17 of the
625 complaints about the 2000 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
52,500 miles.
Side airbag deployed for no reason while driving straight at the speed limit of 75 mph. The local VW dealer determined the side impact sensor is defective. This is a very interesting situation because a fail safe exists in these systems in that the supplemental restraint control module in the center of the car must simultaneously "see" a side impact g force in order to deploy the side air bag. In other words even with a defective side impact sensor The side air bag should not have deployed. At the time of the incident the vehicle was travelling straight ahead next to a semi truck. No such impact occurred and the VW dealer confirmed the vehicle has no evidence of such an impact. I had this investigated by Volkswagen AG and my local dealer. Suffered broken teeth, bruised ribs, hearing loss in left ear.
NHTSA complaint #11705331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 137,700 milesKenmore, WACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
A RAINY NIGHT, 10:30 PM., ON THE FREEWAY RETURNING HOME FROM A SYMPHONY CONCERT, THE ENGINE SIMPLY QUIT. I, HUSBAND/DRIVER, TRIED THREE TIME TO RESTART IT BEFORE YELLING TO MY WIFE TO TURN ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS WHICH SHE DID. AS WE SLOWED, I REMEMBER SEEING ALL ICONS ON DASH BLINKING. BOTH OF US WERE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND DO NOT REMEMBER BEING HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES SUSTAINED: A CONTUSION AND MINOR WHIPLASH BY HUSBAND; FRACTURED C-7 AND T-1 VERTEBRATES AND CONCUSSION BY MY WIFE. SHE HAS BEEN IN A NECK-TO-WAIST BRACE FROM NOV. 10, 2013 UNTIL PRESENT. WE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR PASSAT SCRUPULOUSLY ACCORDING TO VW STANDARDS AT THEIR SERVICE CENTERS BY THEIR TRAINED MECHANICS. ONE MONTH EARLIER WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT SOMEPLACE. TWICE HAD TO WAIT FOR AAA TOWING. AAA ABLE TO START IT RIGHT UP AS THOUGH NOTHING WAS WRONG. VW RAN "FAULT CODES" BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM.WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AT VW'S SUGGESTION. SOMETHING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG WITH OUR CAR INSPITE OF OUR RESPONSIBLE MAINTENANCE. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. WE WISH TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER CASES LIKE OURS. AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10566419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesAvon, COCrash
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED HOWEVER NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10499204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ewing, NJ
AIR BAGS
FAX FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH HER VW PASSAT. *KB IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 8-10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 09/18/07
NHTSA complaint #10202604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,700 milesNEW Richmond, OH
AIR BAGS
PREMATURE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE. I HAVE RECEIVED AN AIR BAG FAULT' WARNING CODE. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS HAVE INDICATED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS NECESSARY. THIS ON A 6-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE VEHICLES 3 TIMES AS OLD THAT ARE STILL ON THEIR ORIGINAL AIR BAGS, I WOULD CONSIDER THIS FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10161456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THIS VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10103091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesMorristown, NJ
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. THE FIRST TIME FRONT AND SIDE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED, COSTING $1200. THE SECOND TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON VW WAS CONTACTED AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, $300 FOR A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE ADVISE, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAPPEN CONSIDERING THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. SERVICE MANAGER AT VOLKSWAGEN COMPARED AIR BAG TO A "LIGHT BULB." SAYING THAT LIKE LIGHT BULBS AIRBAGS ALSO BURN OUT AFTER A WHILE, A RATHER POMPOUS STATEMENT TO MAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10078291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesHolland, MI
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2000 VW PASSAT WAGON. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (70 MPH) WHEN HER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, BUMP OR INCIDENT WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN MOTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/MELTDOWN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WIRING. FUTHER INVESTIAGTION IMPENDING. THANKFULLY THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THAT RATE OF SPEED AND A FULL FLEDGED FIRE DID NOT DEVELOP.
NHTSA complaint #10064226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesSurprise, AZ
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CIRCLE VOLKWAGEN DEALER QUOTED ME $900 TO FIX FOUR SENSORS. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGON U.S. AND THEY SAID VW WOULD PAY ALL COSTS TO FIX THE AIR BAGS SENSORS.
NHTSA complaint #10052794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,000 milesChicago, IL
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCED A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE LATERAL AIR BAG IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT. WITH DEPLOYMENT, ALL ELECTICAL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OF THE AUTO. THERE HAD BEEN NO COLLISION OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG JUST WENT OFF BY ITSELF. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO PASSENGERS FROM THE AIRBAG, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10030716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richton Park, IL
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10007366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,200 milesPittsfield, MACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY ON DISABILITY AS THE RESULT OF THE INJURIES OBTAINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mamhasset, NY
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL ROCK AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. REPLACED AIR BAG, SENOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON.
NHTSA complaint #8020378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
AIR BAGS
RIGHT FRONT SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE, DAMAGE TO RIGHT WHEEL AND TIRE, VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT, CLAIM 13-7212-517. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #6901313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn Township, OH
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWICE, THE SECOND TIME REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPIRAL SPRING ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTER HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #565861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Mateo, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. LEFT SIDE AIRBAG MADE CONTACT WITH "LEFT CENTER PILLAR POST" WHICH RUPTURED AIRBAG, RELEASING GASSES INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED VISION PROBLEMS AFTER THIS INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #882319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsfield, MACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.