Electrical System. Review the 117 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports12 fire reports35 injury reports

What owners actually said

668 reports

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2005

Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AND THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY WENT OFF. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117745

87,000 miles · Apr 11, 2005

Air Bags

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ON 4/5/05 @ 5:15PM.... MY WIFE (DRIVER), 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER(REAR FACING CAR SEAT IN BACK CENTER), & I (FRONT PASSENGER) WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN WE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WITH CARS IN FRONT/BACK OF US) WE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AFTER COMPLETING THE LEFT TURN ONTO ROUTE 117. ONCE WE HIT THIS SMALL POT HOLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED (CURTAIN & PASSENGER SEAT BAGS) WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE WARWICK POLICE DEPT. OFFICE THEODORE INSISTED THAT THIS HAD TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR... NO FLAT TIRE... NOTHING EXCEPT FOR THE MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS IN THE CAR HAVING BEEN DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INTERIOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I WENT TO THE VW DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND SUGGESTED GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE (LIBERTY MUTUAL), WHO ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. INTERIOR DAMAGE: CEILING PANEL, CURTAIN AIRBAG, PASSENGER LEATHER SEAT RIPPED AND ITS AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT I NEED THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED SINCE WE NEED IT FOR TRANSPORTATION... SO I MAY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT REPAIRED AT MY COST FOR NOW. (BETWEEN $2,000 - $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116756

97,000 miles · Apr 11, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MY 2001 VW JETTA TIMING BELT BROKE, LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND COST OVER $3300.00 TO REPAIR THE BLOWN ENGINE, NOT ONCE WAS I TOLD UPON PURCHASE OR TRIPS FOR SERVICE AT ANY VW DEALER THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED AT 60 OR 70,000 MILES. , MY CAR HAD 97,000 AT THE TIME. THE CAR FROM DAY ONE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN COSTLY REPAIRS FOR A VEHICLE I THOUGHT TO BE VERY RELIABLE, LOVE THE LOOK OF THE CAR AND IT HAS GREAT PICKUP BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE OF THE REPAIRS FOR ITEMS THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116736

38,000 miles · Apr 6, 2005

Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER RUNNING OVER A SMALL POT HOLE AT 15 MPH. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10117524

84,900 miles · Apr 5, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

MY JETTA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN NOT. THE LATEST INCIDENT BEGAN WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER 1300 DOLLARS LATER, THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THIS YEAR OF THE JETTA HAS A PLASTIC PART THAT SITS ON WATER PUMP. THAT PART HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY MANY JETTA OWNER'S AFTER THE REPLACING OF THE WATER PUMP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116395

81,000 miles · Apr 1, 2005

Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED RECALL 04V584000 CONCERNING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117225

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

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EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 2001, THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEM MAINLY WITH THE CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I HAD MINOR PROBLEMS THAT GOT FIX AND IS FINE NOW. NOW MY MAIN ISSUE IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT BEEN ON AND OFF EVER SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR. WE ARE IN 2005 AND I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING RID OF IT. USUALLY WHEN THE CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER AND SHAKE AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS. THANK GOODNESS THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED I WASN'T ON A BUSY ROAD. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE BRAKES SEEMS TO FAIL TO WORK BECAUASE I WOULD HAVE TO STEP ON IT REALLY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. AFTER GETTING FIX THE LIGHT WOULD REAPPEAR A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. SO I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS SINCE ALL THE TIMES I DID TAKE IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WHICH THEY HAVE REPLACED ALREADY. TOMORROW (4/1/05) I'M TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM BECAUSE LATELY THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WORST. NOW WHEN I FIRST TURN ON THE CAR, I HAVE TO WARM IT UP FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STEP ON THE GAS AND GO OR ELSE IT'LL SHUT DOWN ON ME. EVEN WITH THAT THE CAR BARELY MOVES THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT WILL JERK AND DRIVE ON A NORMAL SPEED. I HAD MAJOR SERVICE DONE ON THE CAR AND THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. TOMORROW WILL PROBABLY BE THE THIRD TIME AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS NEW. I DOUBT THAT THE PROBLEM WILL EVER GO AWAY BECAUSE I BEEN HAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR AND I OWN IT FOR FEW YEARS NOW AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIX. I HONESTLY THINK I BEEN SOLD A LEMON, BUT SPEAKING WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE VW DEALER, THEY DON'T THE ISSUE IS BIG.

