NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
507 reports36,000 miles · Sep 22, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
HELLO I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T WITH 36000 MILES. AFTER I DROVE IT HOME, TWO DAYS LATER MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI CARS, BUT MY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1500 FOR THE PART AND 2.5 HOURS OF …
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HELLO I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T WITH 36000 MILES. AFTER I DROVE IT HOME, TWO DAYS LATER MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI CARS, BUT MY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1500 FOR THE PART AND 2.5 HOURS OF LABOR + TX =$2000 OUT OF MY POCKET. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY ISN'T VW DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW AND GOVERNMENT FORM DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? HOW MANY DEATHS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL IT TAKE? PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10168938
58,000 miles · Sep 1, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY VW 2000 V6 PASSAT HAS THE ABS LIGHT ON AND BLINKING BRAKE LIGHT. PER VW DEALER SCAN SERVICE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED TO FUNCTION. MY CAR IS ONLY 58,000 MILES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10167239
95,000 miles · Sep 1, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY INDICATED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVERS MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10167238
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE A 2000 PASSAT GLS. IT'S ABS LIGHT IS ON NOW WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING AND THE MESSAGE STOP SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10165596
81,000 miles · Aug 14, 2006
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE DRIVEWAY WAS NOTICED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL LINES, CLAMPS AND SEAL WERE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM.
NHTSA ODI #10165429
100,000 miles · Aug 10, 2006
Structure
A 2000 PASSAT STATION WAGON HAD WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOT WELL TWICE AFTER HEAVY RAINS. ONCE THE LEAK WAS MORE THAN AN INCH. ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SECURELY CLOSED PRIOR TO THE RAINS. A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASHBOARD RESULTED ON THE TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LEADING TO APPROXI…
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A 2000 PASSAT STATION WAGON HAD WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOT WELL TWICE AFTER HEAVY RAINS. ONCE THE LEAK WAS MORE THAN AN INCH. ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SECURELY CLOSED PRIOR TO THE RAINS. A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASHBOARD RESULTED ON THE TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LEADING TO APPROXIMATELY $3,500 IN REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS WERE TO THE ENGINE TIMING SYSTEM AND TO A MOTOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10165103
83,500 miles · Aug 2, 2006
Exterior Lighting
DUE TO THE CLOUDINESS OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS I ALMOST RAN OVER TWO JOGGERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AND I HAD JUST REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS, YET, BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT OF MY HEADLIGHTS WHICH I ESTIMATE TO BE AT LEAST A 40% REDUCTION, I SIMPLY COULDN'T SEE THE JOGGERS UNTIL I WAS …
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DUE TO THE CLOUDINESS OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS I ALMOST RAN OVER TWO JOGGERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AND I HAD JUST REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS, YET, BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT OF MY HEADLIGHTS WHICH I ESTIMATE TO BE AT LEAST A 40% REDUCTION, I SIMPLY COULDN'T SEE THE JOGGERS UNTIL I WAS ALMOST ON TOP OF THEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE/REPAIR NON-CONSUMABLE SAFETY ITEMS SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLIES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164217
69,600 miles · Aug 2, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164163
88,718 miles · Jul 20, 2006
Power Train
THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HAVING OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. IT CAN BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN LURCHING, WHICH HAS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED, WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (60-70 MPH), AND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES. WHILE STOPPED, IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, AND THE V…
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THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HAVING OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. IT CAN BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN LURCHING, WHICH HAS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED, WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (60-70 MPH), AND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES. WHILE STOPPED, IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, AND THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD; EXTRA BRAKE PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED DURING THESE OCCURRENCES, WHICH LAST LESS THAN A SECOND OR TWO, BUT WHICH OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF AS A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOUS DECREASE IN SPEED OF BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN MILES PER HOUR; THIS DECREASE IN SPEED OCCURS IN LESS THAN A SECOND. ONE GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING IS THAT IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS HIT SOMETHING. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION, BECAUSE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHILE ON A CURVE IN THE RAIN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE LOST. I HAVE INFORMED MY LOCAL DEALER OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES (DUE TO ITS INTERMITTENT NATURE), THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10162988
