NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
73 reportsClear category filter54,115 miles · Mar 28, 2008
Air Bags
PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON JAN 2, 2004. THE AIR BAG LIGHT 1ST CAME ON IN SEPT 2004 AND WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THAT POINT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED NEARLY EVERY 6 MONTHS, AND REPAIRED. EVERY, TIME, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN A CRASH SENSOR OR SEAT MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT VW SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS …
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PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON JAN 2, 2004. THE AIR BAG LIGHT 1ST CAME ON IN SEPT 2004 AND WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THAT POINT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED NEARLY EVERY 6 MONTHS, AND REPAIRED. EVERY, TIME, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN A CRASH SENSOR OR SEAT MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT VW SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2007, OUR CAR WAS AT 54,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED. AFTER A PROTRACTED BATTLE WITH THE DEALER AND VW REGIONAL, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE. AND AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER, "THIS SHOULD DO IT". JUST THIS PAST WEEK, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. ONLY THIS TIME, THE DEALER CLOSED THEIR DEALERSHIP AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND WE'RE STARING AT A $1200 REPAIR BILL. CERTAINLY, TO DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT AN AIR BAG ISN'T EXACTLY A SMART THING TO DO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THIS WON'T COME BACK ON 6 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, BASED ON THE HISTORY ABOVE. IN MY EYES, THERE IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN THE SYSTEMS THAT CONTROL THE AIR BAG. *TR CRASH SENSOR.*PCO
NHTSA ODI #10222633
39,000 miles · Mar 26, 2008
Air Bags
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY, RIGHT FRONT CRASH SIDE SENSOR REPLACED ON 11 SEP 2007, DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST INCIDENT. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10222330
80,000 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Air Bags
2004 VW NEW BEETLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10219391
8,000 miles · Feb 24, 2008
Air BagsSeat Belts
THE AIRBAG LIGHT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN OUR 2004 NEW BEETLE HAS COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THREE YEARS. EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, BUT WITHOUT FAIL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON EACH TIME. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS CHANGED, CONNECTIONS WERE SECURED, THEY SAID IT WAS SHORTED (GUIDE…
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THE AIRBAG LIGHT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN OUR 2004 NEW BEETLE HAS COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THREE YEARS. EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, BUT WITHOUT FAIL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON EACH TIME. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS CHANGED, CONNECTIONS WERE SECURED, THEY SAID IT WAS SHORTED (GUIDED FAULT FINDINGS, BUMPER COVER REMOVED, SEAT REMOVED), AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALL COPIES OF SERVICE RECORDS. AFTER ALL THESE SERVICE VISITS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I HEARD THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCT ON THE 2004 NEW BEETLES AND WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OF OUR EXPERIENCE. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10219014
22,925 miles · Jan 17, 2008
Air Bags
OUR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS WERE NOT OPERATIONAL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER SENSOR. THEY BOTH HAD JUST FAILED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE BAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 22,925 ORIGINAL MILES. IT S…
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OUR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS WERE NOT OPERATIONAL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER SENSOR. THEY BOTH HAD JUST FAILED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE BAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 22,925 ORIGINAL MILES. IT SEEMS ODD THAT BOTH SENSORS WOULD FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. *TR SRS.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10215223
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2007
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON +/- 52,000 MILES AND IS A CONSTANT LIGHT (ORIGINAL CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 50,000 MILES) I WAS INFORMED BY NEW COUNTRY VOLKSWAGEN OF GREENWICH CT (VW SERVICE) AND FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICES THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER REPAIR OR DIAGNOSTIC COSTS (ESTIMATED AT $750 PLUS TAX). TECH FOUND "PASSENGER FRON…
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AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON +/- 52,000 MILES AND IS A CONSTANT LIGHT (ORIGINAL CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 50,000 MILES) I WAS INFORMED BY NEW COUNTRY VOLKSWAGEN OF GREENWICH CT (VW SERVICE) AND FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICES THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER REPAIR OR DIAGNOSTIC COSTS (ESTIMATED AT $750 PLUS TAX). TECH FOUND "PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR NO SIGNAL." THIS CAR IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. VW CUSTOMER CARE DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IT APPEARS THAT AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE A NOTED ISSUE ON THE 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS, JUST NOT MY VIN NUMBER YET. VW SHOULD CONTACT ME AND PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR SRS.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10201781
41,000 miles · Aug 16, 2007
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED HER TO CALL THEM BACK AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR ORDERS FOR EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.
NHTSA ODI #10199840
55,000 miles · May 14, 2007
Air Bags
BOTH FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS FAILED IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, ONE OF THE REPLACED SENSORS FAILED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS ALERTED BY AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATING PROBLEM. *AK SRS.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10190724
55,000 miles · Apr 3, 2007
Air BagsCrash
I HAVE TWO CRASH SENSORS THAT HAVE FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY DEVICE THAT VW US HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS A MANUFACTUE DEFECT. *JB SRS.PCO
NHTSA ODI #10186957
35,851 miles · Mar 26, 2007
Air BagsExterior LightingSeat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF, BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF, BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE CONTACT HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 35851. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10186161
Official recalls
3Apr 17, 2008
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED (DUAL-STAGE) AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE DEFECT CRASH SENSORS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Feb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Dec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