2010 Volkswagen Passat Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  211%
• 25k–50k
  528%
• 50k–75k
  633%
• 75k–100k
  317%
• 100k–150k
  211%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

In 2018, my VW clockspring/airbag was replaced under the VW recall. Last week the airbag clockspring failed, causing my air bag pop out. Luckily I was not driving. There is no current recall on the recalled replacement and this is unacceptable. I took my VW back to the dealer that did the work and they stated that there was no recall and they would not replace. It is incredibly dangerous that this has happened. I am very angry that VW's replacement would not hold up for the lifetime of the car nor will they honor their parts.

I had a wreck on oct. 28 2013 on 1-26 in USA south carolina. A deer ran into my car(2010 Passat) passenger side and right front of car. No airbags came out. My insurance coming fixed car at vw garage. They told me at that time my airbag part was not on hand they had to order it and they would call me when it came in. Never heard from vw again. I got a recall notice after that,stateing that my car needed to be brought to the dealership it was not safe and then did not have a part to fix it yet. My car had 53,000 miles on it . I had retired from working did not want another car at that time. Car was paid for. I lost all my money paid for car $29,214.00, est taxes in sc 1750.00, plus ins. Fees of 19299.00. Over the 7 yrs I own the car. They gave me a lease car to drive 426.00 a month. I have all recall sheets I took it in everytime I got one. …

"Takata recall" bought Passat 2010 finance thru vw credit paid off. 52 thousands miles recall: !st recall 4/20/16. 2nd recall notice December 1 2016 with threat to notify ins. Co. Of unsafe car.Takata sdi driver frontal airbag inflator. Computer is old no printer or scanner I can mail documents. When it was wrecked a deer ran out on inter 1-26 took the front off . My insurance fixed it. $10,000.00 geico. October 2013 turned it in to stokes vw. Charleston south carolina where I purchased it. Lost my car and equity. Had to lease car for transportation 426.46 per mo. I want compensation for paying insurance on it for 7 yrs. And the equity of a paid off 2010 low mileage Passat. Oh this was my 3rd Passat from vw paid cash for the 1st one.

The car was hit broadside on the passenger side front door, spun around and hit head in to a power pole. With all this happening none of the airbags deployed.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 17V509000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 18V148000 (air bags). The vehicle was towed to schumacher automotive group [phone], located at 3001 okeechobee blvd, suite c, west palm beach, fl 33409) where the recall repairs were performed. The following day, the failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced at the contact's expense. The dealer stated that the recent fuel pump failure was not related to the recall. The manufacturer stated that the fuel pump was not covered by the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Passat. When the steering wheel was turned, the horn inadvertently sounded. The vehicle had to be turned off and restarted to disengage the horn. The contact stated that the failure began after the vehicle was serviced on January 25, 2016 for NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer (Audi boise, 8400 west franklin road boise, idaho 83709, [phone]) for diagnostic testing or repairs; however, the contact removed the horn relay. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.

Vehicle has 32,000 miles and airbag light is on. Horn does not work so the vehicle was taken in for the clock spring recall. Horn works but airbag light is still on. Dealer recommends replacing the "passenger occupant detection system" at an estimated cost of $3,000.00. Called vw customer care and opened a case with them, but because of the time (not mileage) they refuse to offer any assistance with this issue. This is a serious safety issue and should not occur having owned the vehicle 5 years and driven it 32,000 miles.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 20 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and the air bag partially deployed. Prior to the deployment, the contact heard several popping sounds coming from the steering wheel underneath the horn pad. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V148000 (air bags) on September 7, 2018. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000. The VIN was not available.

Vehicle was recalled for air bag/clock spring reason twice in just over a year. Now, shortly after both of these repairs, we had a noise in the steering wheel, as well as an air bag failure indicator illuminate. We cannot help but feel this is related to the work that has been performed on these recent recalls and feel vw should be responsible for the cost of these repairs. This happened while driving on a city street while making a turn. Attached is a copy of the service record.

Pods - when I went to get the wheel clock spring recall repair, I still had a airbag error lit - mechanic said it was a faulty passenger occupant device system switch. I only have 32K miles on my car and I very rarely have anyone ride in the passenger seat, so not sure why it failed - was quoted a price of 3K for the part. Jetta and golf models have a recall for this, but not the Passat - if it is a safety issue for those models, it should be one for the Passat as well.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Passat years