59,000 miles · Jul 16, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS FAILURE WARNING APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY BOOSTED. ALSO MAY HAVE SPILT W/W FLUID ONTO ABS UNIT WHEN FILLING W/W CONTAINER. DEALER WANTS AT LEAST $700 TO REPLACE CONTROL MODULE. BRAKES ARE OTHERWISE OK. DEALER SAID HE WOULDN'T DRIVE WITHOUT ABS AS WAS TOO DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY 1ST CAR WITH ABS AND …
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ABS FAILURE WARNING APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY BOOSTED. ALSO MAY HAVE SPILT W/W FLUID ONTO ABS UNIT WHEN FILLING W/W CONTAINER. DEALER WANTS AT LEAST $700 TO REPLACE CONTROL MODULE. BRAKES ARE OTHERWISE OK. DEALER SAID HE WOULDN'T DRIVE WITHOUT ABS AS WAS TOO DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY 1ST CAR WITH ABS AND I AM NOT CONVINCED IT IS WORTH FIXING AT LEAST AT THAT COST. SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST VW & BOSCH TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE UNITS. A FEW SITES PROMISE TO REBUILD ECM FOR $250. NOT SURE IF THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER SCAM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10162496
NHTSA investigations
7EA07014 · Passenger Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Sep 28, 2007 · Closed Jul 7, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA ON 04-APR-08 THAT A SAFETY RECALL ACTION WOULD BE INITIATED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.IN JUNE 2008, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (CODE 26E5/R5) REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WERE SENT BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY JUNE 13, 2008.THE CAMPAIGN WAS ASSIGNED NHTSA NO. 08V-156.THIS RECALL AFFECTS ALL MY 1999-2005, 5TH GENERATION GASOLINE-POWERED PASSAT SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS.APPROXIMATELY 412,000 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED.CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL CONSIST OF INSTALLING ADDITIONAL EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELDING TO MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL THERMAL EFFECTS OF ENGINE IGNITION PROBLEMS.BASED ON THIS ACTION, THE SUBJECT EA HAS BEEN CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:ignition
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA ON 04-APR-08 THAT A SAFETY RECALL ACTION WOULD BE INITIATED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.IN JUNE 2008, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (CODE 26E5/R5) REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WERE SENT BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY JUNE 13, 2008.THE CAMPAIGN WAS ASSIGNED NHTSA NO. 08V-156.THIS RECALL AFFECTS ALL MY 1999-2005, 5TH GENERATION GASOLINE-POWERED PASSAT SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS.APPROXIMATELY 412,000 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED.CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL CONSIST OF INSTALLING ADDITIONAL EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELDING TO MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL THERMAL EFFECTS OF ENGINE IGNITION PROBLEMS.BASED ON THIS ACTION, THE SUBJECT EA HAS BEEN CLOSED.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA ON 04-APR-08 THAT A SAFETY RECALL ACTION WOULD BE INITIATED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.IN JUNE 2008, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (CODE 26E5/R5) REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WERE SENT BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY JUNE 13, 2008.THE CAMPAIGN WAS ASSIGNED NHTSA NO. 08V-156.THIS RECALL AFFECTS ALL MY 1999-2005, 5TH GENERATION GASOLINE-POWERED PASSAT SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS.APPROXIMATELY 412,000 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED.CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL CONSIST OF INSTALLING ADDITIONAL EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELDING TO MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL THERMAL EFFECTS OF ENGINE IGNITION PROBLEMS.BASED ON THIS ACTION, THE SUBJECT EA HAS BEEN CLOSED.
PE07024 · Passenger/engine Compartment Fires
Opened May 10, 2007 · Closed Sep 28, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition
MANY OF THE FIRE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE VEHICLE FIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO IGNITION COIL FAILURE.VW PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DATA REGARDING ITS ANALYSIS OF VEHICLE FIRES AND A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE DIFFERENT ENGINES AND IGNITION SYSTEMS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODIFINDS THE NEED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.TO FACILITATE ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-014).
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.
EA03020 · Passenger Air Bag Lid Failure
Opened Oct 7, 2003 · Closed Apr 23, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) LID UTILIZED IN MY 1998-2002 VW PASSAT.THE PSIR LID MAY DETACH FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON MAY 23, 2003 TO DETERMINE WHETHER ALLEGED PSIR LID DETACHMENT PRESENTS AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.ODI?S INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY OCCUR FOR TWO REASONS: 1) THE SHAPE OF THE PSIR LID, AND THE LENGTH OF THE ATTACHING TETHER, MAY SNAG THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE LID TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP); AND/OR 2) THE ORIGINAL PSIR LID DESIGN (SUBJECT VEHICLES) UTILIZED SIX GRADE 4.8 MM CARBON STEEL TACK WELD BOLTS WHICH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS THE NEW DESIGN PSIR LID CONSISTING OF SIX GRADE 8.8 MM CARBON STEEL PRESS BOLTS THAT ARE HEAT TREATED.ODI CONCLUDES THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID IS A DEFECT BECAUSE THE LID SHOULD REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE IP AFTER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING VW?S RESPONSES, AND TEST DATA COLLECTED BY VW AND FAURECIA, THE PSIR LID SUPPLIER, ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND BECAUSE A DETACHED PSIR LID AND PARTS DO NOT PROJECT TOWARDS A PASSENGER DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.THE TEST DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG PUSHES A DETACHED PSIR LID UPWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A PASSENGER WOULD CONTACT THE PSIR LID OR ASSOCIATED PARTS DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THEREFORE THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA 03-020) IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PSIR LID AND TESTING, SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) LID UTILIZED IN MY 1998-2002 VW PASSAT.THE PSIR LID MAY DETACH FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON MAY 23, 2003 TO DETERMINE WHETHER ALLEGED PSIR LID DETACHMENT PRESENTS AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.ODI?S INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY OCCUR FOR TWO REASONS: 1) THE SHAPE OF THE PSIR LID, AND THE LENGTH OF THE ATTACHING TETHER, MAY SNAG THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE LID TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP); AND/OR 2) THE ORIGINAL PSIR LID DESIGN (SUBJECT VEHICLES) UTILIZED SIX GRADE 4.8 MM CARBON STEEL TACK WELD BOLTS WHICH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS THE NEW DESIGN PSIR LID CONSISTING OF SIX GRADE 8.8 MM CARBON STEEL PRESS BOLTS THAT ARE HEAT TREATED.ODI CONCLUDES THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID IS A DEFECT BECAUSE THE LID SHOULD REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE IP AFTER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING VW?S RESPONSES, AND TEST DATA COLLECTED BY VW AND FAURECIA, THE PSIR LID SUPPLIER, ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND BECAUSE A DETACHED PSIR LID AND PARTS DO NOT PROJECT TOWARDS A PASSENGER DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.THE TEST DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG PUSHES A DETACHED PSIR LID UPWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A PASSENGER WOULD CONTACT THE PSIR LID OR ASSOCIATED PARTS DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THEREFORE THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA 03-020) IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PSIR LID AND TESTING, SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT.
Air Bags
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) LID UTILIZED IN MY 1998-2002 VW PASSAT.THE PSIR LID MAY DETACH FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON MAY 23, 2003 TO DETERMINE WHETHER ALLEGED PSIR LID DETACHMENT PRESENTS AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.ODI?S INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY OCCUR FOR TWO REASONS: 1) THE SHAPE OF THE PSIR LID, AND THE LENGTH OF THE ATTACHING TETHER, MAY SNAG THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE LID TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP); AND/OR 2) THE ORIGINAL PSIR LID DESIGN (SUBJECT VEHICLES) UTILIZED SIX GRADE 4.8 MM CARBON STEEL TACK WELD BOLTS WHICH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS THE NEW DESIGN PSIR LID CONSISTING OF SIX GRADE 8.8 MM CARBON STEEL PRESS BOLTS THAT ARE HEAT TREATED.ODI CONCLUDES THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID IS A DEFECT BECAUSE THE LID SHOULD REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE IP AFTER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING VW?S RESPONSES, AND TEST DATA COLLECTED BY VW AND FAURECIA, THE PSIR LID SUPPLIER, ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND BECAUSE A DETACHED PSIR LID AND PARTS DO NOT PROJECT TOWARDS A PASSENGER DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.THE TEST DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG PUSHES A DETACHED PSIR LID UPWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A PASSENGER WOULD CONTACT THE PSIR LID OR ASSOCIATED PARTS DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THEREFORE THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA 03-020) IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PSIR LID AND TESTING, SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT.
PE03021 · Passenger Sir Door Mounting Stud Failure
Opened May 23, 2003 · Closed Oct 7, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-021) BASED ON TWO REPORTS OF FAILED BOLT STUDS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) DOOR COVER TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP) ON THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT (MODEL YEARS 2000, 2002).VW HAS INDICATED TO ODI THAT IT HAS NO ADDITIONAL REPORTS.VW IMPLEMENTED A PROCESS CHANGE ON MARCH 1, 2002.THIS PROCESS CHANGE CONSISTED OF CHANGING THE BOLT APPLICATION THAT FASTENS THE PSIR DOOR TO THE IP FROM A WELD ON APPLICATION TO A PRESS ON APPLICATION.VW ALSO CHANGED THE MATERIAL OF THE BOLT.VW STATED THAT THE CHANGES WERE MADE TO EASE PRODUCTION BY ELIMINATING A WELDING PROCESS.ODI HAS UPGRADED ITS INVESTIGATION TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-020).
EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
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