Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 97 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.
The 25 most recent of 97, in the owner's own words
2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD LIKE 35 OR 40 MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED,, THE ONE FROM THE SEAT AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG ONE ... I ALMOST WENT DOWN OUT OF THE ROAD ... IT GOT ME BY SURPRISE
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WHILE PREPARING TO DRIVE OFF. I WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS MOMENTARILY. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED. I WAS PUT ON A STRETCHER AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR 8 HOURS. THE AIRBAG OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. SOME TIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. VOLKSWAGEN INSPECTED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS FAULTY IN THE VEHICLE
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON MY 2001 VW JETTA DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS PARKING MY CAR AT WORK. AS I CAME TO A FULL STOP WHERE I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM INSIDE THE CAB OF MY JETTA. THE LOUD BANG DISTORTED MY THINKING PROCESS AS I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE LOUD NOISE CAME FROM. AS THE SMOKE FILLED MY CAR I STILL COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPEN UNTIL I LOOKED AROUND INSIDE THE CAB OF MY CAR AND WITH THE SMOKE INSIDE THE CAB I WAS ABLE TO SEE A WHITE BAG STICKING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT IN MY CAR, THIS IS WHEN I KNEW THAT THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME, THERE WERE NO HEAVY WINDS BLOWING EARLY THAT MORNING, AND I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES NOR DID I HIT ANY SIDE CURVES WHILE PARKING MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG STILL WENT OFF.
I WAS DRIVING TO MY PARENTS HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH FOUR OTHER PASSENGERS WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER THORAX AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING SHUTTING OFF MY ENGINE AND FILLING MY CAR WITH SMOKE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE BODY, SUSPENSION, OR TIRE OF MY VEHICLE AND NOT NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING AFTER THE INCIDENT. TWO OF MY PASSENGERS SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRAPES TO THEIR ARMS, SHOULDERS, NECK, AND RIBS, AS WELL AS TEMPORARY HEARING IMPAIRMENT ONE OF THOSE PASSENGERS BEING A CHILD. CURRENTLY THERE IS A HOLE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE AIRBAG RIPPED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND DAMAGE TO MY HEADLINER. THE AIRBAGS' DEPLOYMENT WAS UNWARRANTED AND HAS ROBBED ME OF MY PIECE OF MIND WHILE DRIVING. I FLINCH EVERY TIME I AM UNABLE TO AVOID A ROAD IMPERFECTION FOR FEAR THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO SOMEONE GOING FASTER THAN I WAS--THAT SITUATION COULD END TRAGICALLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,345.
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 5MPH AND WENT OVER A WATER DRAIN IN THE ROAD THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALONG WITH THE VISOR AIRBAG ON THE SAME SIDE. MY NIECE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AND RECEIVED WHITE POWDER IN HER EYES AND SCRAPES ON THE SIDE OF HERE FACE. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE VEHICLE TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AT ALL CAUSING ABOUT $2,000.00-$3,000.00 IN DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE FOR NO REASON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND CHAIR AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE BEING DONE ON TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT BEING INVOLVED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO THEN CALLED THE DEALER. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS ON THE PHONE, ANOTHER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AT THE TIME. ANOTHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL THEY NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE MOTHERBOARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,412 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,402.
