Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Dec 9, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 141 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsBrakesSteering+1 more
Filed Dec 9, 2013
Crash reported
A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GT, EQUIPPED WITH FRONTAL AIRBAGS WAS IN A COLLISION DUE TO THE USE OF AFTERMARKET PARTS, WHICH INCLUDED AFTER MARKET BALL JOINTS NOT SUPPLIED FROM THE DEALER, THIS PART FAILED AFTER 12.7KM ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 110KM/H 65MPH, THE CAR STEERING WAS VERY SHAKY WHEN ENTERING A SLIGHT TURN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD FRACTURED IN THE HUB KNUCKLE AND HAD CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE, THE STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING BECAUSE THE TIRES WHERE NOT ON THE GROUND, THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE RAD SUPPORT AND FRONT AXLE OF THE CAR, BRAKING ALSO FAILED DUE TO THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING FORCE BEING ON THE FRONT WHEELS THAT WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE CAR THEN STRUCK A GUARD RAIL 3 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE REST, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THERE WAS NO NEED DUE TO THE ANGLE IN WHICH THE CAR STRUCK THE RAIL. SAFETY BELTS WORKED AND CARS MECHANICAL OPERATION (BESIDES FRONT SUSPENSION, AND BODY DAMAGE) WAS STILL FINE. WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE ALL REPLACED A WEEK PREVIOUS TO CRASH. BEWARE NON-VOLKSWAGEN PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10555379
Incident
Nov 7, 2013
Mileage
180,000 mi
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed Mar 20, 2007
REPLACED IGNITION COIL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS!! ELECTRIC WATER PUMP REPLACED. EATER CORE EXPLODED A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR! COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AS CAR FILLED WITH ANTIFREEZE CLOUD. BELT DRIVEN WATER PUMP WENT A WEEK LATER. ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DOOR HANDLE BROKE TWICE!. *AK
NHTSA ID
10185598
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Apr 5, 2004
PAST YEAR: AUTO DOOR LOCKS FAILED, COULD NOT OPEN EITHER FRONT DOOR; TRANSMISSION FAILED, EXHAUST SYSTEM RUSTED OUT, HEADLIGHTS OUT, SIGNALS OUT, WHEEL BEARINGS NEED REPLACED, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE CAR IN NEARLY 1 YEAR, REQUIRED NEARLY $5000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10064584
Incident
Mar 1, 2003
Mileage
67,000 mi
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 16, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON THE SNOW ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A GUARDRAIL. THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. *CB
NHTSA ID
10054264
Incident
Jan 15, 2004
Mileage
84,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Jul 24, 2003
MY PASSAGNER AIR BAG SHOWED DEFECT. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR NO REASON.*AK
NHTSA ID
10029107
Incident
Apr 8, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2001
PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ID
891706
AirbagsTransmission
Filed May 21, 2001
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FORWARD. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS.*AK
NHTSA ID
888763
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jan 11, 2001
Crash reported
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL U TURN IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLE BY SWERVING. INSTEAD, SHE HIT CENTER OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRSBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
878069
Incident
Jan 11, 2001
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 1999
Crash reported
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
847675
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 1999
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. DIGANOSTIC PERFORMED BY DEALER REVEALED THAT IGNITOR WAS BAD. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, DEALER AGREED TO PAY FOR AIR BAG IF I PAID FOR LABOR. ALTHOUGH I AGREED, I WAS SUPRISED TO HEAR THAT AIRBAGS DO NOT FALL UNDER THE SAME WARRANTY REQUIRMENTS AS SEAT BELTS. ALTHOUGH I'M THANKFUL THAT VW AGREED TO COVER THE $600 FOR THE AIRBAG, I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO COVER THE $100 IN LABOR FOR A SAFETY DEVICE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 50,000 MILES.
NHTSA ID
709526
Incident
Jul 16, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jun 15, 1999
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE, AND BOTH AIR BAGS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ID
839832
Incident
Jun 4, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jan 12, 1998
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AND HIT A PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS LYING IN THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ID
820566
Incident
Dec 27, 1997
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported
DURING VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
NHTSA ID
527944
Incident
Jun 10, 1997
Airbags
Filed Nov 10, 1997
Crash reported
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM ALL SIDES, AND PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ID
818728
Airbags
Filed Mar 13, 1997
Crash reported1 death reported
DRIVER HIT THE CURB AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE HEAD. THE DRIVER WAS POSSIBLY KILLED BY THE AIRBAG. *AK
NHTSA ID
809945
Incident
Oct 27, 1996
Airbags
Filed Feb 14, 1997
Crash reported3 injuries reported
VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STANDSTILL; DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED; DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED 5 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT; PASSENGER PREGNANT. *AK
NHTSA ID
808974
Incident
Dec 12, 1996
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own