2000 Volkswagen Passat Airbags Problems

Side airbag deployed for no reason while driving straight at the speed limit of 75 mph. The local VW dealer determined the side impact sensor is defective. This is a very interesting situation because a fail safe exists in these systems in that the supplemental restraint control module in the center of the car must simultaneously "see" a side impact g force in order to deploy the side air bag. In other words even with a defective side impact sensor The side air bag should not have deployed. At the time of the incident the vehicle was travelling straight ahead next to a semi truck. No such impact occurred and the VW dealer confirmed the vehicle has no evidence of such an impact. I had this investigated by Volkswagen AG and my local dealer. Suffered broken teeth, bruised ribs, hearing loss in left ear.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED HOWEVER NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

PREMATURE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE. I HAVE RECEIVED AN AIR BAG FAULT' WARNING CODE. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS HAVE INDICATED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS NECESSARY. THIS ON A 6-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE VEHICLES 3 TIMES AS OLD THAT ARE STILL ON THEIR ORIGINAL AIR BAGS, I WOULD CONSIDER THIS FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE. *NM

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. THE FIRST TIME FRONT AND SIDE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED, COSTING $1200. THE SECOND TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON VW WAS CONTACTED AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, $300 FOR A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE ADVISE, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAPPEN CONSIDERING THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. SERVICE MANAGER AT VOLKSWAGEN COMPARED AIR BAG TO A "LIGHT BULB." SAYING THAT LIKE LIGHT BULBS AIRBAGS ALSO BURN OUT AFTER A WHILE, A RATHER POMPOUS STATEMENT TO MAKE. *LA

2000 VW PASSAT WAGON. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (70 MPH) WHEN HER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, BUMP OR INCIDENT WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN MOTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/MELTDOWN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WIRING. FUTHER INVESTIAGTION IMPENDING. THANKFULLY THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THAT RATE OF SPEED AND A FULL FLEDGED FIRE DID NOT DEVELOP.*AK

AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CIRCLE VOLKWAGEN DEALER QUOTED ME $900 TO FIX FOUR SENSORS. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGON U.S. AND THEY SAID VW WOULD PAY ALL COSTS TO FIX THE AIR BAGS SENSORS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCED A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE LATERAL AIR BAG IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT. WITH DEPLOYMENT, ALL ELECTICAL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OF THE AUTO. THERE HAD BEEN NO COLLISION OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG JUST WENT OFF BY ITSELF. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO PASSENGERS FROM THE AIRBAG, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.*JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY ON DISABILITY AS THE RESULT OF THE INJURIES OBTAINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT VOLKSWAGEN AGREED TO PAY FOR REPAIR PAID $73 OUT-OF-POCKET TO GET DIAGNOSTIC AIRBAG INDICATOR LITE ADMISSION OF PROBLEM ONLY PAID FOR REPAIR? LITE OFF WANT $73 REFUNDED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL ROCK AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. REPLACED AIR BAG, SENOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. *MR

RIGHT FRONT SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE, DAMAGE TO RIGHT WHEEL AND TIRE, VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT, CLAIM 13-7212-517. *SLC

CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWICE, THE SECOND TIME REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPIRAL SPRING ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTER HARNESS.*JB

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. LEFT SIDE AIRBAG MADE CONTACT WITH "LEFT CENTER PILLAR POST" WHICH RUPTURED AIRBAG, RELEASING GASSES INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED VISION PROBLEMS AFTER THIS INCIDENT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK