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 2007 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am filing a complaint in regards to Volkswagen failing to offer a solution to repair the Takata airbag which was recalled. I have tried contacting VW numerous times over the past two years as I live in Juneau, Alaska, which is landlocked and the only option is to send the vehicle on a ferry to either Anchorage or Seattle, WA to have this repair completed. The vehicle has not been driven in years due to the fear of what could happen if there were an accident and the airbag deployed. Please help me resolve this issue as Volkswagen is not taking action on this.
The Air bag fault message came on the dash. My VW Passat car was not involved in any accident. I took the car to VW dealer for the diagnosis for which I was charged. The air bag fault message is no longer there but I am sure my air bags have not been replaced. I have been advised that I may have to change the airbags in future.
The contact owned a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V148000(Air Bags) and 17V509000 ( Fuel System, Gasoline), and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted.
We have been waiting on a list to get the airbag replaced. My car was involved in a rear end collision with air bag deployment, and car is considered a total loss and lucky no one was hurt. The car should not have been driven until it was fixed but that is not possible, I think vw should have at least offered a rental till it was fixed. Now I have a totaled car because of airbag deployment. The roads were wet and person in front of him got cutoff and slammed on my brakes and my car rear ended that car. There is a police report and insurance claims. I can send pictures upon request to a email address.
Takata recall, on June 18th 2018 I took my car in at Volkswagen dealership on figueroa street in los angeles regarding the 2 recalls on my vehicle and I called the Volkswagen manufacturer the day before they told me the only thing that could be fixed was the Takata airbags recall but the other recall was still pending so they didn't do anything to my car and I have an invoice showing then thing was done that even Takata airbags for fix I complain to the Volkswagen manufacturer and they said that the airbags were fixed he sent me a email copy of the invoice and it's a different invoice than the one I have mind you that the miles that are on the invoice that they send me are not the miles on my vehicle at all to this day I'm still having a hard time I'm getting everything fixed in my car the two recalls they keep on pressuring me to go ahead and and pay out of my pocket for everything to …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V247000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Thelen Audi Volkswagen Mazda (1112 north euclid avenue, bay city, michigan 48706, [phone]) and suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of troy (1790 maplelawn drive, troy, michigan 48084, [phone]) were made aware of the recall and stated that the parts were unavailable. While driving various speeds, the air bag indicator illuminated intermittently in 2017 and became more prevalent over the course of one year. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the windshield wiper fluid dispenser motor did not work. The failure occurred without warning. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and flashed a picture of an inflated air bag with a "vehicle statue, air bag default" warning message. The failures were not diagnosed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags). The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that the windshield wiper motor was not included in a recall and the air bag failure was not recall related. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available....updated 11/15/17 updated 12/1/2017
Takata recall air bag fault light is on non-stop, a recall for airbag is issued, concerned that if airbag deploys I will be killed by the shrapnel. Car is not worth the repair to the airbag fault light, as the airbag it will deploy is dangerous. Vw of USA cannot help me. Can't sell the car as is...too dangerous. Also a wandering electrical problem that causes doors to be unopenable from the outside...never know which door or how many will not open. Today it is the driver's door.have been paying on it, but haven't driven it (out of fear) since August '15. I owe $2045 on it...want vw to buy me out and scrap it. Car woke up with the airbag fault light one day. Vw USA is very sorry for my problem, but no fix available/no buyout.
"Takata recall" my airbag light went on and remains on. Upon going to a vw dealership...I was told "ya that means the air won't deflate if you were in an accident". They never went into the car! I was told for them to run a test it would cost 125.00. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from a vw dealership. This is a safety issue and should be resolved with a cost to the customer. I then went on to a gas station...they had hand held device that could detect what the problem was. It came up as defect # 01217, side air bag igniter, drivers side(10199). They recommend taking it to certified dealer(which I did) as they did not have the parts to repair. The gas station did not charge me anything. Something is very wrong here!
Volkswagen Passat 2007 Passat water leak footwell that causes passenger side airbag damaged : suddenly after a rainy day, water comes from sunroof to the passenger side footwell and made carpet wet and stores water below the carpet. That caused passenger side 's airbag malfunction results in airbag fault. I went to the dealer and they told me it happens with some vw cars and please get your car checked for water leak. They told that they are not responsible for neither the airbag nor the water leak. I believe there was too much water below the carpet which directly puts the integrity of the safety in danger since it the electronic parts and wires were in water for long time.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon 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 front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018.
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…
Airbag complaints in other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2007 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA has 111 complaints about the air bags of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat, 41% of the model year's 273 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Volkswagen Passat airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-834 (inflator module, Oct 30, 2024); NHTSA recall 18V-247 (inflator module, Apr 18, 2018); NHTSA recall 18V-148 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Volkswagen Passat airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.