Air Bags. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports6 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

106 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 4, 2015

Air Bags

I WAS DRIVING HOME DOING 45MPH, WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD'VE CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714466

100,000 miles · Apr 25, 2015

Air BagsElectrical System

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. THERE MIGHT BE A RESISTANCE ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAUSING IT TO TURN ON. I READ THAT THE RESISTANCE VARIANCE WITHIN A FRONT SEAT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG CONNECTOR CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FUNCTIO…

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NHTSA ODI #10712798

80,000 miles · Dec 31, 2014

Air BagsElectrical System

STARTED MY CAR TO WARM IT UP, CAME OUT TO DRIVE IT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER TURNED IT OFF TWICE BEFORE THE WIRING HARNESS AND AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND I FEEL IT SHOULD'VE BEEN VOLKSWAGENS BILL, NOT MINE AS I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS AND IT WAS CAUSED BY POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP, WHICH I …

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NHTSA ODI #10669283

158,343 miles · Dec 15, 2014

Air Bags

AIR BAG FAULT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664457

59,850 miles · Nov 20, 2014

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,850.

NHTSA ODI #10659831

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2014

Air Bags

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I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING WITH MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T. THE CARS AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT CAR MECHANIC INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE AIR BAG FAULT IS INDICATIVE OF A BAD SENSOR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH KEFFER VOLKSWAGEN IN HUNTERSVILLE NORTH CAROLINA TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE ON 8/1/2014. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN (703-364-7000) ON 7/25/2014 AND SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER ADVOCATE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ISSUE HAS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE HARNESS RECALL FROM 3 YEARS AGO I EXPECTED THEM TO COVER IT. (I HAD THE HARNESS REWIRED WITH THE NEW HARNESS AS A PART OF THAT RECALL.) VOLKSWAGEN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. CASE # [XXX]. I HAVE CONCERNS BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A BIGGER ISSUE AND NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I HAVE PROVIDED SOME SCREEN PRINTS OF OTHER VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. SEVERAL DRIVERS HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING DURING AN ACCIDENT AND OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A DESIGN FLAW / DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO A LARGER SAFETY RECALL. IF VOLKSWAGEN IS TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THE SAME PARTS WILL THE ISSUES CONTINUE TO PERSIST? THIS IS DEEPLY CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN AN EMPLOYEE AT HUNTERSVILLE NORTH CAROLINA INFORMED ME THAT PARTS AND LABOR ARE ONLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THE REPAIRS. WILL I BE PAYING FOR THIS SAME REPAIR OVER AND OVER AGAIN? YOUR URGENT ATTENTION AND RESPONSE IS EXPECTED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616414

24,721 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

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ON 4/92014 THE AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. MANUAL STATES THAT THIS INDICATES THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THEY SHOULD BUT THAT THEY MIGHT DEPLOY RANDOMLY WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN.I TOOK THE CAR TO OPEN ROAD VW IN MANHATTAN A VW DEALERSHIP & SERVICE FACILITY WHERE THEY FOUND "FAULT 2513" FOR SEATBELT SENSOR AND REPLACED IT UNDER THE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY WITH WHICH THE CAR WAS SOLD. OPEN ROAD VW STATED THAT THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THEIR 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS & LABOR AS WELL AS VW'S CPO WARRANTY. ON 5/14/2014 (MILEAGE 25,280), THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO OPEN ROAD VW. THEY FOUND A FAULT FOR THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FORCE RECOGNITION SENSOR G453. FOUND DEFECTIVE BUCKLE AND REPLACED IT.THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED ONLY BY VW'S CPO WARRANTY AS, THE SERVICE REP SAID IT INVOLVED A DIFFERENT PART THAN THE FIRST REPAIR AND WAS THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THE PARTS & LABOR WARRANTY PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. ON 6/23/2014, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. FOUND 1 FAULT N200 FOR RESISTANCE TOO LOW, REPLACED CONNECTORS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS., CHARGED $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE AS, AGAIN, THIS WAS A DIFFERENT REPAIR THAN THE LAST. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID I WOULD HEAR FROM A SUPERVISOR. THE SUPERVISOR E-MAILED THAT SHE WOULD CALL ME TODAY, JUNE 30, BUT I HAVE RECEIVED NO CALL. ON 6/28/2014 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 10:PM COULD NOT TAKE IT THE DEALERSHIP ON SUNDAY BECAUSE IT IS CLOSED, BUT WROTE TO THE SUPERVISOR ON SUNDAY. CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE THIS MORNING. SAID SUPERVISOR WOULD CALL ME, BUT ALSO THAT MY CPO WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT MIDNIGHT JUNE 29, 2014. AS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT BEGAN IN APRIL I EXPECT IT TO BE COVERED. IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT THIS RECURRENT ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT MAY INDICATE A POTENTIAL DANGER TO ME AND OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607010

97,000 miles · May 12, 2014

Air Bags

AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR, VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SAYS AIRBAG NEEDS REPLACED AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, WONDERING WHY WHEN ITS NEVER BEEN USED/ IN A WRECK? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587821

72,000 miles · Jan 17, 2014

Air Bags

THE AIRBAG DEFAULT LIGHT WARNING IS ON ON THE DASH BOARD. I WAS TOLD BY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER THAT THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDES TO BE REPAIRED, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. I AM JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THAT OR ARE THERE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTE…

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NHTSA ODI #10560321

62,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10552432

Official recalls

24V834000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 30, 2024

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

18V247000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Apr 18, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.

18V148000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Mar 6, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

17V509000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Aug 16, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.

16V078000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 10, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

06V470000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Dec 12, 2006

ON CERTAIN '6' GENERATION PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DURING HEAVY RAIN DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE WIPERS CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPECIAL COVER AND SEALING KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.

06V472000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Dec 12, 2006

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L ENGINE WITH 147 KW MAY HAVE A VACUUM LINE THAT MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME DISCONNECTED AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES POSSIBLY INCREASING VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED VACUUM LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.

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

EA11002 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Jan 26, 2011 · Closed Feb 17, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Engine And Engine Cooling

In July 2010, the Agency opened PE10-027 to investigate allegations of coil on plug (COP) ignition coil fires in MY2002-2003 VW Passat vehicles.The investigation was upgraded in January 2011 to include all MY2001-2007 4-cylinder VW Passat, gasoline, turbo-charged vehicles.Based on the analysis of VW's response, and including ODI's consumer complaints, ODI has since identified 135 unique engine fire reports attributable to the COP coils.After further review of the details as contained in each report, ODI determined that 43 of the 135 fire reports were actual fire/flame incidents, 83 fire reports were thermal events (smoke, spark, heat or wire melt), and another 9 fire reports were undetermined in severity due to the lack of information.These COP coil fires were characterized as initiated from within the COP coil circuit located at the top of the engine block and below the plastic engine cover.The fires observed were contained in the engine compartment and did not reach into the passenger compartment in contrast to those caused by an overheated catalytic converter examined in ODI?s investigation in 2007 and 2008.There were no reports of crashes or personal injury in this examination.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstancesSee the Closing Report for additional details.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling