHTSA ↗

337.5%
ODI 546389

RADIO LOCKED UP. MJS

Look up ODI 546389 at NHTSA ↗

Air Bags
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

450.0%
ODI 10032015

CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 91V215000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO SEND ANOTHER LETTER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE AIR BAG DEFECT HAS OCCURRED. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH MEANT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A COLLISION. *PH *JB

Look up ODI 10032015 at NHTSA ↗

Structure:Frame And Members
1100.0%
ODI 883464

FRAME BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK

Look up ODI 883464 at NHTSA ↗

116.7%
ODI 484006

FRONT END METAL FATIGUE. *SD

Look up ODI 484006 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

19.1%
ODI 703973

THE FRONT A ARM HAS TENDENCY TO BECOME WEAKENED AND DEVELOP A CRACK ON A POOR WELD SEAM UNDERNEATH THE CAR

Look up ODI 703973 at NHTSA ↗

116.7%
ODI 718623

IN DEC. 1999 THE FRAME OF MY WIFE LANETTE PARKS CABRIOLET WAS CRACKING AND SPLITTING WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR ABNORMAL DRIVING EVENT TO CAUSE IT. THE FRAME SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THEY SEE THIS QUITE OFTEN ON VW RABBITS, GOLFS AND CABRIOLETS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FRAME. APPARENTLY THEY ADDED A METAL SUPPORT BAR BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT WHEELS THAT VW INCLUDES ON THE SPORTY GTI MODELS, BUT ELIMINATES ON THE CABRIOLET. WHY THIS IS DONE IS BEYOND ME, THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS TO SAVE MONEY ON MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING. *AK

Look up ODI 718623 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

222.2%
ODI 10098476 · 75,839 mi

1989 VW CABRIOLET FUEL TANK HAS DEFECTIVE SEAM WELD IN FUEL TANK AS DOCUMENTED IN CAMPAIGN # 94V065000. TANK HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED, YET VW SAYS THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Look up ODI 10098476 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 813845

THE HEATER CORE HAS FAILED AND IS LEAKING, AND MAKING THE CAR HARDER TO STOP. *AK

Look up ODI 813845 at NHTSA ↗

19.1%
ODI 560478

THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED ONTO THE CONSUMERS LEGS, THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BURNS TO BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT CALVES, DUE TO THE PAIN OF THE HOT STEAM THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE EMBANKMENT (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM

Look up ODI 560478 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Air Bags:Frontal
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

112.5%
ODI 979375

WHILE DRIVING, AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY, DUE TO AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTIONED, DLR/MFR WON'T ASSIST. TT

Look up ODI 979375 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical System
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

116.7%
ODI 488787

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS/DASH LIGHTS TO DIM UNTIL REACHING SPEEDS GREATER THAN 5 MPH.

Look up ODI 488787 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 700502

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMOBILE: LEFT INDICATOR LIGHT NOT WORKING, HORN BROKEN, BACK - UP LIGHTS NOT WORKING, CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION NEEDS WORK (TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL), ALL LOCKS BROKEN...

Look up ODI 700502 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyToo few reports for a range141,200 mi3 (sparse)
ODI 10041769 · 141,200 mi

FUEL LEAKS FROM TOP OF TANK WHEN TANK IS FULL OR OVER 1/2 FULL... PREVIOUS RECALLS OF THIS CAR AND THOSE SIMILAR LIST PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF ADVANCED AGE OF VEHICLE, RECALLS ARE NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEALERS OR COMPANY. AUTO IS A 1986 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET. *LA

Look up ODI 10041769 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10024749 · 170,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS FUEL TANK AS STATED IN RECALL # 94V065000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Look up ODI 10024749 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10156485 · 130,000 mi

VOLKSWAGEN SAYS RECALL DOESN'T APPEAR IN THEIR SYSTEM, VIN [XXX] FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY AND NO LOCAL DEALERS HAVE DONE THIS RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE... GAS TANK IS LEAKING FROM SAID AREA PROFUSELY , WHICH RUNS THE RISK OF AN EXPLOSION. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Look up ODI 10156485 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank AssemblyToo few reports for a range100,420 mi2 (sparse)
ODI 10098476 · 75,839 mi

1989 VW CABRIOLET FUEL TANK HAS DEFECTIVE SEAM WELD IN FUEL TANK AS DOCUMENTED IN CAMPAIGN # 94V065000. TANK HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED, YET VW SAYS THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Look up ODI 10098476 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10115379 · 125,000 mi

VEHICLE HAD A WET SUBSTANCE ON THE GROUND. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND THE LEAK WAS DETERMINED TO BE GAS. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON A RECALL. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF REPAIRS WILL BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

Look up ODI 10115379 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1989: 1 complaints · 1990: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1989011
1990000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1989540
1990620

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentFuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyAir BagsStructure:Frame And MembersFuel System, Other:Storage:Tank AssemblyVisibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater CoreAir Bags:FrontalElectrical SystemElectrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly—0000000
Air Bags0—000000
Structure:Frame And Members00—00000
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly000—0000
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core0000—000
Air Bags:Frontal00000—00
Electrical System000000—0
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery0000000—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

3 patterns with matching reports.

Fuel smell or leak mentions

4 mentions · 9.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 141,200 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10041769 · 141,200 mi

FUEL LEAKS FROM TOP OF TANK WHEN TANK IS FULL OR OVER 1/2 FULL... PREVIOUS RECALLS OF THIS CAR AND THOSE SIMILAR LIST PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF ADVANCED AGE OF VEHICLE, RECALLS ARE NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEALERS OR COMPANY. AUTO IS A 1986 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET. *LA

Look up ODI 10041769 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 879250

CONSUMER HAD FOUND A CRACK ON FUEL TANK AFTER SMELLING FUEL, AND FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM TANK. TANK HAD TO BE REPAIRED. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL 94V065000 WHICH DEALT WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. *AK

Look up ODI 879250 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 809462

OWNER STATES THAT HE SMELLS GAS COMING FROM VEHICLE, HE ALSO NOTES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL TANK FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT HIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, OWNER IS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY.

Look up ODI 809462 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 2.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 516019

THE ELECTRIC CABLES SITUATED BETWEEN ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WHERE THEY ARE CLAMPT TO HOT WATER PIPES CARBONIZE, RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE AND STALLING. *AK

Look up ODI 516019 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 2.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 544880

POWER STEERING BELT LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO WHEELS, ALLOWING WATER TO SPLASH ONTO BELT FROM WHEELS, CAUSING BELT TO FAIL/STEERING TO LOCK. THE STEERING HAS LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Look up ODI 544880 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b