1998 Volkswagen Passat Airbags Problems
7 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (7)
DT: CALLER SAYS WITHOUT WARNING THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN CALLER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TOLD HIM HE HAD SOME RECALLS ON HIS CAR. HE WANTED TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AT THE SAME TIME ON THE AIR BAG PROBLEM AS ON THE RECALLS. MANUFACTURER SAID TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. MANUFACTURER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM, AND THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE IT SHOED IT WAS A LOW BATTERY SIGNAL. DEALER SAID MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY FOR IT, BUT WHEN CALLER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BACK THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC BACK TO MAKE THAT DECISION . CALLER WAS CONFUSED BY WHAT DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE SAYING TO HIM. CALLER DID NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF RECALL WORK WAS DONE BECAUSE OF NO FEEDBACK FROM DEALER.*AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ON 3/11 WHERE A WOMAN CUT ME OFF BY MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS SHE WAS HEADED TOWARD ME. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR STUCK THE SIDE OF HER CAR. THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED IN BUT NO AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH AND HAVE NOT IDEA HOW FAST THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING. MY CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALED. MY PASSENGER SUFFERD A BRUISED CHEST FROM HER SEAT BELT. SHOULD EITHER OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR HAVE DEPLOYED? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH DRIVER SIDE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
AT 70 MPH SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE SWERVED OFF ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN WHICH WAS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNWILLING NEITHER TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE NOR TO FIX THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG. *YH
SIDE DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATED WITHOUT COLLISION. BECAUSE OF DEBRIS LODGED UNDER THE FRONT CARRIAGE FROM SOMETHING I MAY HAVE RUN OVER, VW REPAIR TECHNICIANS SUGGEST THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE AIRBAG MECHANISM. THIS SEEMS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG AND WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL LOOK AT THE CAR SOON.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45 MPH DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AN HIT CONSUMER ON FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS NOW AT BODY SHOP. *AK