22 of the 854 complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen Passat are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 49,766 miles.
22
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FAULT FOUND WITH AIRBAG. CLOCKSPRING LOCATED IN STEERING WHEEL HAS CONNECTION FOR AIRBAG. IGNITER COULD CORRODE AND CAUSE AIRBAG TO FAIL IN EVENT OF HEAD ON COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10275498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS THEN SERVICED BY AN AUTO DETAILER. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH RESISTANCE IN THE WIRING FOR THE AIR BAGS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR AIR BAGS: TWO IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TWO IN THE SEAT BACKS. THE COST TO REPAIR THEM WOULD BE $600 PER AIR BAG. THE CONTACT REFUSED THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #10267752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
1999 PASSAT ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO A OIL PUMP FAILURE. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL LEAK REPAIRED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS A FAULTY DRIVE SHAFT, RIGHT CV JOINT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH, THE CONTROL KNOB FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT, ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, WATER PUMP SEAL RINGS, A POWER STEERING LEAK WHICH WAS HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, THE COOLANT PUMP, O-RINGS AND THE OIL PUMP AND PUMP ROD BEARINGS. THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL, OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVERS.
NHTSA complaint #10177477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TIE RODS AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WERE BAD. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR IT'S 40000 MILES CHECKUP WHEN THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE INDEPENDENT TECH COULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG THEREFORE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT 1999 PASSATS WERE RECALL FOR TIE ROD ISSUES IN 1999 AND NOTIFICATION WERE SENT OUT IN OCTOBER 1999, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING.
NHTSA complaint #10170133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
LOOSE AIRBAG IGNITER CONNECTION UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE ITSELF. THIS INCIDENT IS FREQUENT AS REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS (AUDIWORLD, VWVORTEX, USENET NEWSGROUPS, ETC). AN INTERNET SEARCH ON "AIRBAG IGNITER: DRIVER SIDE RESISTANCE TOO HIGH" ON GOOGLE RETURNED NUMEROUS REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE. IN MY PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH A 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T/20V AND A 2000 VW GOLF 1.9L TDI.
NHTSA complaint #10145476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND DID NOT GO OUT. REPAIRED AND RECURRED EIGHT TIMES. *BF
NHTSA complaint #10099818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, AIR BAGS BECAME INOPERATIVE, AND WOULDN'T DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHYICLE AT LEAST 10 TIMES, AND LATELY DEALER CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER EVERY TIME VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10094249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A BAD SENSOR THAT RENDERED THE AIR BAGS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10039931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHEN MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10015438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIRBAG SENSOR IS BAD. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, WITH THE EXECPTION OF PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TRIM REPLACED AFTER ADHESION FAILED. THE RADIO HAS POOR FM RECEPTION AND NO AM RECEPTION. I ONLY INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE ANOTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINT (ODI ID: 840263) HAS INDICATED SIMILAR SYMPTOMS.
NHTSA complaint #759390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHIILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8000759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE R/F AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DUE TO AN UNDERSIDE IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE SIDE IMPACT BEAM OR ANYWHERE ON THE STRUCTURAL FRAME. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AFTER PURCHASE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT SIGNAL OR SYSTEM, REPAIR COMPLETED ON THE SPIRAL RING ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CONTINUED TO INDICATE PROBLEMS, SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS UNTIL THE FINAL REPAIR OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM FOR REMEDY DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND REPAIR ISSUES. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #561603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER HAS REPLACED AIRBAG SENSOR 5 TIMES. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN REP HAD DEALER REWIRE ENTIRE VEHICLE. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COMMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #891667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
SRS INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT REMAINS ON. CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR OWNED LESS THAN 24 MONTHS BUT SRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SIMPLY DUE TO MILEAGE BEING OVER 24,000. IF SRS IS SAFETY RELATED WHY DOESN'T THE GOVERNMENT HOLD MANUFACTURERS MORE RESPONSIBLE AS WITH EMISSIONS? THERE SHOULD BE A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT STANDARD, AS WITH EMISSIONS. HOLDING MANUFACTURERS MORE ACCOUNTANTABLE FOR SRS WITH STRICTER REQUIREMENTS, AS WITH EMISSIONS, WILL HELP ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. I TOOK THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR (STEERING TIE-RODS) AND NO SOONER THAN A WEEK LATER, THE SRS LIGHT WENT ON AND NOW I MUST PAY TO DETERMINE WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS RATHER UNFAIR FOR A NEW CAR LESS THAN 24 MONTHS OLD. AND SINCE THE WORK PERFORMED WAS IN THAT QUADRANT OF THE CAR WHERE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, I AM WONDER IF THIS IS SOMEHOW RELATED.
NHTSA complaint #745401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A 25 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ FISHTAILED, HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE TWICE. DUAL FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #886481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A 25 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ FISHTAILED, HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE TWICE. DUAL FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #886481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES. IT SEEMS THAT ALL 5 TIMES HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WHIE DRIVING OVER 55 MPH. FIRST TIME, THE DEALER RESET THE AIRBAG SENSORS. SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH TIME, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER INVOICE, THE AIRBAG/SRS CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE WRITTEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INFORMING THEM THAT I BELIEVE MY CAR TO BE A LEMON AND AM DEMANDING RELIEF UNDER THE LEMON LAW OF MY STATE (MA).
NHTSA complaint #727190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH NOTICED AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS COMING ON. THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME. CONTACT DEALER, AND HE REPLACED AIRBAG SENSOR, AND FLIPPED A SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #852229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 60 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #843603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 60 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #841884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER IS NOT FITTED CORRECTLY. THE DEALER ATTEMPED TO INSTALL A NEW COVER. ALSO THERE WAS ANTI-FREEZE LEAKAGE ALL OVER THE ENGINE TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. ANTI FREEZE HAD HARDENED. DEALER SAID THAT THE RUBBER HOSE HAD FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CODITIONS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HOSE ON 6-16-99.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ON JUNE 16, 1999 HOWEVER THE AIRBAG WAS AGAIN NOT FITTED CORRECTLY AND POPPED UP AND THEREFORE IT WAS NOT SECURE, ALSO THE RADIO DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE AM BAND, THERE IS INTERFERENCE.
NHTSA complaint #840263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.