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 1999 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1999 Volkswagen Passat. Immediately after the vehicle was serviced by the dealer, it was then serviced by an auto detailer. The air bag indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit. When the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic for inspection, he was informed that the issue could not be repaired. A Volkswagen dealer stated that the air bag light was illuminated because there was too much resistance in the wiring for the air bags. They further stated that the contact would have to replace the air bags. The vehicle has four air bags: two in the instrument panel and two in the seat backs. The cost to repair them would be $600 per air bag. The contact refused the repair. The vehicle has never been involved in a crash and the air bags have never deployed. The contact feels that the failure should be Volkswagen's responsibility. …
1999 Volkswagen Passat tie rods and driver side airbag were bad. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for it's 40000 miles checkup when the problems were found. The air bag light was on when the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The consumer contacted the manufacturer but since the vehicle was no longer under warranty they refused to pay for any of the repairs. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair facility. The independent tech could not repair the air bag therefore the air bag light was still illuminated. The consumer looked on the internet and found out that 1999 passats were recall for tie rod issues in 1999 and notification were sent out in October 1999, one month before the consumer purchased her vehicle. The consumer also found several complaints in reference to the air bag light illuminating.
While driving the air bag warning light continuously illuminated on the dashboard. As a result, air bags became inoperative, and wouldn't deploy when needed. Dealership inspected vehyicle at least 10 times, and lately dealer charged to the consumer every time vehicle had a problem.
Consumer was driving a 25 MPH in rainy conditions when another vehicle going opposite direction lost control of vehicle/ fishtailed, hitting consumer's vehicle on driver's side twice. Dual frontal and side air bags failed to deploy, causing injuries. Please provide further information.
SRS instrument panel light remains on. Car was not in an accident. Car owned less than 24 months but SRS not covered under warranty simply due to mileage being over 24,000. If SRS is safety related why doesn't the government hold manufacturers more responsible as with emissions? There should be a separate government standard, as with emissions. Holding manufacturers more accountantable for SRS with stricter requirements, as with emissions, will help ensure public safety. I took this vehicle in for a recall repair (steering tie-rods) and no sooner than a week later, the SRS light went on and now I must pay to determine what exactly is wrong with the system. This seems rather unfair for a new car less than 24 months old. And since the work performed was in that quadrant of the car where the recall work was done, I am wonder if this is somehow related.
Passenger side air bag cover is not fitted correctly. The dealer attemped to install a new cover. Also there was anti-freeze leakage all over the engine two months after purchase of vehicle. Anti freeze had hardened. Dealer said that the rubber hose had failed under normal driving coditions. Dealership replaced the hose on 6-16-99. Consumer stated the airbag was replaced by dealer on June 16, 1999 however the airbag was again not fitted correctly and popped up and therefore it was not secure, also the radio does not work properly on the am band, there is interference.
1999 Passat engine seized due to a oil pump failure. The consumer had the oil leak repaired on 5 different occasions. The consumer had other problems with the vehicle such as a faulty drive shaft, right cv joint, the glove compartment latch, the control knob for the side view mirrors, the heater control unit, engine control unit, water pump seal rings, a power steering leak which was had to be fixed twice, the coolant pump, o-rings and the oil pump and pump rod bearings. There is a noise coming from the rear right wheel, oil is leaking from the valve covers.
Loose airbag igniter connection under the steering wheel, causing the airbag system to deactivate itself. This incident is frequent as reported by many owners on various online forums (audiworld, vwvortex, usenet newsgroups, etc). An internet search on "airbag igniter: driver side resistance too high" on google returned numerous reporting on this issue. In my particular instance, this has happened on both a 1999 vw Passat 1.8t/20v and a 2000 vw golf 1.9l tdi.
Airbag fault indicator stays illuminated. Dealer indicates that the passenger side, side-airbag sensor is bad. Vehicle has never been in an accident. Normal wear and tear. Only routine maintenance performed, with the execption of passenger side door trim replaced after adhesion failed. The radio has poor fm reception and no am reception. I only include this information because another consumer complaint (odi id: 840263) has indicated similar symptoms.
Airbag light has come on 5 times. It seems that all 5 times have happened on the highway whie driving over 55 MPH. First time, the dealer reset the airbag sensors. Second, third, and fourth time, according to the dealer invoice, the airbag/SRS control module has been replaced. I have written to Volkswagen of America informing them that I believe my car to be a lemon and am demanding relief under the lemon law of my state (ma).
NHTSA investigations
Passenger sir door mounting stud failure
Odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-021) based on two reports of failed bolt studs that attach the passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) door cover to the instrument panel (ip) on the Volkswagen (vw) passat (model years 2000, 2002).vw has indicated to odi that it has no additional reports.vw implemented a process change on March 1, 2002.this process change consisted of changing the bolt…
Passenger air bag lid failure
This investigation involves the Volkswagen (vw) passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) lid utilized in my 1998-2002 vw passat.the psir lid May detach from the instrument panel during air bag deployment.the office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) opened the preliminary evaluation on May 23, 2003 to determine whether alleged psir lid detachment…
Airbag complaints in other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Volkswagen Passat, 3% of the model year's 664 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volkswagen Passat airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Volkswagen Passat, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Passat airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 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.