Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW | ||||||
| PE04081 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 12/16/2004 | 04/01/2005 | INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT | ||
| 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 | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 06/04/2005 | 90000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen golf. while driving approximately 60 mph on normal road conditions, the engine experienced low power, rough idling, and hesitation. the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the indicators remained lit until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failures were related to the coil pack. the vehicle was repaired. on two separate occasions after the repair, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for identical failures with no resolutions. the vehicle currently is inoperable and has not been repaired for the malfunction. the failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 150,000. | |||
| 12/07/2007 | 119100 | 1 | 04/01/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen golf. the side curtain air bags, including the passenger seat air bags, deployed for no apparent reason. the contact was driving 60-65 mph at the time of failure. the road conditions were normal and there was no sudden impact or crash. the failure mileage was 119,100 and current mileage was 119,350. updated 03-05-08 *bf | |||
| 02/01/2006 | 63400 | 1 | 04/26/2005 |
| My 2001 vw golf repeatedly has warning lights popping up in error. this week my airbag warning light came on and stayed on, even though this car has never been in an accident and the airbags have never needed to be deployed. researching this issue shows that this is a common problem and annoyance among vw users. the only remedy offered by two dealerships i went to is to replace the airbags at a cost of more than $750/$900 per (there are 4 of them). the replacement airbags only have a 6,000 mile warranty, which means i could conceivably have to pay $3000 every 5-6 months to have new airbags installed, even though there's nothing wrong with them and the real problem is that the warning light keeps going off in error. help! *jb | |||
| 04/18/2005 | 1 | 04/08/2005 | |
| I bought a used 2001 vw golf in april. the airbag light remains on when vehicle is in motion. i brought the car to a vw dealer and paid $85 for them to tell me that the airbag had high resistance and might not deploy in case of an accident. they said the harnass of the driver's side airbag need to be replaced and it would cost me $700. this is not a wearable part of the car, and is a desgin fault that may endager the life of the driver. i am wondering why i should pay for this. shouldn't it be the responbsibility of vw to ensure that non-wearable parts remain working for quite a long time? especially if it is safety related? | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 5 | ||
| Continuous problems with the air bag system on the 2001 volkswagen golf.***no answer required***. *mr the vehicle has been serviced 5 times yet the air bag light remains on. *tt *nm | |||
| 06/07/2005 | 63000 | 1 | 07/28/2004 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen golf. while driving down the road passenger's side air bag deployed for no reason. there was no accident. the speed was about 45 mph. contact did not lose control of the vehicle. the air bag light was not on prior to the deployment, but it was on now. there was someone sitting in the passenger seat and was wearing the seat belt. currently, the seat belt will not retract. it was still the same way as if someone were sitting in the seat. one passenger sustained injuries, had burn marks on her arms. the insurance company has this incident on file. the police department stated that since contact drove vehicle away from the scene of the accident, it would be considered a do it yourself part, and she had not gotten a chance to do so yet. *ak *nm | |||
| 05/23/2004 | 1 | 04/12/2001 | |
| 1. no event applicable (i.e. no accidents, crashes or impacts) 2. airbag light comes on 3. vw charged $90 to tell me that it would take $715 to replace the part; my vehicle is only a 2001. vw stated it suffered mechanical breakdown; the part is not a wearable part!!!*ak | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 25000 | ||
| This is a copy of my letter to volkswagen, pls help me. hello vw, to may it may concern. recently i purchased at volkswagen golf 2001 used model. it has about a year warranrtty left with 25,000km on it. practixcally brand new. i was in a major car accident rear ending someone harshly, and my airbag s did not go off, my girlfriend was injured from this incident. we were about 50km per hour when the accident happened. but failed to protect her face fropm hitting the dashbard. pls explain this incedent, to me. | |||
| 09/18/2003 | 59833 | 1 | |
| 2001 vw golf 2.0l with 59k miles airbag light came on for no apparent reason at startup and would not go off. called vw of america and was given a case number. took vehicle to dealer and they reported that the passenger front air bag harness needed to be replaced. waiting for vw of america response to dealership for repairs to take place. *jb | |||
| 02/27/2001 | 4 | 02/01/2001 | |
| Air bag light keeps coming on. it has been doing this since the first day that we have had the car. we keep taking it back to the dealership to get it fix but it is still not fixed. they give us back the car and with in one to two weeks the light keeps coming back on. *ak | |||
| Air bag light stays illuminated on dash panel after vehicle is started and is moving. dealr has been contacted.*ak | |||
| Airbag sensor light stays illuminated while vehicle is in motion. dealer has inspected vehicle. *ak | |||
| 09/17/2000 | 1 | 08/01/2000 | |
| Airbag warning light indicated problem, dealer has had car for 4 weeks trying to repair or obtain parts. currently backordered, several cars awaiting same parts, according to dealer. | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL | |||
| 09/01/2006 | 80687 | 1 | 11/10/2000 |