NHTSA ODI #10116186

53,618 miles · Mar 25, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

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CAR STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION AND STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES UPON STOPPING. EPC LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY ONCE, THEN NOT AGAIN. TODAY, THE CAR STARTED DECELERATING ON THE FREEWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AGAIN, WHICH SEEMED LIKE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. MECHANIC REPLACED THE AIR FLOW METER AND TOLD ME THAT HE REGULARLY REPLACES THEM ON VOLKSWAGENS AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME BEHAVIOR ON THIS SITE, THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. IF THIS IS A PART WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS, WHY HAS VOLKSWAGEN NOT RECALLED IT?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10114755

85,000 miles · Mar 21, 2005

Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER'S FRONT/REAR SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10115470

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2005

Exterior LightingPower Train

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER GEAR THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE APPEARED TO LOCK THE GEAR SHIFT, AND YOU COULD NOT GET IT TO GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE SHIFT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10115442

Official recalls

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

06V183000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

May 24, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V584000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Dec 16, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V096000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

Remedy: THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V244000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Sep 12, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V031000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jan 31, 2002

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ06004 · Brake Light Switch Failure

Opened Feb 28, 2006 · Closed Aug 7, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

DP05004 · Engine Stalling

Opened Aug 11, 2005 · Closed Dec 8, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition:module

BY LETTER RECEIVED ON JUNE 24, 2005, MR. RONALD M. STRICKLAND OF RALEIGH, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF AND PASSAT SEDANS.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON HIS 2002 VW JETTA SEDAN.AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING, THE PETITIONER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORTS WHEN HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED ON THE SHOULDER HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT REDUCED POWER.VW ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) ON JANUARY 31, 2003 TO INSTRUCT THEIR DEALERSHIPS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS AND TO REPLACE THEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.CONSUMERS WERE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS VIA OWNER LETTERS MAILED OUT ON JUNE 6, 2003.WHILE VW INITIALLY INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIPS TO ONLY REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS, A REVISED CSC WAS ISSUED TO DEALERSHIPS IN DECEMBER 2003 AND JANUARY 2004, INSTRUCTING DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PACKS REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE.A REMINDER TO THE DEALERSHIPS WAS SENT BY VW ON APRIL OF 2004.ALTHOUGH THE CONCERNS OF THE PETITIONER COULD THEORETICALLY CREATE A SAFETY PROBLEM, THE RISK IS VERY SMALL, DUE TO THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING ON EITHER 3, 5, OR 7 CYLINDERS.THERE ARE NO REPORTED CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ONCE DRIVERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (LOSS OF POWER DUE TO ONE OF THE IGNITION COIL PACKS MALFUNCTIONING), DRIVERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY AND COMPENSATORY MEASURES AND STILL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, FOUR FIRES WERE REPORTED TO ODI.THESE WERE IGNITION COIL BURNOUTS WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND WERE LOCALIZED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DURING THE LAST 24 MONTHS THE NUMBER OF STALL AND DRIVABILITY COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO ODI HAS GREATLY DIMINISHED FROM A PEAK OF 195 IN JANUARY OF 2003 TO ONLY 3 IN AUGUST OF 2005.THIS COINCIDES WITH THE CSC RELEASED BY VW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04081 · Inadvertent SIDE-AIRBAG Deployment

Opened Dec 16, 2004 · Closed Apr 1, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE MINOR IN NATURE AND CONSIST OF ABRASIONS, BRUISES, EAR RINGING AND HEADACHES.THERE WAS NO ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASH AS A RESULT OF SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.ODI ALSO OBTAINED COUNTS OF ALLEGED INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS FROM PEER MANUFACTURERS.THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT UNIQUE IN BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR NON-SUBJECT INDIVIDUAL MODEL VEHICLES VARIES WIDELY.THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS COMPARABLE TO THREE PEER MODELS, EACH WITH COMPACT CHASSIS/WHEELBASES.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY COMPONENT FAILURE OR MANUFACTURING TREND THAT MAY RELATE TO A COMPONENT OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04073 · Turn Signal/hazard Flasher Failure

Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Dec 16, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights; Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

RQ03010 · Brake Light Switch

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Mar 1, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND MANUFACTURER FAILURE REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING AND OR INACCURATE INFORMATION.THE INJURY NOTED ABOVE WAS MINOR.ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. (VW) SUBMITTED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION (PER 49CFR573) TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACUTURED WITH THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AS RECALLED UNDER 03V-265 (MY 1998-2002 NEW BEETLE) ARE AFFECTED BY A SAFETY DEFECT.SPECIFICALLY, IF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD STAY ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION AND OCCUPANT INJURY.ACCORDINGLY, VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1998 TO NOVEMBER 2001 TO INSPECT AND REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE ANY AFFECTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES.THE RECALL PROGRAM, VW CODE WX, WILL COMMENCE IN APRIL 2004.