FaultScore

2016 Volkswagen Golf airbag problems

10 of the 115 complaints about the 2016 Volkswagen Golf are about the airbag system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 54,000 miles.

D

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 10 100.0%

Airbags across every Volkswagen Golf year

2000 17 11.3%
2001 33 22.0%
2002 25 16.7%
2003 11 7.3%
2010 11 7.3%
2011 12 8.0%
2012 10 6.7%
2015 21 14.0%
2016 10 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

san Jose, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I am reporting a severe safety system failure regarding the airbag deployment force on a 2016 Volkswagen Golf SE. The vehicle was involved in a collision where the frontal/side air bag safety systems engaged. While the impact speed was moderate, the airbag deployment was violently disproportionate, resulting in severe, direct injuries to the occupant rather than providing the intended safety cushioning or protection. The force of the deployment appeared heavily uncalibrated, acting as a primary source of trauma rather than an emergency restraint. In contrast, the secondary vehicle involved in the identical impact matrix sustained similar property damage but experienced a completely stable, non-injurious environment with no air bag enaged at all. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident against existing vehicle data logs for 2016 Volkswagen Golf models to determine if there is an active trend of excessive pyrotechnic deployment force or uncalibrated SRS module sensors.

NHTSA complaint #11742727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hendersonville, NC

AIR BAGS

Airbag light came on, then all electrics to steering wheel failed, including the horn. Clock spring failed. Safety issue with no airbag and no horn. Known that VWs have a problem with clock spring failure. Should be a recall.

NHTSA complaint #11521624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salem, MA

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V543000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Additionally, the contact mentioned that a recall notice was received confirming the remedy was available and to contact a local dealer however, the dealer informed that the part was not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distributions disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11505133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cumming, GA

AIR BAGS

First, the airbag warning light came on, then followed by the horn not working and cruise control was lost. I also suspecting the power steering is also gone. This is related to the clock spring failure from my research online. This should have been recall because this is a safety hazard.

NHTSA complaint #11503331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monroe, CT

AIR BAGS

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V543000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint #11488155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Fayetteville, NC

AIR BAGS

ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INOPERATIVE. THIS INCLUDES AIRBAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO CONTROLS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #11383440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,589 miles Sturgeon BAY, WI

AIR BAGS

SUNROOF DRAIN REINFORCEMENT STEEL HAS DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS. WHICH HAS LET WATER LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE, ONTO HEADLINER AND DOWN A-PILLARS SATURATING FRONT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS MAKING THEM DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR OPERATED, IT WILL LEAK EITHER WAY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ADDRESS ISSUE WITH AIRBAGS AND LEAK SAYING THERE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SO THEY WONT COVER REPAIR WHICH COULD COST GREATER THAN $2,500. VEHICLE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED BLACK MOLD BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER WHICH IS HAZARDOUS TO BREATH. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #60-17-01(V601701) IS THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEALERSHIP ONLY REPAIR BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRBAG REPLACE OR HEADLINER REPLACEMENT. I ADDRESSED ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH THEY DENY ANY SAFETY ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #11270298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,500 miles Osceola RD., FL

AIR BAGS

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN FALSE WARNINGS OF AIR BAG, STABILIZATION CONTROL, ABS SYSTEM, AND TIRE PRESSURE FAILURES. A REPLACEMENT PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND/OR UNAVAILABLE. THIS WILL RESULT IN DISREGARD OF ANY OF THE ABOVE WARNINGS IN THE FUTURE EVEN IF THEY ARE GENUINE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #11119886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Gaithersburg, MD

AIR BAGS

THE CLOCK SPRING ON MY CAR WENT BAD AFTER 46,000 MILES. MAKES AIRBAG UNUSEABLE AND STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS DO NOT WORK EITHER

NHTSA complaint #11110420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles West Haven, CT

AIR BAGS

DESPITE A 2015 RECALL, 2016 GOLFS ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED BY FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SETUPS AND A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT IS PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM GETTING INSIDE AND BREAKING THEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE CONTROL FEATURES ON THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED.. NO CRUISE CONTROL, NOT HORN, NO SYSTEM DATA, ETC. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE 2011. ONLY AFTER AN INVESTIGATION WAS VW FORCED INTO DOING A RECALL IN 2015. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY STILL EXISTS SINCE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONTINUED COMPLAINTS STILL BEING FILED.

NHTSA complaint #11099933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2016 Volkswagen Golf problems

← Full 2016 Volkswagen Golf report