Electrical System. Review the 117 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports12 fire reports35 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

97 reports

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48,097 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Air Bags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON IN MY CAR. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE WHY IT CAME ON. I HAD IT VAG COM'D. AND A CODE CAME UP AS BEING A BAD CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIRBAG. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10100383

50,000 miles · Oct 18, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

WHEN T-BONE AT 10 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10097005

68,000 miles · Sep 8, 2004

Air BagsStructure

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS INCLUDING THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WATER WAS ON THE FLOOR DUE TO A LEAKING SUNROOF. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10087470

36,000 miles · Aug 28, 2004

Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

WHEN MY VOLKSWAGON JETTA WAS BROADSIDED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT JUNCTION, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS FRONT OR SIDE WERE ACTIVATED. ALSO THE REAR SIDE DOOR FLEW OFF FROM THE CAR AND A RESULT OF WHICH BOTH MY CHILDREN WERE EJECTED AND INJURED. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088737

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2004

Air BagsInjury

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I WAS ON VACATION, OVER THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND. ON MY WAY HOME, I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ALONG WITH THE SEAT AIRBAG, DEPLOYED. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT WHY SUCH A THING WOULD HAPPEN . THERE WAS NO CLEAR SIGN AS TO WHY IT HAD GONE OFF. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE SIDE CURTAIN HANGING DOWN, MY DOG HYPERVENTILATED ALL THE WAY HOME , DUE TO THE LOUD BANG OF THE DEPLOYMENT. WHEN I GOT HOME I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TULLEY VW AND TOLD THEM MY SITUATION, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRENTY AND TO BRING IT DOWN, THEY WOULD GIVE ME A RENTAL AND FIX THE AIRBAGS. I DID JUST THAT, ALTHOUGH A FEW HOURS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE AIRBAG, STATING THAT THEY INSIST I WAS IN A CRASH. THERE IS CLEARLY NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. I AM WONDERING WHAT I SHOULD DO IN MY NEXT STEP TO GETTING THIS RESOLVED UNDER MY WARRENTY. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO ANY ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY VW WILL NOT COVER THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088590

68,300 miles · Aug 20, 2004

Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BECAUSE THE SEAT WASN'T OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE AIR BAGS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK (SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG) *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087174

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2004

Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FOR NO VISABLE REASON, AIRBAGS ON PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. SIDE SEAT AIRBAGS AND ALL THE CELLING AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE ROAD AND NO PHYSICALL DAMAGE WAS DONR TO MY CAR. VW SAID TO CONTACT MY INS AND TELL THEM I HAD A RECK. I DID NOT AND WOULD NOT LIE TO THEM. AT THIS TIME N…

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NHTSA ODI #10086367

56,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004

Air Bags

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I WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON MY PASSENGER SIDE AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD MY 2001 JETTA TOWED TO MY LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY'RE RESPONSE IT THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO BODY DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF IMPACT ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HELPFUL AND TOLD ME TO FILE THE ISSUE WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE INSURANCE FRAUD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086226

90,000 miles · Jun 15, 2004

Air Bags

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WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SKIMMED A POTHOLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR FILLED WITH POWDERY SMOKE AND I COULD NOT SEE OUT MY WINDSHIELD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. IN ADDITION THE NOISE STARTLED ME SO MUCH, I AM PRETTY SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR AFTERWARDS HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALSO THANKFUL MY INFANT SON WAS NOT IN THE CAR. MY RIGHT EAR WAS BOTHERING ME FOR ABOUT A DAY AND A HALF AFTERWARDS, I'M SURE HAD MY SON BEEN IN THE CAR, HIS SENSITIVE EARS MAY HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DAMAGED, NEVER MIND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TRAUMATIZED HIM. VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS THE CODES THEY DOWNLOADED FROM THE CAR INDICATED A SIDE IMPACT OCCURRED AND THAT A "MARK" ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE VERIFIES THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CORRECTLY. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WITH 90K ON THE CAR THERE ARE SEVERAL "MARKS" ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE UNMOVED BY THE INCIDENT AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. CLAIM WAS FILED WITH METLIFE, WHO COVERED THE $3500 REPAIR BILL TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COVER. NO REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED TO THE CAR FRAME, UNDERCARRIAGE, AXLE, REAR TIRE ETC, YET STILL THEY CLAIM AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10075408

34,550 miles · May 13, 2004

Air Bags

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1.I AM AN 8 MONTH PREGNANT MOTHER WHO WAS DRIVING A VW JETTA WHEN THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, NOR DID I HIT ANYTHING WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN OFF THE LINCOLN TUNNEL ON THE WAY TO DROP MY DOG OFF TO HIS NEW HOME 3/21/04. 2.TOOK IT TO BAYSIDE VW DEALER ON 3/22/04, WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER READS THAT IT WAS AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE THAT SET THE AIRBAG OFF, AND WAS TOLD THAT I MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE. SINCE THE BAYSIDE MANAGER SAW A BUBBLE ON MY TIRE, HE MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE AIRBAG WENT OFF BECAUSE OF A POTHOLE. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT HIT, NOR DID I HIT ANYBODY, AND THAT THE INSURANCE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. CAME HOME AND CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 1-800-822-8987 AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT. DO AIRBAGS NORMALLY GO OFF BECAUSE FOR SOMETHING SO EASILY AS A POTHOLE ? WE LIVE IN NY CITY, AND POTHOLES ARE EVERYWHERE ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WINTER WE HAD! 3.FINALLY SPOKE TO JIM MEYERS FROM VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AIRBAG DEPT, AND ALL HE COULD SAY WAS SORRY THE COMPUTER SAYS IT WAS AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE SO VW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING, SEE YOUR INSURANCE AGENCY!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072554

Official recalls

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

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.

06V183000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

May 24, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

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 NOVEMBER 27, 2006. 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.

04V584000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Dec 16, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V096000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

Remedy: THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V244000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Sep 12, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V031000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jan 31, 2002

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME 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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ06004 · Brake Light Switch Failure

Opened Feb 28, 2006 · Closed Aug 7, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

DP05004 · Engine Stalling

Opened Aug 11, 2005 · Closed Dec 8, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition:module

BY LETTER RECEIVED ON JUNE 24, 2005, MR. RONALD M. STRICKLAND OF RALEIGH, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF AND PASSAT SEDANS.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON HIS 2002 VW JETTA SEDAN.AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING, THE PETITIONER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORTS WHEN HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED ON THE SHOULDER HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT REDUCED POWER.VW ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) ON JANUARY 31, 2003 TO INSTRUCT THEIR DEALERSHIPS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS AND TO REPLACE THEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.CONSUMERS WERE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS VIA OWNER LETTERS MAILED OUT ON JUNE 6, 2003.WHILE VW INITIALLY INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIPS TO ONLY REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS, A REVISED CSC WAS ISSUED TO DEALERSHIPS IN DECEMBER 2003 AND JANUARY 2004, INSTRUCTING DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PACKS REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE.A REMINDER TO THE DEALERSHIPS WAS SENT BY VW ON APRIL OF 2004.ALTHOUGH THE CONCERNS OF THE PETITIONER COULD THEORETICALLY CREATE A SAFETY PROBLEM, THE RISK IS VERY SMALL, DUE TO THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING ON EITHER 3, 5, OR 7 CYLINDERS.THERE ARE NO REPORTED CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ONCE DRIVERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (LOSS OF POWER DUE TO ONE OF THE IGNITION COIL PACKS MALFUNCTIONING), DRIVERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY AND COMPENSATORY MEASURES AND STILL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, FOUR FIRES WERE REPORTED TO ODI.THESE WERE IGNITION COIL BURNOUTS WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND WERE LOCALIZED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DURING THE LAST 24 MONTHS THE NUMBER OF STALL AND DRIVABILITY COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO ODI HAS GREATLY DIMINISHED FROM A PEAK OF 195 IN JANUARY OF 2003 TO ONLY 3 IN AUGUST OF 2005.THIS COINCIDES WITH THE CSC RELEASED BY VW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04081 · Inadvertent SIDE-AIRBAG Deployment

Opened Dec 16, 2004 · Closed Apr 1, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE MINOR IN NATURE AND CONSIST OF ABRASIONS, BRUISES, EAR RINGING AND HEADACHES.THERE WAS NO ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASH AS A RESULT OF SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.ODI ALSO OBTAINED COUNTS OF ALLEGED INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS FROM PEER MANUFACTURERS.THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT UNIQUE IN BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR NON-SUBJECT INDIVIDUAL MODEL VEHICLES VARIES WIDELY.THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS COMPARABLE TO THREE PEER MODELS, EACH WITH COMPACT CHASSIS/WHEELBASES.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY COMPONENT FAILURE OR MANUFACTURING TREND THAT MAY RELATE TO A COMPONENT OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04073 · Turn Signal/hazard Flasher Failure

Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Dec 16, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights; Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

RQ03010 · Brake Light Switch

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Mar 1, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND MANUFACTURER FAILURE REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING AND OR INACCURATE INFORMATION.THE INJURY NOTED ABOVE WAS MINOR.ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. (VW) SUBMITTED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION (PER 49CFR573) TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACUTURED WITH THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AS RECALLED UNDER 03V-265 (MY 1998-2002 NEW BEETLE) ARE AFFECTED BY A SAFETY DEFECT.SPECIFICALLY, IF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD STAY ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION AND OCCUPANT INJURY.ACCORDINGLY, VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1998 TO NOVEMBER 2001 TO INSPECT AND REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE ANY AFFECTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES.THE RECALL PROGRAM, VW CODE WX, WILL COMMENCE IN APRIL 2004.