| Second time the front driver's side air bag has malfunctioned -- warning light comes on that airbag is not properly functioning. november 2005 and september 2006. dealer would not repair then as now. vw ordered repairs and replaced bag and harness in november 2005. all airbags will not function if a problem with harness. this will be the second harness, igniter, etc to be installed. parts will be available upon repair this time ( a quite costly venture). vw will not admit a serious problem, but non-vw repair centers know of this problem. *nm | |||
| 04/16/2002 | 2 | 06/01/2001 | |
| While driving the passenger's side airbags deployed on 4/16/01, and three days later drivers side bags deployed also without apparent reason. *ak *yh | |||
| 10/15/2001 | 1 | 06/01/2001 | |
| When consumer got inside of vehicle and turned on engine, driver's side air bag deployed without prior warning, bruising consumer's arm, dealer and manufacturer were contacted. *ak *yh | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | |||
| 03/09/2007 | 84200 | 2 | 08/18/2001 |
| Tl*-the contact stated that the 2001 volkswagen golf had problems with the airbag sensor. once she turned on the ignition and put on the seat belt the dashboard air bag sensor light stayed on. the contact contacted the dealership, and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty, and that he was responsible for the repairs of the seat belt. the contact stated that the seat belt was what indicated if the airbag sensor became activated or not. the contact felt that the manufacturer should make better parts for their vehicles. the contact called the manufacturer of the vehicle, and was given case# 70098165. the failure mileage was 84,200 and the current mileage was 85,000. *ak updated 04/11/07. *jb | |||
| 12/13/2005 | 110800 | 1 | 09/06/2005 |
| 2001 vw golf tdi. my airbag warning light came on and continues to remain on. i have heard of someone else having the same problem with the same model car. *jb | |||
| 01/26/2004 | 51811 | 5 | 09/27/2002 |
| Dt: the consumer stated the air bag light kept coming on. caller has been to dealer three times, and soon after they repaired it, it illuminated again. the manufacturer reimbursed the consumer for fixing the problem. *ak *jb | |||
| 11/12/2003 | 72864 | 1 | 12/29/2000 |
| Vehicle was less than 3 years old (but beyond warranty mileage) when air bag light came on. dealer diagnostics indicated rt side air bag sensor, and air bag control unit need to be replaced at a cost of $770. without replacement, dealer says entire airbag system is inoperative.*ak | |||
| AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW | |||
| 10/15/2006 | 1 | ||
| While driving home on a major highway the passenger side air bags deployed leaving bruising and scrapes on passenger. no other vehicle or obstruction in way. *nm | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 1 | ||
| The passenger's side air bag deployed with no impact to the vehicle. consumer contacted the dealer, and was told that something hit the floor of the trunk, and that set the air bag off. also, dealer told the consumer that there was nothing they could do.*ak | |||
| 06/20/2004 | 80000 | 1 | 12/15/2000 |
| Air bag warning light came on. i took it to the dealership and they said it was the side airbag in the passenger seat. i had it replaced for about $327.00. *jb | |||
| 01/07/2002 | 3000 | 1 | 12/19/2001 |
| Air bags deployed on side for no apparent reason. no damage done to vehicle other than slight scratch on the undercarriage. it could not be determined whether or not the scratch was there before or after the airbags deployed. dealer refused to pay for the damage, and this is obviously a safety issue.*ak | |||
| 03/02/2003 | 21405 | 08/09/2002 | |
| March 2, '03 while traveling on a secondary road with 5 occupants, in a non-accident event, the subject vehicle passed over a large metal plate that is used to cover road work for the evening or weekend. without warning the defective airbag system deployed the psgr side airbags! no damage or impacts were noted on the passenger side of the vehicle body. however, a small scratch was noted underneath the vehicle between the doors (right side) and what appeared to be a thumb print in the undercoating under the front passenger seat. neither or both may be related to the incident. vw indicated that they believe that one or both of the marks, being located very near to the sensors, caused the deployment. although unknown for certain, it is possible that a bolt or some other object may have been lying on the metal plate and may have been pinched by a tire - causing it to strike the bottom of the vehicle. in no way an incident that should have deployed the airbag system. vw has advised that an outside influence caused the airbag to deploy and stated to the vehicle owner that the sensors cannot determine whether a stone is hitting the vehicle or if a truck is hitting the vehicle. a statement that also indicates a defective system . while it's understood that sensors are to sense that something has occurred, the airbag control module should interpret the information being sent by the sensor and be able to make a more reasonable assessment. in any event, it is important to note that generally vehicles are not struck by other vehicles from underneath. very important note as of 3/28/'03 - vw of america has refused to cover this under warranty - a $3,775 repair!!!!! it is imperative that the nhtsa investigate this very serious defect and order a recall before someone is injured seriously or killed. *nlm | |||
| 02/02/2002 | 1 | ||
| While driving, one of the side air bags deployed, there is no damage whatsoever to the body of the vehicle, claim 55-s451-201. *slc | |||
| 09/14/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle hit a pothole, air bags deployed and vehicle could not be driven, claim 28-3091-943. *slc | |||
| 04/16/2002 | 2 | 06/01/2001 | |
| Passenger's side airbags deployed on 4/16/01, and three days later drivers side bags deployed also without apparent reason. *ak | |||
| 05/24/2002 | |||
| Passnger side collision at 15 mph, airbag did not deploy. no injuries, damage to vehicle unknown.*ak | |||
| 03/23/2002 | 2 | 06/22/2001 | |
| While driving 55 mph and without collision occurring passenger's side airbag deployed. after inspection of vehicle, black box indicated a crash code. consumer was told the reason for deployed bags was that the lateral motion limit were exceeded. *jg*ak ie04-078*po | |||