11 of the 772 complaints about the 2002 Volkswagen Passat are about the airbag system — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,000 miles.
11
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING INTO THE MALL PARKING LOT AT SPEED OF 20 MPH ALL AIRBAGS EXPLODED EXCEPT THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG AND MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED FROM ARM AND AIR INJURIES
NHTSA complaint #11266719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG FAULT MESSAGE WHEN STARTING MY CAR EVERYTIME.
NHTSA complaint #11001525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TWO DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN I DROVE THROUGH A POTHOLE ON A CITY STREET. I HAVE DRIVEN INTO POTHOLES NO DIFFERENT THAN THIS IN THE PAST. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR TIRES. THE IMPACT WAS VERTICAL; I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY SIDE-TO-SIDE MOTION. COST OF REPAIR ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $2000 & $3000.
NHTSA complaint #10679616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR WOULD NOW HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
NHTSA complaint #10434743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2002 VW PASSAT V6 WITH 70,040 MILES. OUR REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT RECEIVES THE BUCKLE WAS NOT REGISTERING THE BUCKLE BEING FASTENED. WE REPLACED THE PART #B0858471KFCN TO RESTORE THE AIRBAG TO OPERATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT INFLATE WHILE DRIVING WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE NOTIFIED VOLKSWAGEN OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THEM TO COVER THE $356.35 REPAIR COST.
NHTSA complaint #10354946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
FAILURE FOR AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WHEN I REAR-ENDED SOMEBODY. MY APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS 25-25 MPH AND ALL MY FRONT COMPONENTS IN THE CAR WERE DAMAGED. THAT INCLUDES THE RADIATOR, THE AIRCONDITIONING ALL THE FANS IN THE FRONT AND THE ENGINE COVER. IT COST ME AROUND 9000 TO FIX IT. BUT THE POINT IS WITH SO MUCH DAMAGE IN THE FRONT THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN SUCH AN ACCIDENT BEFORE AND NOW I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THAT CAR. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WILL EVER WORK ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10294595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING NORTH IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON GALLATIN PK IN NASHVILLE, TN, ANOTHER DRIVER IN THE SOUTH BOUND TURNING LANE TURNED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING. MY VIEW WAS OBSCURED BY THE LINE OF TRAFFIC IN THE LEFT HAND NORTH LANES. THE CAR I WAS DRIVING (2002 VW PASSAT) HIT THE CAR THAT TURNED IN TO MY LANE IN A DIRECT, CLASSIC T-BONE HIT. I NEVER SAW THE CAR AND HIT THE CAR AT APPROX. 32 MPH WITHOUT BRAKING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG ON MY CAR FAILED TO DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE CAR SEAT ALSO SLID FORWARD AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BACK SEATS CAME UNLATCHED AND EVERYTHING FLEW FORWARD THROUGH THE CAR AT IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #10172800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT AND BUZZER STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. PRESTIGE AUTO OF SANTA ROSA WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT. ACCORDING TO WHAT I'VE READ, A SAFETY PROBLEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED WITH NO CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #10135850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HIT A POTHOLE WHILE TURNING RIGHT, WHICH FLATTENED THE TIRE. ALL DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AS WELL AS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SENSORS APPEARED TO BE OVERLY SENSITIVE AS THERE WAS NO IMPENDING ROLL OVER OR COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10063929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHEN VEHICLE LIGHTLY HIT RETAINING WALL WHILE PARKING THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED TAKING OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT VW PAY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY FOR DAMAGES. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10033851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
NHTSA complaint #10006771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.