Problems with 2001 Volkswagen Jetta AIR BAGS

While driving down a residential street, at approximately 25-30 mph, both the driver and passenger side curtain airbags deployed for absolutely no reason. there were no holes or bumps in the road and the weather conditions were good. approximately 7-10 minutes previous to this, while on the freeway, the inside light turned on and off, the door locks were going up and down and the control panel went berserk. it stopped as suddenly as it started. this had happened one time before and the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. *nlm

I own a 2001 vw jetta wolfsburg addition. while pulling into traffic from a stop, i ran into a pothole (the size of a moderate speed bump), which in turn deployed the passenger curtain and side airbags in the jetta. i was not going more than 5 - 10 mph, and there is no damage to the car or the tires aside from that produced by the airbag deployment. (the dealership tried to say that a bubble, which had developed on the sidewall of one of the tires, some time ago, was a result of the impact. i informed them that this was one of the reasons i had scheduled a service appt. for the following monday, a week prior to the entire airbag incident) i contacted the nearest dealer, who in turn stated they would contact the regional manager. their response to this was that "since the sensor indicated an impact, there would be no assistance from vw in the repair of the damage caused", and that i should contact my insurance company. i then contacted their customer service hotline, and was given the same answer. *nlm

On march 12th driving at approximately 5 miles an hour making a right hand turn the passenger side curtain air bag and seat bag deployed for no reason. dealer said that the 'computer' indicated that there was impact at some point and warranty would not cover. the only incident that car has had was a dent last january when we hit a street bumper which caused a dent on the drivers side back door --very bottom. anyone can tell that dent had been there quite a while. furthermore, a dent there should not have cause the passenger curtain to deploy. insurance will not pay because they say it wasn't an accident and they are right. vw says they stand by their computer and won't repair. help please. *nlm

Driver's side air bags failed to deploy during an accident that may have totaled the car. damage was to the driver's side only and the passenger front airbag did deploy.

The passenger's side air bag deployed without impact. *jb.....*ak

Please refer to case/odi: 8022481; respectfully request case be reevaluated. vw claims small ding on underside of vw jetta is to blame for side and seat airbag deployments. they are wrong and are trying to use this excuse to get out of numerous faulty airbag deployments. no vw experts could answer my specific technical questions. the owner's manual specifically states reasons for airbag deployments, and the small ding on the underside of my vehicle is a not a reason; instead it serves as an unsupported excuse. [jetta ride extremely low to ground; there will always be dings, marks, etc., for the vw corporation to use as an excuse.]*ak

Consumer states that when hit at 80mph in the front center of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. dealer notified ts

Consumer states that when hit at 35mph in the front center of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. dealer notified ts

On july 31 i was driving on the freeway at 55 mph and suddenly i heard and explosion inside my car and i almost lost control of the vehicle but luckily i did not, then i realized that the air bag located on the passenger right arm and the air bag that protects the right side windows where activated with out a reason. i was very upset and went to the dealer with my concern of the incident, but to my surprise not only did i did not get any apologies but they put the blame on me, argumenting that something hit the under hood of my car close to the place where the right side bags sensor is located and that the guaranty did not cover it. i think it_x0012_s a very dangerous matter if something hits under the car and can diploids the airbags. i am certain i did not hit anything on the freeway at the time of the incident. i have spoken to the dealer owner and to costumer care and both tell me they support the mechanics decision. *ak

I received a severe right forearm fracture, requiring surgery, from a driver's side airbag. the accident took place in a parking lot and my car was almost stopped at the time. two fingers were also broken/dislocated. i spent 3 days in the hospital and will have months of physical therapy to endure. i want this on record so if others have been injured, the airbags will be investigated. i am willing to share x-rays, medical records, etc. i contacted vw and they said since i was honking the horn at the time of impact, it's basically my fault. i can understand that if the body is in the way when the airbag deploys, injury may occur, but such a severe injury as a consequence for honking the horn, seems extreme to me. i think the airbag may have deployed too fast. please compare my case to others' so other vw drivers won't have to go through what i am right now. thank you.*ak

