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 Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On February 2, 2017, My car was stop in an intersection. A car coming in my direction swerved into my lane and hit me head on. The air bag was deployed, it exploded so violently that both of my hands were severly injured. There was a fracture in my right wrist. There was a laceration to the base of the thumb and my thumb finger almost fell off and required several stiches for my forefinger to be attached. The bones in my right arm was shattered into pieces and it required major surgery. My left arm requires a total of 4 surgeries. I have to undergo an eighteen (18) months of Physical Therapy for both my left and right hand. There was so much pain in my left arm and the doctor had to perfom an operation called "Proximal row carpectomy (PRC)". Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is a motion-preserving treatment for the degenerated wrist. …
Extended warranty expired 6 months before the event. HOWEVEr, I read it as a recall (it was actually warranty) so I took it in BEFORE the warranty expired, there wasn't a problem with it then so they could not fix it since again it was warranty and not recall. The problem being my horn stopped working. Took it to Volkswagen- they said it was clock spring. Clock spring could also short out my airbags along with other SAFETY issues. Not only am I at extreme risk so are others around me. Obviously it was a problem with others if they extended the warranty. A VW specialist dealing with recall and warranty told me the extension of warranty is different because a recall would mean there's a safety issue. HOW IS A HORN AND AIR BAG NOT A SAFETY ISSUE?!?! unsure of the exact date I noticed however, it was after extension of warranty.
Air bag light came on showing both driver and passenger airbags off without having any collision then pulled into gas station, car was fine pumped gas and tried to start vehicle and couldn't turn key further than interior lights. Was locked in ignition. Also had all brake pads and rotors replaced 1.5 years ago, now service center says they need replaced again already. Diagnostics from VW shoe ignition switch lock cylinder malfunction needs replaced.there are recalls for the airbags and ignition switch cylinder and brakes for my exact year, month,make and model(11 recalls) but shows 0 recalls under vin. Vw wants to charge me $1,200 to fix what should be free under recalls.
I have a clockspring issue in my 2011 Jetta, which was associated with the Volkswagen recall in 2015. I called VW of America and was told that my VIN was not one of the cars part of that recall, and they would not be able to assist me in fixing this issue. With this problem occurring and being associated with a recent recall, I feel as if Volkswagen should help me in fixing my vehicle as it is a safety issue.
Volkswagen Jettas between 2011-2014 received a recall for the clockspring issue that occurs. I just learned that I am experiencing the same issue and my car is the same year and make. Both the airbag light is on and the horn does not work properly which is a major safety risk. VW said they will not cover the repair however this is a serious safety issue which has clearly been a problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While the vehicle was parked on an incline, it rolled backwards. The contact stopped the vehicle with the emergency brake. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact also stated that the key fell out of the ignition when the vehicle was not in park or turned off. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000 (electrical system, steering). The contact called bozzani Volkswagen at [phone] (located at 528 s citrus ave, covina, ca 91723) and was confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, in 2017, while driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle that stopped abruptly. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning indicator illuminated. A police report was filed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained whiplash, shoulder, back, and left knee injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While the vehicle was stationary, it rolled back down a hill and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the key was not in the ignition and there were no occupants in the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000. Updated 02/15/2017 updated 7/16/18
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. The frontal air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and had to be towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
I started up my car and was driving from work, all of a sudden I see a bunch of my warnings light appear on the dashboard all at the same time. I was driving in alexandria city and the care was in motion when the lights appeared. The tire pressure light, traction control, ABS, and even the air bag light. 3 different system have faults is a concern to my safety. I went to a mechanic twice and then the dealership, found out that the rear ABS sensor needs to be changed to get rid of ABS and traction control. After that was part was changed and the fault code was cleared the traction control and tire pressure still remained. Air bag light code was cleared too. After a month driving all of those same light reappeared again after I started up my car, I was stationary when the lights reappeared and was about to drive in city. The lights did not go away after driving. …
Related recalls
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 Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of the model year's 607 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Volkswagen Jetta airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-483 (frontal, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Volkswagen Jetta airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 6 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.