2001 Volkswagen Passat Airbags Problems

The driver's side airbag of my 2001 VW Passat spontaneously deployed while I drove on Hwy 494 in Woodbury MN. Sometime within 24 hours before the airbag deployed, the airbag fault light turned on in the car's dashboard display. Within 15 minutes before the incident, the car's automatic locking locks unlocked twice while I was driving the car. After the second time, I tried to lock the car doors by pressing the lock button on the driver's door console but the doors would not locked. At that time I noticed that the two interior lights in the back seat area were turned on. All the doors of the car were properly shut. When the airbags deployed I was driving on the smooth 1 year old concrete section of Hwy 494. I did not hit anything on the highway. After the deployment, I parked on the shoulder, shut off the engine and opened the passenger door to air out the car. After about 5 minutes, I got back in the car and drove home. The automatic locks worked again. The interior lights automatically turned off. The drive home was uneventful.

NHTSA ID

11422304

Incident

Jun 10, 2021

MY CAR IS A 2001 MODEL, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF IT HAS TAKATA AIRBAGS IN IT, EVEN IF IT ISN'T COVERED BY THE RECALL. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS ARE TAKATA OR NOT. CAN YOU GIVE ME THIS INFORMATION?? I HOPE SO, OTHERWISE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT. THANKS [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

NHTSA ID

10955699

Incident

Feb 20, 2017

SO I GOT REAR ENDED AT THE OTHER PARTY'S FAULT AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THEY NEGLECTED TO STOP PUSHING ME INTO AN INTERSECTION FULL OF TRAFFIC...NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED..AND SINCE MY HEATER DOESN'T WORK BUT PASSENGER SEAT HEAT BURNED MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS BUTT...ANYONE HELP? I JUST WANT HEAT FOR MY BABIES..BELOW ZERO HERE :( THANK YOU!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10658597

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

180,220 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THAT WAS OUT OF ORDER. THE DRIVER OF THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND I ASSUMED SHE WAS GOING TO SUBSEQUENTLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, SO I INSTINCTIVELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR TO EASE FORWARD. UNFORTUNATELY, I MISCALCULATED AS THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. AS A RESULT OF MY ACTIONS, I REAR-ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH. MY CAR SUSTAINED ABOUT 90% OF THE DAMAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE DEPLOYMENT OR LACK THEREOF OF THE AIRBAGS. THEY NEVER DEPLOYED. MAYBE I WAS WRONG TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD DEPLOY ON SUCH A LOW SPEED. PLEASE ADVISE AS THE IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT WAS RATHER STRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509501

Incident

Apr 19, 2013

Mileage

134,400 mi

RECENTLY I WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION (I WAS CAR IN THE BACK) AND I TOTALED MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO PASSENGER AND MY DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO GO OFF AT ALL. THIS WORRIES ME AS TO THINK IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER THEN 20MPH WHETHER THE AIRBAG WOULD'VE GONE OFF AT ALL. MY FATHER IN LAW WHO IS A MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS NEVER IN HIS LIFE SEEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BUT NOT THE DRIVERS GO OFF. HE HAS SEEN IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND BUT NOT THIS WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289774

Incident

Oct 3, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

WE HIT A DEER HEAD-ON AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. WE WERE TRAVELLING ABOUT 60 MPH AND DID NOT BRAKE. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR. THIS SEEMS UNUSUAL BECAUSE AIR BAGS ARE DESIGNED TO GO OFF AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285523

