2002 Volkswagen Jetta Airbags Problems

I was driving on the freeway and the airbags deployed. No one hit me and I don't hit anyone.

NHTSA ID

11502341

Incident

Jan 16, 2023

SIMPLY WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT 40MPH AND COMPLETELY CRUNCHED IN HER FRONT END (CAR IS TOTALED), BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL THE STATE FARM AGENT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD AIRBAGS ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11023507

Incident

Sep 5, 2017

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,706. UPDATED 08/22/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10873622

Incident

Jun 8, 2016

Mileage

49,706 mi

OIL LIGHT IS BLINKING, I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT JETTAS AS WELL AS VOLKSWAGENS IN GENERAL ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING TERRIBLE SLUDGE ISSUES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED ME OVER $150 TO DIAGNOSE MY CAR, AFTER DIAGNOSING IT THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS NEW OIL BEARINGS DUE TO SLUDGE ISSUES, THEY SAID THAT THE OILS PRESSURE IS FLUCTUATING AND THAT SOON MY ENGINE WILL BLOW UP, THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER SIMILAR RECALLS THAT THEY'VE HAD ON OTHER MODELS OF THEIRS AND THAT TO FIX MY PROBLEM I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VW, THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR YEARS BUT JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE SOFTWARE, THEY'VE KEPT THIS QUIET.

NHTSA ID

10806642

Incident

Nov 24, 2015

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING OUR JETTA AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE SEAT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THERE WAS NO POTHOLE. IT WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD. GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10780504

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE IN 2006 FROM A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN VIRGINIA (VOLKSWAGEN OF DULLES). TWO MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE PURCHASE, WE NOTICED THE CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN RESTON, VA. THE LOCAL DEALER ATTRIBUTED IT TO A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM AND CHARGED US FOR A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING.? OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS, WE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWNS, SOME AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AND THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. AT ONE POINT THE DEALER REPORTED A ??LOOSE IGNITION SWITCH?? AND REPLACED THAT SWITCH. AFTER SEVERAL MORE SCARY EVENTS, I EMAILED VW AMERICA WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND OUR FEARS ABOUT THE VEHICLE BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IN MARCH 2009 I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TALKED TO A REGIONAL CASE MANAGER. ON THAT DAY, THE CAR HAD SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION. VW REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. THREE MONTHS LATER, DRIVING ON MEMORIAL PARKWAY (RT. 66) AT NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLES LIGHTS FAILED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THE ENGINE DIED. I ONCE AGAIN CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS RETURNED A CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE WHO SAID THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM FURTHER, THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WAS OVER AND THAT I HAD NO RECOURSE WITH VOLKSWAGEN FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM. I RECENTLY ASKED VW AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR COPIES OF THEIR RECORDS RELATING THE CASE. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE THEM TO ME, SAYING THEY WERE PROPRIETARY.? *TR

NHTSA ID

10637624

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

Mileage

57,000 mi

STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SUBSEQUENTLY PUT ON FLASHERS, AND PULLED OVER TO A CURB. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG THEN DEPLOYED (APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE LATER AFTER THE FIRST). SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN ABRASIONS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER. CHECKED THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR, BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE AGAIN STOPPED AT ANOTHER RED LIGHT. THIRD PASSENGER IN REAR WAS UNINJURED DURING INCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609978

Incident

Jul 7, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT THAT HAD A SLIGHT CURVE AND I HIT SOME BLACK ICE. THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE CURB AND WITH THE IMPACT, WHICH IN MY OPINION, WAS NOT A GREAT AMOUNT, CAUSED THE SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. WITH HOW THE WHEEL HIT THE CURB, IT ALSO DAMAGED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE WHEELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558509

Incident

Jan 4, 2014

Mileage

158,000 mi

TRAVELING AT 70MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON INTERSTATE THE ROOF AND SEAT AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT LOCKDOWN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND NECK STRAIN. REPAIRS TO FIX AIRBAGS COST OVER $4,000. VOLKSWAGON INVESTIGATED AND WERE NO HELP. GAVE NO REASON FOR SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. VERY UNSAFE EXPERIENCE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10510753

Incident

Apr 4, 2013

Mileage

143,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10464307

Incident

Jul 4, 2012

Mileage

91,000 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. NOW THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS. ALL DASH LIGHTS ARE NOW OUT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455825

Incident

Apr 19, 2012

Mileage

108,154 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 VW JETTA, MY 6 YEAR OLD WAS RIDING IN THE BACKSEAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY WENT OFF!!! IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOT GUN WENT OFF IN THE CAR, SCARED BOTH OF US!! I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, ANYONE, NO ONE WAS EVEN DRIVING AROUND ME! IT WAS CRAZY! I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE DUE TO THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIRBAG.... NO ON WAS HURT BUT IT WAS TERRIFYING AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE!! I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2002. IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAR, I'VE OWNED VW'S FOR YEARS AND OVER ALL, THEY ARE GREAT VEHICLES BUT THIS HAS REALLY FREAKED ME OUT! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, TURNS OUT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR SAID THERE WAS A CRASH - THIS IS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE ON THE CAR TO JUSTIFY THIS HAPPENING! THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS 5300.00!!! THE CARE LIKELY ISN'T EVEN WORTH THAT. THE NEXT STEP IS TO CONTACT VWOA. I JUST READ OF SOME OTHER INSTANCES THIS HAPPENED AND LOOKS LIKE VW DID REPAIR THE AIRBAG AT NO CHARGE. I'M HOPING THEY DO IT FOR ME, OTHERWISE, I'M OUT OF A VEHICLE. THERE'S NO WAY I CAN SELL IT LIKE THAT, I'VE JUST LOST WHAT EVER MONEY I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SELL THAT CAR FOR..... HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE?? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10373693

Incident

Dec 30, 2010

Mileage

134,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, FOLLOWED BY A BEEPING NOISE. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,400.

NHTSA ID

10371986

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

32,400 mi

TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI VEHICLE CRASH IN WHICH ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT WHENEVER THE SEAT BELT WAS HELD INTACT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000. SM.

NHTSA ID

10361003

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS IN A 2002 VW JETTA DEPLOYED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RECEIVED BRUISES ON HIS ARM FROM THE DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345253

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

105,256 mi

WAS DRIVING ALONG A GRADED DIRT ROAD WHEN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO SIDE IMPACT WHATSOEVER, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE ANY CAUSE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYING. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR SUFFERED TEMPORARY RINGING IN THEIR EARS AND HEADACHES, BUT NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES OCCURRED, THANK GOODNESS. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REPAIRS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340477

Incident

Jun 24, 2010

Mileage

158,700 mi

SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OTHER THAN THAT CAUSED BY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. NO POTHOLES IN THE SMOOTH PAVED ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FL SR70 AND US301. NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD OR ANY REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED. DRIVER RECEIVED WELT AND BRUISES ON THE RIBS FROM THE SEAT AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295011

Incident

Jul 28, 2009

Mileage

130,005 mi

2002 VW SEDAN WA BROAD SIDED BY A MOTORCYCLE. IT HIT THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR AND BUCKLED THE CENTER POST AND BENT THE ROOF AND THE DASH WAS PUSHED IN. THE VW HAS FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY SON WAS COVERED WITH GLASS AND THE RIGHT HAND MIRROR JUST MISSED HIM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279236

Incident

Jul 27, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK IN HOUSTON TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 59 SOUTH MY DRIVERSIDE WINDOW AIRBAG DEPLOYED AS WELL AS THE SEAT AIRBAG. AFTER GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MY CAR CRANKED BACK UP AND I GOT OUT TO INSPECT IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGES. I FOUND NO DAMAGES ON THE CAR AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I AM LUCKY I DID NOT SWERVE OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE WRECK. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE 2002 JETTA SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278518

Incident

Jul 28, 2009

Mileage

103,256 mi

I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON FEBRUARY 15TH I WAS DRIVING JUST OUTSIDE OF MADISON, WI ON 1-94 HEADING EAST AND HIT A DISK SIZE PIECE (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HOCKEY PUCK) OF DEBRIS WHICH FLEW UP INTO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY CAR. AT THE SAME TIME, MY SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF MY CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. UPON INSPECTION THERE IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE OR MARKINGS TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE, BODY - BOTH METAL AND PLASTIC. IN RESEARCHING AIRBAG RECALLS, I CAME ACROSS THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04081. THIS DESCRIPTION MOST ACCURATELY DESCRIBES THIS INCIDENT. OF THE 499 VEHICLES WHO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING NOW - NO NOTICE OF RECALL OR NOTICE OF POTENTIAL DEFECT WERE PROVIDED. I FEEL THIS MATTER SHOULD BE REOPENED FOR THOSE VEHICLES WHO CONTINUE TO HAVE UNINTENTIONAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. MOST NOTABLE IS THE BODY STYLE FOR THIS VEHICLE HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED FROM MODEL YEARS 1999.5 - 2005. YET ONLY 2001 - 2003 VEHICLES SEEM TO BE AFFECTED. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT SOME MANUFACTURING TREND IS THE CAUSATIVE FACTOR IN THESE UNINTENTIONAL DEPLOYMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258878

Incident

Feb 15, 2009

Mileage

162,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND THE SEAT AIRBAGS WRONGFULLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO REASON WHATSOEVER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255603

Incident

Jan 19, 2008

Mileage

58,000 mi

CAR INFORMATION: 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA #: WHILE EXITING DRIVEWAY, REAR TIRE BECAME CAUGHT ON CURB. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE CURTAIN PROTECTION AIRBAG AND BACKREST SIDE AIRBAG). NO COLLISION HAD OCCURRED. CAR IMMEDIATELY DIED IN STREET BUT LATER STARTED. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY, AS WELL AS VW DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242236

Incident

Sep 12, 2008

Mileage

76,702 mi

2002 VW JETTA,HUSBAND RAN OVER POTHOLE, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAD TO TOW CAR AND GET RENTAL. NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT. WAITING FOR VW TO LOOK AT CAR. AM SURE THEY WILL SAY IT'S OUR FAULT JUST FROM WHAT I'M SEEING ON WEB. HOW CAN GOVERNMENT HAVE 499 PLUS INCIDENTS OF INVESTIGATION AND NOT MAKE VW RECALL?? MAYBE NOT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES AND THEY GET SUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241709

Incident

Sep 8, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND HIT A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD CAUSING MY PASSENGER, SIDE AND HEAD AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HIT THE POT HOLE. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND PROBABLY MANY MORE SINCE THEN. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL MADE, AND IF NOT, WHY NOT? YES, THESE ARE GOOD IF A REAL CRASH OCCURRED, BUT DANGEROUS TO NO CRASH OCCURRENCES. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE AND I, NOR ANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN OWNER, SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THANK YOU. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE04081 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: VOLKSWAGEN / GOLF 2001-2003 VOLKSWAGEN / GTI 2001-2003 VOLKSWAGEN / JETTA 2001-2003 MANUFACTURER : VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC COMPONENT : AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED : DECEMBER 16, 2004 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED : APRIL 1, 2005 THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS). THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM'S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235547

Incident

Jul 21, 2008

Mileage

61,500 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY FOR NO REASON. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THERE IS NO DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR NOR BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. WENT TO VW SOUTHERN STATES AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR ONLY HAS A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CAR TO GET FIXED. ABOUT 3,000 DOLLARS HE SAID..... *TR

NHTSA ID

10224638

Incident

Apr 15, 2008