My 2001 jetta glx was delivered with an airbag fault & a scratched bumper. they said they would fix both. i brought my car back the next day to have the airbag fault fixed. they fixed it & it occured again in 1 or 2 days. i also had a hose break & all of the ratiator fluid leak out. they fixed that & the scratch & the airbag fault. i asked at that time for a new vehicle. they said they could not/would not do that. my airbag failed again 7/2002 & again 9/2002. i am currently seeking to have my car replaced or bought back by the dealer. it is currently in the shop.*ak

I had a client, who is an 11 year old boy with autism, in the left rear seat of my car. we were several feet from a stop sign while traveling on a bumpy road. in the process of slowing down to come to the stop sign, i heard a very loud popping sound to the right side of the car. the vehicle was almost stopped because of the stop sign. the vehicle turned off and the battery light illuminated. when i looked to the right side of the car, the air bags along the right side of the car were deflating. i got out of the car to see if something fell on the car to cause the airbags to deploy and to make sure that the client sitting on that side was okay. there was nothing that hit the car. the client was scared but physically okay. the car started right back up so i tucked the airbags in and drove to the client's home. my contact with volkswagen has been very unsuccessful. they are claiming proper deployment of the airbags due to lateral movement of the car. they are showing wear on the outside of front right and rear left tires as evidence of proper deployment due to lateral skid. my contention is that there was no lateral skid ,and that the triggers misfired or are dangerously too sensitive.*ak

My car which was purchased brand new in july 2001 has been to the repair shop 13 times. i purchased a 2001 volkswagen jetta. the ongoing problem is that the car is losing power while accelerating. volkswagen doesn't want to acknowledge the defect of their own product. i was told two things which doesn't make sense to me. first, i was told my engine is not apart of the recall for those other vw cars that are losing power. second, a vw representative told me it was my extra car mats that is probably causing the problem. i think volkswagen is just ignoring this serious problem. if my car slows down on me whenever it wants and i die as a result of their defect product that they don't want to recognize, it is truly going to be a serious problem. the car had problems with the engine, airbags, malfunctioned sensor, clock spring, harness, and now it is losing power. although this car has had numerous problems, this is the most serious problem that i would like o be rectified. volkswagen service department changed the computer and told me this will definitely solve the problem. obviously it did not solve the problem. since the computer was changed in sept. 2002 the car lost power 3 times since then.*jb

While driving, the side airbag deployed, consumer was informed the airbag deployed due to a scrape on the tire.(state farm insurance, claim number, 27-7080-537)*jb

While driving, both airbags deployed without warning, causing injury to the consumer, also the left tire was flat.(state farm insurance, claim number, 06-5516-976)*jb

Consumer states during a rear end collison, none of the air bag deployed on impact.causing major injuries.*jb

Consumer was traveling about 55 mph on highway and another vehicle hit consumer's vehicle. upon impact, dual airbags didn't come out.*ak jlg

While driving down the highway, both the drivers side and side curtain airbags deployed. there was no cause for the deployment such as accident or collision. the car was stopped without further inciodent. it was towed to the dealer and is being evaluated by vw at this time for a cause of the deployment. *ak

While driving, consumer ran over a pothole, the pothole was not very large and did not damage tires or undercarriage, however the jolt from the pothole caused both airbags to deploy, leaving residue all over the inside of the vehicle.(state farm insurance, calim number, 25-5647-797) *jb

Consumer state while traveling without any indication air bag indication light started flashing through out travel. dealer has been contacted. *nlm the air bag light did not remain on any more after the air bag control unit was replaced. the drivers seat back cover was replaced since the original one was stain. *yh

The consumer hit a pothole while driving, after hitting the pothole the driver heard a loud bag and saw that the passenger side air ag deployed along with the seat air bag. the dealership is aware of the problrm. nlm ie04-078*po

Consumer hit a pothole and the roof and side air bags deployed.(state farm insurance, claim number, 17-9237-404)

While traveling and without any indication, passenger's side air bag deployed, injuring passenger. *ak consumer stated that vehicle did not hit anything, the air bag light did not illuminate prior to deployment, the passenger side seat and side curtain deployed, causing injury to consumers wife.*jb ie04-078*po

Consumer ran over an object, and the side curtain airbags deployed, causing damage to the mount of the rear axle beam.(state farm insurance, claim number, 47-4308-227)*jb

While driving, the passenger side airbag deployed, upon inspection consumer was informed there was some damage to the undercarriage and perferation of the floorboard which caused the airbag to deploy.(state farm insurance, claim number, 13-7602-854)*jb

Consumer was involved in a 50mph front end collision. front passenger and driver side airbags failed to deploy. *ak one person was injured in the accident. *slc

Vehicle was involved in a frontal collisoin at 50mph, upon impact, air bags did not deploy, resuling in minor injuries to driver. dealer will be notified. please provide additional information. *ak

Automobile accident involving tractor trailer. car was hit directly on the drivers side, rear and front end of vehicle. accident speed was 65 mph. two front airbags deployed but the drivers side curtain airbag did not. the air bag may have malfunctioned. the car was totaled. driver sustained injuries to the left hemisphere of head. reported to vw but have had no response. *nm

While traveling about 70 mph on the highway and without prior warning, the passenger side airbags and the overhead airbags deployed without contact with another vehicle. ts *jg

Passenger "window curtain" airbag and passenger side airbag deployed when i hit a bump in the road. there was no impact, loss of control in driving vehicle, or anyother damage to the vehicle. *ak ie04-078*po

While traveling 30 mph vehicle was involved in a front end collision. passenger's air bag deployed, but driver's frontal air bag failed to deploy. no determination has been made for reason of this failure. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak

This jetta was in an accident. it was totaled. another car made a left-hand turn and t-boned into the driver's side. the the car spun around into a ditch. at some point, the passenger rear corner underside was severly dented up into the trunk. the driver's side door airbag deployed. the passenger side door airbag deployed. the passenger front dash air bag deployed. but the driver's steering wheel air bag did not deploy. since all other airbags deployed, except this one, i am requesting that this be analyzed and tested. it was not a frontal collison, but since the passenger front dash airbag deployed, i think it should be investigated. the front of the car was only slightly damaged, so why should one front airbag go off but not the other.*ak

While traveling at 35 mph and without any indication air bags deployed. dealer and manufacturer have been contacted. please provide further information.*ak ie04-078*po

Vehicle was hit directly on drivers side at 50 mph by another vehicle. consumer felt that side airbags should have deployed instead of steering wheel and the dash board deploying. consumer may not have broken a rib if side airbags had deployed. consumer has yet to contact dealer. please provide any further infomation. *ak

Consume rwas traveling 25mph on a side streetand hit a drainage gate, and passenger's airbag went off. he has contacted dealership. *ak ie04-078*po

Accident, impact at 40 mph, driver's airbag did not deploy. dealer stated that was due to location of the sensors. *ak

Consumer was struck on passenger's side when being hit by another vehicle. upon impact, side airbags deployed.*ak

Subject vehicle was struck by a minivan on the passenger side. passenger side, side air bag did not deploy.*ak vehicle experienced extensive damage to passenger side of the vehicle due to side impact. the vehicle rolled over 1 and 3/4 times. the passenger side side impact airbag did not deploy as a result of the accident. the drivers side side impact air bag did deploy, passenger sustained personal injury, attorney for client, updated 1/4/01. nlm

The problem appears to be that the vw service department does not know how to repair the air bag control system. they have replaced the 2 airbags which were used (front driver and front passenger), then replaced the front seat belts, then replaced the complete wiring harness for the airbag system. still: they cannot get the airbag system to function properly.