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 2014 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she was involved in a multi-vehicle accident pileup after a utility truck that was two vehicles ahead of her suddenly braked. The air bags had failed to deploy. The contact's daughter did not require medical attention but had sustained a headache from the impact. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,640.
On October 17, 2025, I was driving my 2014 Volkswagen Jetta at approximately 25-30 mph on the bypass in Muscatine, Iowa. Another vehicle cut into my lane and struck the front driver-side of my car. My vehicle suffered significant front-end impact, including wheel/tire damage, bumper and fender damage, and visible suspension impact. During the crash, the driver-side airbag did NOT deploy, even though the impact was directly to the front driver-side area where the crash sensors are located. The airbag warning light did not come on before or after the crash. Because the force of the impact was strong enough to damage the front wheel, suspension components, and bumper structure, I believe the airbag system (airbag module, front crash sensor, or related wiring) failed to detect the crash properly. A collision at this speed and angle should have triggered airbag deployment. …
Air bags failed to deploy on my 2014 volkswagen jetta. I hit a Guardrail head on at 50-60 mph pushing it 8 feet back. I sustained a large laceration on my forehead eventually needing 6 staples and 6 stitches to close it up. My passenger got abbrastions to her head from hitting the window. Which is now cracked and broken throughout. The air bag light came on my dashboard but no air bags were ever deployed. Having just bought this vehicle 6 months ago from a dealership and them verifying that everything was in working order has me wondering what to do about this? $18,000 for a trip to the E.R that night. Needless to say I'm pretty disappointed and know that if the airbags would have properly went off it would have made things Alot easier!!
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and depressing on the horn, the horn failed to make a sound. The contact stated that the air bag, ABS, and Electronic Steering Control (ESC) warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the horn to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the son was driving at 46-47 MPH and turning left when another vehicle driving at 65-70 MPH crashed into the entire driver's side of the vehicle causing the vehicle to spin approximately 3 - 4 times before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. No air bags had deployed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The driver had received injuries to their right leg, however, no medical attention was sought. The dealer had not been contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Part number 5K0953569AL air bag clock spring failed leaving air bag and horn unusable. Dealerships say this is the most back ordered Volkswagen part. Many wait lists have several thousand people waiting with no end in sight. No one can provide a ship date. These cars cannot legally be on the road and cannot be sold back to a dealership because they won't pass inspection. This part has been involved in a recall previously with the same issues, but not all affected cars are covered under the recall. I am personally unable to find a solution and my car has been unusable and unsafe. When I realized how normal and not unique my exact situation was, I felt the need to report this problem on behalf of the tens of thousands of people who are without safe vehicles, including myself. …
During this summer (2024), I got a warning with three beeps then warning lights came on, went off for a several months, and now have come on and stayed on (ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AIRBAG, Tire Pressure). This has to be an issue with VW. There was close to 63,000 miles on the car at the time. Now there's only 64,000 miles on the car. The dealer service center couldn't really determine the cause but still quoted a repair of nearly $4,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle slid on ice and crashed into the rear of a pickup truck. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a concussion and injuries to the nose and lip that required medical attention. The contact had to be transported in an ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,798.
When my airbag deployed, the vw emblem on the steering wheel popped open to the left and the airbag pushed it into my left arm which caused a burn and my arm to bleed. I know have a good scar on my left arm. If that emblem would have not been there or would have maybe opened downwards I would have walked away with a small airbag burn to the right hand only.
The vehicle was in a front-end collision and the airbags did not deploy. This year/make/model was not recalled and maybe should be??? Vehicle was in motion, rear-ended the car in front of it. The entire front end is smashed in. No airbags activated - neither driver nor passengers side.
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 2014 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, 10% of the model year's 387 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Volkswagen Jetta airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-483 (frontal, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Volkswagen Jetta airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 12 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.