Incident

Aug 30, 2009

Mileage

87,300 mi

DEC 12TH 2008 THE INTERIOR OF MY PASST WAS FLOODED WITH WATER, VW SERVICE REMOVED 10 + GALLONS OF WATER WHICH ENTERED FROM AIR PLENUM /POLLEN FILTER HOSING(CABIN AREA). SERVICE INFORMED ME OF THE P9 RECALL FOR THE PASSATS MANUFACTURED NOV '00 TO DEC '05. BUT, VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP ME THEY SAID MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE COMPUTERS ARE ON THE FLOOR OF CAR. AIR BAG IS IN DEFAULT DAMAGE FROM ELECTRICAL DAMAGE FROM WATER DAMAGE.. MY TRANS MOD IS WRECKED FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, JUST THE PART ALONE WILL COST $1,300. I HAVE LOST WORK AND CAN NOT DRIVE. THE MAKE OF CAR & YEAR IS IN RECALL SO WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED?! SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252063

Incident

Dec 12, 2008

Mileage

64,445 mi

I HAVE A VW PASSAT 2001 MODEL. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO OFFICE. AT AROUND 8.10 AM ON 09/24/2008, A CAR COLLIDED FROM BACK WHILE I WAS WAITING AT A SIGNAL. MY BUMPER WAS DAMAGED A LITTLE AND MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER HAD POPPED OUT. IMMEDIATELY I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND REPORTED THE ACCIDENT EXPLAINING THE SERIES OF EVENTS. THE OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT COMPLAINED HIS ACCIDENT TO HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AND ACCEPTED HIS FAULT, AS PER WHICH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY AGREED ON TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. A ESTIMATOR TOOK AN ESTIMATE AFTER VIEWING THE DAMAGED CAR. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THERE WAS A CHECK ISSUED ON MY NAME AND ALSO LIST OF REPAIRS TO BE DONE. THE POPPED OUT AIRBAG WAS NOT CONSIDERED A PART OF ACCIDENT BY THE ESTIMATOR. I TRIED TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN HIM SAYING THAT HIS CLIENT HAS SEEN THE POP OUT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND HAS AGREED ON TO PROCEED THROUGH HIS INSURANCE. WHEN I EXPLAINED ALL THIS ESTIMATOR WAS ADAMANT THAT IT WAS NOT A PART OF ACCIDENT AND SAID IT WOULD TAKE 25-30 $ TO FIX IT AND AS PER WHICH I TOOK TO A FEW MECHANICS TO GET IT DONE AND NO ONE WAS WILLING TO TOUCH THE AIR BAG SAYING IT IS VULNERABLE AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. WHEN I TOOK TO THE DEALER HE WAS SAYING ITS GOING TO INCUR A HUGE COST AS IT IS AIRBAG AND THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO GET THIS THING FIXED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND NEEDED HELP IN THIS ASPECT. I HAVE ALL THE CLAIM NUMBERS AND ALSO THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IN THIS ASPECT. I DON'T THINK MY CAR IS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE AS THE AIRBAG CAN DEFLATE ANY TINE. PLEASE GUIDE ME IN THIS ASPECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245869

Incident

Sep 24, 2008

Mileage

53,650 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10199931

Incident

Aug 7, 2007

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT DURING A CRASH. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A COLD DRY DAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND SHE HIT ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 85,580 . *AK

NHTSA ID

10185490

Incident

Mar 8, 2007

Mileage

85,580 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG INFLATER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/31/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172261

Incident

Oct 31, 2006

Mileage

103,400 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIRBAG AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10171160

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

111,000 mi

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT LOW MILEAGE OF 21,000 MILES. NORMALLY GARAGED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. AFTER RAIN, FOUND AN INCH OF WATER IN REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. TRANSMISSION NON-FUNCTIONAL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON. DEALER SAID THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL WAS NO GOOD AND THAT WATER LEAKED IN AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. COST OF REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $3,100. VW REFUSES TO COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR TWO YEARS. TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN ARE COVERED FOR 5 YEARS, BUT VW SAYS THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE". I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY ANGRY OWNERS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE LEAKS FROM THIS SEAL HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHECKING THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IS NOT PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK IT, YOU'D NEED TO DISASSEMBLE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW AN OWNER COULD POSSIBLY KNOW IF THE SEAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HE REPLIED "YOU FOUND OUT HOW". I AM CLEARLY NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM A PART THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY MAINTAINABLE (THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL) AND THAT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PASSAT THAT VW SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR. THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OWNER TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION -- IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. IT GOT TO DO WITH THE PASSAT LEAKING WATER AND THE LOCATION OF AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPONENT IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE AREA WHERE ANY WATER THAT LEAKS MIGRATES TO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147412