I OWN A 2001 JETTA, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2008 I WAS DRIVING IN CALIFORNIA FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. ABOUT EVERY 10-15 SECONDS IT WOULD TURN ON, THEN 15 SECONDS LATER IT WOULD TURN OFF. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER I WAS ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND GOING ABOUT 5-10 MPH IN THE SLOW LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A BIG EXPLOSION. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE THREW A LARGE CEMENT BLOCK AT MY WINDOW AND I FELT A SURGE UP PAIN RUSH UP MY LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY TOWARDS MY FINGERTIPS. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED CHOKING DUE TO THE POWDER THAT WAS COMING FROM MY CAR WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS MY AIRBAG. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND ASSESSED THE DAMAGE. THE SIDE AIRBAG CAME OUT FROM THE SEAT OF MY CAR AND THRUST ME TO THE RIGHT OF MY CAR. I COULD NOT HEAR IN MY LEFT EAR AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY (FROM MY SHOULDER DOWN TO MY HIP, DOWN TO MY FINGERS) WAS THROBBING. MY LEFT PINKY AND RING FINGER BECAME NUMB AND EVEN THOUGH I ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN, I COULD BARELY BREATHE AND COULD NOT STOP COUGHING. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND STAYED IN THE SLOW LANE NOT PROCEEDING 40 MPH. *TR
TODAY, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS 1.8T DOWN THE ROAD. THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS WENT A FEW INCHES OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. SHE REMAINED STRAIGHT AND GUIDED THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD. ONCE BACK ON THE ROAD FULLY, THE SIDE AIRBAG (DRIVER'S SIDE) DEPLOYED. SHE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH ANYTHING. THERE IS NO DAMAGE. THE TIRES AREN'T EVEN DIRTY. SHE RECEIVED A WELT ON HER LEFT ARM, (PROBABLY SOON TO BE A BRUISE.) SHE HAS A RINGING IN HER LEFT EAR AND A REDUCTION IN HEARING (PROBABLY TEMPORARY.) A VERY SCARY SITUATION. IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY AND I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT STEPS TO TAKE FROM HERE. I KNOW IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR TO REPLACE AN AIRBAG AND I WILL BE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IF A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD MIGHT SET HER AIRBAG OFF AND CAUSE HER TO CRASH AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 JETTA HOME AFTER DROPPING MY FRIEND OFF AT THE AIRPORT, WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE DEER JUMPED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING AT 80 MILES AN HOUR AND DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME TO REACT. I HIT THE DEER, DESTROYING THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THE CAR WASN'T IN ANY CONDITION TO BE DRIVEN, FOR THE RADIATOR HAD BEEN DESTROYED. I WAS UPSET AT THE FACT THAT MY AIRBAGS WEREN'T DEPLOYED. I'M GLAD THAT I WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, FOR I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE, OR SHOULD I CONTACT A LAWYER? *TR
ON A CLEAR DAY, DRY PAVEMENT, WENT TO BRAKE IN CITY TRAFFIC AND BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ME TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT ( CAUSING $2600 DAMAGES) AND TOTALLING MY CAR. NO INJURIES. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE LOW SPEED I WAS TRAVELLING. *TR
INADVERTENT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT: WHILE DRIVING ALONG ON THE EXPRESS WAY (I-495 W, LONG ISLAND, NY), MY PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE NOR DID I NOTICE ANY DEBRIS HITTING MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE CUT OFF. UPON PULLING OVER, I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE, AND DRIVE HOME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND FLATTENED THE TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THREE OR FOUR DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING 40- 45 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. *AK
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED 911, THE OFFICER WHO CAME OUT TOLD ME THAT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TIRES OR BODY OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER THEY HAVE SENT PICTURES TO VW AND SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS, WHICH WAS 3 WEEKS AGO! *JB
AS I WAS DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I STOPPED TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE, DID NOT SEE ANYTHING, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH THE HEADLINER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BLOWN APART. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY FOUND A DENT AND TOLD ME THAT WAS THE CAUSE AND I SHOULD REPORT IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO BE COVERED UNDER MY COLLISION. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER FOUND THE DENT IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER SHOWED SIGNS OF AGE AND WAS NOT THE CAUSE. MAKING A JUDGMENT THE PRESENCE OF DIRT, ROAD GRIME AND SOME SURFACE RUST SUGGESTED IT WAS OLDER DAMAGE. IT WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY INCORRECTLY ADJUSTING THE LIFT WHEN WORK WAS DONE UNDER THE CAR. FINDING NO OTHER DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE DEPLOYMENT THEY CLOSED THE CLAIM AND MY CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED. VW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INVOLVING TRACTOR TRAILER. CAR WAS HIT DIRECTLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, REAR AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE. ACCIDENT SPEED WAS 65 MPH. TWO FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT. THE AIR BAG MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HEMISPHERE OF HEAD. REPORTED TO VW BUT HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. *NM
PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH OUT ANY REASONS AT ALL. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD, AT 20 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR FILLED UP WITH BLACK SMOKE AND THE PASSENGER CURTAIN, SEAT AND DASHBOARD AIRBAG ALL DEPLOYED. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. AND WAS ASTONISHED TO LEARN THAT NOT ONLY WAS I NOT SHOT AT ( BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE) BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PROVOKE THIS. I CALLED VW THEY TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE FAULTY WIRING, AND TO BRING IT IN ASAP, THEY WOULD GIVE ME A LOANER CAR, AND IT WOULD TAKE 3-5 DAYS TO FIX. I DID SO, AND 3 HRS AFTER DROPPING OFF THE CAR, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MANAGER SAYING, PLEASE COME PICK UP YOUR CAR, WE WILL NOT FIX IT, YOUR CAR HAS BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT, YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE. NW MIND YOU I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 WEEKS, AND THERE IS NOT A DENT ON IT! I WAS FURIOUS AND CONFUSED. I ARGUED WITH THE GUY STATING THAT I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING, HE SAID THAT THE BLACK BOX CONTAINED A HIT CODE OF SOME KIND. THAT IT REGISTERED THAT I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. WELL DUH! ITS DEFECTIVE! TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I SUED VW, AND LOST! THEY INSISTED THAT ITS "NORMAL" FOR IT TO GO OFF, SAID EVEN IF YOU HAPPEN TO HIT A SMALL ROCK ON THE ROAD AND IT HITS JUST RIGHT, IT WILL CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY! HOW SAFE IS THAT!? ITS BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE THAT DAY AND VW HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE, STATING ITS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THEN, WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, THE SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
RAN OVER DEBRIS ON INTERSTATE AND SEAT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH NEW AIRBAG AND WAS REPLACED WITH NEW MODULE AND SENSORS. NO INJURIES JUST EAR RINGING. HAPPENED 2ND TIME GOING AROUND A CORNER AT APPROX. 35 MILES AN HOUR, SEAT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AGAIN RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND SEVERE BURNS TO LEFT ARM. NO REPAIRS HAVE TAKEN PLACE TO VEHICLE YET. *JB
I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AROUND 5 MPH. THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND SEAT BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THERE IS NO DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE. VWOA IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *JB
DT: WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH SUDDENLY THERE WAS A FLASH FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. THE SMELL WAS OF SMOKE AS IF THERE WAS FIREWORKS. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS STARTLED AND CONCERNED. HE CALLED 911. THERE WAS NO CRASH, DAMAGE, OR INJURY OTHER THAN THE SHOCK AND LOUD NOISE RINGING IN THE EARS. 911 INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE HOME IF ABLE OR CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS. THE CONSUMER WAS ON A NEWLY PAVED HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS COULD NOT BE DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD AT THAT TIME. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, WHO SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM OR ANY ISSUES LIKE THAT WITH THE AIRBAGS. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
82,5310.00 JUST REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD SOME TYPE OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING. CD PLAYER AND STEREO. CD LCD PANEL WOULD SAY NO CD IN WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE A CD IN THE JACKET IF YOU KEPT PUSHING THE BUTTON SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK. AT TIMES YOU CAN ONLY READ HALF THE CALL LETTERS FOR STATIONS. ROLLING DOWN BACK OF THE WINDOWS YOU WOULD HEAR A VERY LOUD PRESSURE THUMPING NOISE. SO LOUD YOU COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW IN THE BACK. WHEN YOU WOULD TAKE THE CAR IN. MECHANIC'S ALWAYS SAID, IT WAS BASICALLY OUR IMAGINATION. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATES THE DRIVERS' SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE LATCHED AFTER THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT (#05-5207) STATES THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN IMPACT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER AND TOLD TO CONTACT VW OF AMERICA. SHE DID FAX THE POLICE REPORT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COST. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER IS STILL DRIVING A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *NM A WHEEL AND TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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