Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Volkswagen CC owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with clockspring failure. The dealer informed the contact that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Volkswagen CC. While driving approximately 30-35 MPH through an intersection, the contact's vehicle was struck on the rear driver's side. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into a telephone pole and caused damage to the passenger side. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained back, left shoulder, and neck injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen CC. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact became distracted and crashed into another vehicle. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the contact's residence and towed to a dealer where the cause of the air bag failure was not determined. The contact was informed that the bumper needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the error message "steering wheel clock spring defective " displayed across the instrument panel intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.
I received a notice that my fuel pump was being recalled for safety precautions. I immediately called my local vw dealership and they proceeded to tell me that even though this was a safety issue, the part was not yet available for the dealerships to repair. I have had issues with the car not going when I press on the gas and then all of a sudden it goes from 5 MPH-55 MPH without me initiating it. This is very scary especially considering I have no choice but to transport my precious children to and from school and work everyday in this defected vehicle.
I was making a right turn when I heard a loud pop in the steering wheel. On the display it showed airbag error and the airbag light came on. I took it to my mechanic and he called me an told me that my airbag will not work in a crash an that there is two recalls on my car one being the Takata an the other being nhsta recall number 15v48300. I called the dealership and told them what happed an they said there was recalls according to my model but wasn't any recalls they can fix according to my VIN number was curious what I need to do about this
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning and was unable to restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who diagnosed that the timing chain tension cylinder and the engine assembly needed to be replaced. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V078000 (air bags) and 15V483000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recall #69m9, NHTSA #16V078 - my local deal advised me they still do not have the parts to fix for this problem. My vehicle is identified as being in your zone "a" (high priority for repair). This repair is a critical safety issue and needs to be corrected asap. When can I expect my vehicle will be repaired? Do I need to take legal action to get vw to resolve this critical safety problem?
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen CC. While driving approximately 60 MPH, a loud grinding noise was heard and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
Takata recall. I am in a position where I cannot trade in my car due to this recall. It is frustrating as I have a new job I do a lot of driving and was looking to get a safer more economical AWD car. I am at a loss that I am stuck until there is a fix which has no estimated time frame.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…
Air bags › Frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
Airbag complaints in other CC years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Volkswagen CC?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Volkswagen CC, 37% of the model year's 86 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Volkswagen CC airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-148 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2018); NHTSA recall 16V-078 (inflator module, Feb 10, 2016); NHTSA recall 15V-483 (frontal, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Volkswagen CC airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.