Incident

Dec 3, 2005

Mileage

21,300 mi

DT: CALLER SAID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING CALLER SAID BOTH CURTIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED OVER THE DOORS. CALLER SAID HE DID NOT HAVE A CRASH OR HIT A BUMP. CALLER SAID AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ,AND THERE WA SA BLINKING WARNING LIGHT. CALLER MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT DID NOT MAKE IT BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10129291

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

I,M SENDING THIS COMPLAIN ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO WILL NOT PURSUE THIS MATTER.HOWEVER, I'M ADIMANT AS TO THE NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT.HE HAS A 2001 VW PASSAT.AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT NORMAL SPEEDS, TWO OF HIS AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VW SAID THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AS THE SENSOR DECIDED IT WAS THE THING TO DO. HE'S LUCKY HE DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. OBVIOUSLY IF THIS WERE A COMMON MALADY IN VEHICLES TODAY, I DARE SAY MANY ACCIDENTS WOULD OCCUR. VW WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT SINCE HE'S OUT OF WARRANTY. SIMPLY SPEAKING, THIS AIN'T RIGHT!! DON BROWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093650

Incident

Aug 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE O-RING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067206

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

27,119 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10022511

Incident

May 24, 2003

Mileage

25,000 mi

2/18/03 - REPORTED AIR BAG LIGHT ON TO DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND RESET LIGHT. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN IN MAY '03. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 6/28/03 FOR SERVICE. TOLD THAT AIRBAG SPIRAL SPRING AND HARNESS BE REPLACED. COULD NOT CHANGE ON THAT DAY (SATURDAY) DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 8/26/03 TO REPLACE SPIRAL SPRING AND HARNESS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10036663

Incident

Feb 18, 2003

Mileage

55,256 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ON RAINY DAYS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. A LADY HIT MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSING THAT SIDE ALONG THE DOORS AND SOME OF THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUT MY FEET ON ACCELERATOR FOR SPEED AND THE CAR REFUSES TO RESPOND. THE MORE I ACCELERATE THE SLOWER THE CAR GOES. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010846

Incident

Nov 18, 2002

Mileage

5,000 mi

AS CONSUMER ENTERED THE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATED, CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED THROUGH SOME LARGE BOULDERS AND INTO A DITCH, THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. MR *JB

NHTSA ID

8022071

Incident

Sep 28, 2002

Mileage

20,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS ILLUMINATING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020345

Incident

Oct 8, 2000

AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES FAILED TO STOP. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8019007

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

FRONT CRASH AT 50 MPH AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015503

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 9 MAY, REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 16 MAY, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN ON 23 MAY, DEALER REPLACED 1 AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY.AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN ON 3 JUNE, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH AIRBAGS. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

889976

Incident

May 9, 2001

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON STARTING 02/12/2001. IT WAS CHECK BY THE DEALER ON 03/06/2001 BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND CLEARED CODE. THREE DAYS LATER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN WITH AIRBAG FAULT SIGN WAS ALSO ON. TOOK TO DEALER ON 03/22/2001 ALONG WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION PAN, GASKET PUNCTURED AND OIL LEAKING. THE DEALER SERVICE REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND UPPER HARNESS UNDER WARRANTY OF THE CAR, WHILE TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS CHARGE TO MY INSURANCE. MY SAFETY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN IS MAYBE TOO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT IT CAN EASILY BE PUNCTURED, WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AND FOR THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGN TURNED ON, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF ACCIDENT OCCURS OR MAY ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

744398

Incident

Mar 22, 2001