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
Mid December 2021 the airbag light displayed and all functions on steering wheel quit working to include horn, cruise control, and all other buttons that interface with phone, radio and computer. After daughter returned from college 1st week of February 2022 was the first date available and is when the vehicle was seen by Volkswagen of Little Rock. Service Manager [redacted] reported the Clockspring was faulty and this is a manufacturer defect that is covered fully by Volkswagen, however, the Clockspring has been on back order since February and after calling every 2 weeks and calling again yesterday, 17 June 2022, with still no end on sight, I am filing this formal complaint. My college age daughter drives this vehicle with no horn and no driver airbag. …
The Clockspring is a recalled item... Took the car in for repair in early February. They (Little Rock Volkswagen) said them and continue to say the part is on back order (and there is over 4000 on back order) and cannot tell me when the part will be in. I called VW corporate and filed a complaint, they said the back order problem is between the dealer and the part manufacturer... On a recalled item? This is unacceptable. The airbag light is on but they tell me my daughter is safe. That there is not an airbag problem... But if there was I guess she just wouldn't know... VolksWagon needs to own this problem and resolve at the corporate level and get the part replaced or replace my vehicle. Little Rock VW today had the audacity to suggest that I find the part on EBay and find a backyard mechanic to install it as they cannot??? Really? A back yard mechanic??? A part on EBay?? …
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Eos. The contact stated while having a routine check at the dealer, the mechanic informed the contact that the horn was not functioning and that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the clockspring needed to be replaced again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty or recall. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 108,000.
Takata recall on 10/19/18 I took my car to the dealership so that they could install the new airbag inflator kit due to the recall. A few days later I noticed my horn was not working. I returned to the dealership on 11/9/18 only to be told I need to replace the entire airbag because the brackets connecting to the airbag are not sending a good signal to the horn. However I went online and one of the items clearly called out with the recall is "do not pull on the horn switch feed pigtail wire to disengage the connector from the driver airbag housing or to disconnect the horn switch to steering wheel wire harness connection. Improper pulling on this pigtail wire or connection can result in damage to the horn switch membrane or feed circuit." although I have a warranty I was told my issue is not covered and that I need to pay $598.00 pre tax to fix the issue. …
In an accident I was struck by another vehicle that swerved into my lane at a very high rate of speed. His vehicle struck my car on the drivers side front quater panel just after the head light and continued past the drivers door. Air bags failed to deploy causing injuries to my head and body. In a separate accident, head on collision the airbags failed in the front and side causing bodily injuries. The failure of the air bags to deploy was supposed to fixed in Nov 2022 at the VW dealership with the clock spring recall . I did have that replaced so why did mine fail not once but twice after the clock spring was replaced?
My airbag light came on my 2012 EOS and Vw dealer said it was a Clock Spring part issue causing it part number (5K0-953-569-AL) I mentioned this is a safety issue as it also disabled my horn on steering wheel and was pretty sure VW had a recall/bulletin or campaign on this issue. Appears for some odd reason VW didn't have my vin [redacted] listed or flagged which I believe is a clear mistake. I am escalating this situation with VW and now here as my vehicle is having this same problem and needs listed as well. I strongly feel vw should replace the defective part 5K0-953-569-AL as part of an unidentified vin or vehicle they seem to pick and choose and that isn't right. …
Takata recall. I was informed of the recall on my airbag a year ago, on February 9, 2016. Vw does not yet have a repair available. I believe a year with a defective and dangerous airbag is too long to wait.
Takata recall. Receive notice that I have faulty Takata airbags a few years ago. Approximately one year later I received a notice that a temporary repair was available that would swap the original airbag with a replacement module of the original design that did not include a drying agent. That notice was clear that this was only an interim repair until a redesigned unit is available. I had the interim repair done on my vehicle. I noticed now that when searching for recalls, it says there are no active recalls on my vehicle. This is very concerning because they have not addressed the underlying design defect, and because there is not an active recall on the vehicle it seems that at this time it will not be fixed. Please contact Volkswagen and ensure that they are addressing the needed redesign of the airbag module. Thank you
Related recalls (4)
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
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Eos years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (64), 2014 (31), 2010 (24), 2013 (19) and 2007 (13) model years. Airbag complaints make up 68% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Eos airbag problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 19V-014 (inflator module, Jan 11, 2019); 18V-148 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2018); 16V-078 (inflator module, Feb 10, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Eos airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles; 52% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (2 mentions), followed by the side/window (1).
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.