Seats. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports70 fire reports76 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

76 reports

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35,561 miles · Feb 10, 2005

Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111311

39,500 miles · Feb 5, 2005

Air BagsCrash

1. ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR WAS STRUCK AT 90DEG BETWEEN DRIVER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR BY PICK UP TRUCK 2. SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY 3. DEALER DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED, MANUFACTURER IGNORED THE ISSUE, STATING THAT THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109889

30,000 miles · Jan 20, 2005

Air Bags

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IN JUNE 2004, I WAS DRIVING DOWN JOPLIN RD NEAR QUANTICO, VA AND DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WHILE ITS A WINDING ROAD, I DIDN'T FEEL ANY IMPACT. THE DEALER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, SOMETHING HIT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TELLING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THEY SAID MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL HAVE TO COVER THE AIRBAG/SEAT REPLACEMENT (ABOUT $2500). THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AN AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THIS VEHICLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. (NOTE: I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT IN JULY 2004 BUT HAD INCLUDED BOTH INCIDENTS IN ONE COMPLAINT.)*JB

NHTSA ODI #10107607

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2005

Air Bags

THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE OWNER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107409

17,700 miles · Jan 12, 2005

Air Bags

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COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ON ROUTE 17 IN NEW JERSEY AND PASSED OVER RAILROAD TRACK AT A SPEED BETWEEN 20-30 MPH (ON 50 MPH HIGHWAY). AFTER CLEARING THE TRACKS THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT... IMMEDIATELY HE CAME TO MY JOB (I WORK AT A CAR DEALERSHIP) FOR ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS ,FOR ME TO LOOK AT.VEHICLE. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY DAMAGE OR ANY SIGNS OF A COLLISION. SO, I TOOK MY CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN SO THIS COULD BE FIXED. THEN, I WAS INFORMED BECAUSE DRIVING OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS TRIGGERED MY CRASH SENSOR CAUSING IT TO REGISTER A CRASH OR COLLISION, THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN INFORMED ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILE A CLAIM. NOW I WOULD LIKE YOUR ADVICE IS THIS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN, AND SINCE IT HAPPENED TO ME, SHOULD IT HAPPEN TO EVERYONE IF THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. WOULDN'T A FAULTY SENSOR RATHER THEN A BUSY ROAD TRAVELED BY THOUSANDS A DAY CAUSE THIS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10107249

17,000 miles · Nov 30, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *AK VW SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAGS UPON INSPECTION. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10031482

27,000 miles · Nov 15, 2004

Air Bags

CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG COVER SHOOK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099918

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2004

Air Bags

MAKING A RIGHT TURN DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096322

25,000 miles · Oct 19, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS GOING 40 MPH WHEN IT WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH HAD CUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALLED, BUT IT DID SUFFER OVER $8,000.00 IN DAMAGES. *AK *TC

NHTSA ODI #10090152

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2004

Air Bags

RE FORD WINDSTAR (MY) 2001-2003, 2ND & 3RD ROW SEAT RECALL. *BF RECALL NUMBER 03V459000. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10097204

Official recalls

18V406000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jun 13, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and EuroVan Chassis vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X3.

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.

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

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.

EA04010 · Driver Side Front Seat Overheats

Opened Mar 30, 2004 · Closed Oct 21, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

THIS INVESTIGATION CONCERNS THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER INSTALLED IN SOME MY 2002-2003 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA VEHICLES.CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT THE SEAT HEATER MAY OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN BURN DAMAGE TO THE SEAT COVER AND TO THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING AND/OR SKIN.THIS EA ADDRESSES WHETHER SUCH FAILURES MAY POSE A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.ODI CONCLUDES THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT HEATER MAY FAIL OR MALFUNCTION DUE TO NORMAL VEHICLE USE, (I.E., DRIVER INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE).THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT SUCH FAILURES DO NOT POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR FIRE.ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND.THEREFORE, THIS EA HAS BEEN CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT PROVIDES FURTHER DETAIL CONCERNING THIS EA.

PE03052 · Driver Seat Overheats/burns

Opened Nov 19, 2003 · Closed Mar 30, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS.INFORMATION RECEIVED DURING PE03-052 DISCLOSED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF MALFUNCTIONING/OVERHEATING OF THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS MAY OCCUR DURING THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE WINTER SEASON.THIS MATTER IS ALSO CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY TRANSPORT CANADA.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-010)IN ORDER TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THESE OCCURRENCES AND THEIR SAFETY IMPLICATIONS.