Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I purchased my Volkswagen CC in 2019. It hasn't been officially 4 years of owning the vehicle, and the clock spring or air bag light comes on in which it seems every 1.5 years. It costs over $800 to repair, and the first repair was replaced by certified VW OEM parts. I can't get an inspection and pass because the horn will not work. My safety is put at risk as I can't warn other drivers who aren't paying attention that I am close by. I actually ended up getting a ticket for switching lanes so fast due to getting out of the way of a vehicle on the interstate who almost ran into me. There is no warning when this happens, it just decides to stop at any given time. This page will not allow me to upload the other scanned diagnosis that was repaired from 2020. Please advise.
Clock spring broke, now NO airbag and nothing on the steering panel works including the horn and airbag. First I was told by the dealship that it was a California car so they would fix it, today I was told they would not. So we are driving a car with NO airbag. They want $700 to replace this part with a long waiting period.
My Cruise Control unit will not engage. And I have (6) six warning lamps showing every time I operate the car. With these lamps showing on the info system screen, the cruise control Will not engage! I asked the dealership about it. And was told that the wheel bearing unit has moved away from where it is bolted on. And now it is touching the Air Bag control module. That's why I've got six lamps showing up on the center info screen, every time I operate the car. And on another incident. I was traveling on the interstate and their was some water that had collected in a dip between hills. And when I traveled through it, the force of the water flowing into the engine department, knocked the cruise control OFF. Disengaged it. I'm am available for inspection of said vehicle. Oh yes, this happened once before, but all of a sudden all the warnings lamps turned off. But I'm not so lucky now. …
The clock spring on this vehicle is defective. Airbag light is on, all steering wheel buttons/controls no longer work and the horn no longer works. Online research shows this to be a known issue for this model year and beyond. Additionally, there was a recall for this exact problem for the previous model year. Further research found the following NHTSA document https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10149942-9999.pdf as a limited warranty extension that includes this model year. However, dealer service and Volkswagen customer service have no knowledge of this limited warranty update and or that this vehicle VIN is not included. This has now made this vehicle UNSAFE to drive without working air bags.
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the steering wheel control buttons and the horn became inoperable. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Airbag non deployment after 2 service recalls. I don't feel safe driving my children around in a car that is not equipped for safety. Fuel pump control module is not working probably even after service recall. Engine malfunctioning.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light would remain illuminated and the horn would not operate. In addition, the cruise control was inoperable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (Air Bags). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2013 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 an independent mechanic who informed the contact that no fault codes were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,652.
Related recalls (5)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder 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 4, 2019.
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
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen CC years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (89), 2012 (86), 2010 (84), 2009 (59) and 2014 (52) model years. Airbag complaints make up 60% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen CC airbag problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 19V-535 (air bag/restraint control module, Jul 17, 2019); 19V-014 (inflator module, Jan 11, 2019); 18V-148 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen CC airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (5 mentions).
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.