NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
88 reportsClear category filter47,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Air BagsElectrical System
AT AROUND 47,000 MILES I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A DAY OR TWO OF THIS MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST FUNCTION OF MY HORN AND FOUND THAT OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SOME ONE WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS CLEAR. I ALSO LOST ALL STEERING WHEEL…
Read full complaint
AT AROUND 47,000 MILES I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A DAY OR TWO OF THIS MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST FUNCTION OF MY HORN AND FOUND THAT OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SOME ONE WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS CLEAR. I ALSO LOST ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED ABOUT 27 DAYS PRIOR SO I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY DID TROUBLE SHOOT THE ISSUE AND LET ME KNOW THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA ODI #11113485
59,600 miles · Jun 29, 2018
Air BagsElectrical System
THERE WAS A NOISE LIKE A OVERTIGHTENED SPRING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED. RIGHT AFTERWARDS, THE HORN AS WELL AS STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR AUDIO AND PHONE STOPPED WORKING. LATER THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN DASH. POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING. FAILED AT 59,600 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11104647
50,000 miles · Jun 28, 2018
Air Bags
THERE IS A WEIRD NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11104619
37,100 miles · Jun 20, 2018
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or Other
AIR BAG SENSOR HAS GONE ON 3 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT. IT HAS GONE OFF AGAIN NOW THAT I AM @37,000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY. THE STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, THE SWITCHES ON THE HORN DO NOT WORK.
NHTSA ODI #11102827
53,000 miles · May 16, 2018
Air BagsSeat Belts
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND WARNING CHIME CONSTANTLY RINGS. THIS IS AT APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE TURNED ON LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON.
NHTSA ODI #11096371
60,000 miles · May 4, 2018
Air BagsElectrical System
AROUND THE 60,000 MILE MARK, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN, AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FIGURED IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH WOULD COST NEARLY $700 TO REPLACE. VW HAS PREVOUSLY ISSUED RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS BECAUSE OF THIS VERY ISSUE
NHTSA ODI #11091956
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2018
Air BagsExterior Lighting
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 52K MILES. DEALER WANTED ME TO PAY FOR ISSUE BUT AT THE END VW WILL BE COVERING THE EXPENSE. HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAD NO COVERAGE.
NHTSA ODI #11065798
62,000 miles · Dec 11, 2017
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #11054009
51,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH VOLKSWAGEN (1 COMMONWEALTH DR, LAWRENCE, MA 01841). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH VOLKSWAGEN (1 COMMONWEALTH DR, LAWRENCE, MA 01841). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
NHTSA ODI #11052223
36,600 miles · Dec 2, 2017
Air BagsUnknown Or Other
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT RECALL MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN JANUARY OF 2016. IT WAS THE NEWEST CAR WE HAVE EVER PURCHASED AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUPLE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. WELL AT 36,750 MILES IN MARCH OF 2017, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO CLICK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NO LONGER A…
Read full complaint
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT RECALL MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN JANUARY OF 2016. IT WAS THE NEWEST CAR WE HAVE EVER PURCHASED AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUPLE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. WELL AT 36,750 MILES IN MARCH OF 2017, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO CLICK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO USE THE HORN, THE RADIO OR THE PHONE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A CLOCKSPRING AND THAT WE DID HAVE A WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS OR UP TO 36,000 MILES AND SINCE WE WERE SO CLOSE, WE NEEDED TO CALL THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. I CALLED NEW MOTORS IN ERIE, PA. I TALKED TO A VERY NICE MECHANIC THAT AGREED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THAT WAS INDEED THE ISSUE. HE INFORMED ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAD RECALLED THAT PARTICULAR PART ON THE 2012-14 MODELS BUT HAD YET TO RECALL IT ON OUR 2015 MODEL THAT WE HAD. HE ALSO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE 36,000-MILE WARRANTY, IT WAS OUT OF HIS HANDS TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AND TO CALL CORPORATE TO GIVE HIM THE GO AHEAD TO DO SO SINCE IT DID SEEM LIKE THIS IS THE RIGHT CALL SINCE WE WERE SO CLOSE TO THE WARRANTY AND IT IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM IN THESE MODELS. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH TALKED TO VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MARCH OF 2017 TO ONLY HAVE THEM TREAT US POORLY AND TELL US THAT IT ISN'T THEIR CONCERN. MY AIRBAGS AND HORN CURRENTLY AREN'T WORKING BECAUSE OF IT. I HAD THE ERIE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSE THE CAR ISSUES IN JUNE OF 2017 AND IT WAS IN FACT A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. AGAIN VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST OF OVER $1000.00. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON NUMEROUS VOLKSWAGEN MODELS. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT HAPPENED. I TURNED IT ON ONE MORNING TO FIND THE HORN NOT WORKING, CONTROLLERS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON.
NHTSA ODI #11052020
Official recalls
7Dec 4, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
May 22, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
Jan 11, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder 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 vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).
Oct 26, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Jun 15, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.
Jan 23, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
Oct 24, 2014
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Illustration