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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
162,000 miles · Nov 7, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury
DURING A ROLLOVER CRASH ON 14 SEP 2017 NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE AUTO DEPLOYED. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR'S FRONT SEATS - DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE AUTO WAS TOTALED IN THE CRASH. THE CRASH OCCURRED DURING DRY WEATHER DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN. THIS IS A US SPEC MODEL VW PHAETON. MY WIFE…
Read full complaint
DURING A ROLLOVER CRASH ON 14 SEP 2017 NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE AUTO DEPLOYED. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR'S FRONT SEATS - DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE AUTO WAS TOTALED IN THE CRASH. THE CRASH OCCURRED DURING DRY WEATHER DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN. THIS IS A US SPEC MODEL VW PHAETON. MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED INJURIES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY TO INCLUDE A BROKEN SHOULDER BLADE AND 4 BROKEN (C1-C4) LOWER SPINAL PROCESSES ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I BELIEVE THESE INJURIES MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERE HAD THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S INJURIES CONSISTED PRIMARILY OF WHIPLASH AND CUTS TO HIS HEAD, RIGHT HAND AND LEFT ARM FROM BROKEN GLASS. FORTUNATELY NEITHER WERE INJURED IN A PERMANENT WAY. MY CONCERN IS THAT I BELIEVE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED DURING THE ROLLOVER AND HAD THEY DONE SO OUR INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY LESS - PERHAPS BRUISING INSTEAD OF BROKEN BONES FOR THE PASSENGER AND A LOT FEWER GLASS CUTS TO THE HEAD, HAND AND ARM FOR THE DRIVER.
NHTSA ODI #11044030
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Volkswagen Phaeton Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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