Volkswagen Golf Airbag Problems

Airbag complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Side/window
  32
• Frontal
  18
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  8
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  3
• Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
  3

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1617%
• 25k–50k
  2122%
• 50k–75k
  2426%
• 75k–100k
  1112%
• 100k–150k
  1516%
• 150k+
  77%

What owners report

My clock spring has failed three times now the first few times I had it fixed at the dealership but my warranty is now no longer valid once since I bought it from the dealership and it has failed again saying my airbags deployed and none of my features on my steering wheel work at all not even my paddle shifters and nor does my horn. And this has happened every time all those things have not worked when it is gone faulty.

Failure of wheel speed sensor in front right wheel. This is the THIRD time I have had a wheel speed sensor fail on this car, which has 35,000 miles on it. Failure caused loss of power steering, airbags, abs, etc.

I am reporting a severe safety system failure regarding the airbag deployment force on a 2016 Volkswagen Golf SE. The vehicle was involved in a collision where the frontal/side air bag safety systems engaged. While the impact speed was moderate, the airbag deployment was violently disproportionate, resulting in severe, direct injuries to the occupant rather than providing the intended safety cushioning or protection. The force of the deployment appeared heavily uncalibrated, acting as a primary source of trauma rather than an emergency restraint. In contrast, the secondary vehicle involved in the identical impact matrix sustained similar property damage but experienced a completely stable, non-injurious environment with no air bag enaged at all. …

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V543000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Additionally, the contact mentioned that a recall notice was received confirming the remedy was available and to contact a local dealer however, the dealer informed that the part was not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distributions disconnect.

My airbag light came on today as I was backing out of a parking space (7/29/22 and mileage 235845), and this was after plastic creaking/cracking noises coming from my steering wheel for quite a while when I turned it. The frequency and amount of noise when I turned the wheel had increased a lot lately. This is the second time this exact thing has happened - I had to replace the clock spring in the steering wheel once before (3/19/19 at milage 154165). While I know I drive a lot, it's mostly straight on the interstate since I live in a rural area, so I am not turning the wheel constantly. I'm hesitant about if it's worth it to spend money on replacing it since the last time it was almost $800, and has now broken again, only 80k miles later. …

15V483000 (VW Recall Code 69L2) was issued for 2014 Volkswagen Golf's indicating a "clock spring" affecting a cable that powers the air bag. This is indicated also by the airbag emergency light coming on. I believe a similar, if not the same, issue is occurring in my 2015 VW Golf. Furthermore, the issue has affected all mechanical buttons on the steering wheel. I had taken my vehicle to a VW mechanic that indicated a recall had been issued for this problem. However, upon my own further investigation, I found 2014 was the cut off year for the recall. The issue appeared during the winter last year. I did contact my nearest VW dealership to instigate as to if this issue could be repaired under the aforementioned recall for the 2014. I was informed they could not. …

Takata recall a vw dealer service invoice states they completed the recall on this car, but your website says it is incomplete, according to my VIN. Vw of America sent me recall notices in March & April of 2018. Community vw, santa maria, ca 93456 [[phone]] invoice date: 12/19/17 customer number: 50792 technician number: 34657 I would like to verify that the work was actually done. Is there an identifying mark, label or number that I can see somewhere on the airbag? Thank you, [redacted]

Takata recall. In April 2016 I received a safety recall from Volkswagen regarding the Takata airbags. At that time, I called to set-up an appointment and was told that there wasn't a fix for it yet. I've called intermittently over the past year and have received the same response. I called again on May 17th, to ask about the status and received yet the same response. When I mentioned that I know people who have Honda's--who have been affected--whose airbags have been replaced, she said that Honda owners, have died as a result of the airbag deployments, whereas Volkswagen owners haven't. I replied that I interpreted that to mean that Volkswagen are dragging their feet because no one has died, and it'll take a death in order for them to come up with a fix, which of course was denied.

Related recalls (7)

NHTSA investigations