10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,479 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #43

Sep 212005

Jetta 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,340 miles
After making a right turn getting up to a speed between 25-30 mph my driver side airbags deployed for no apparent reason even with the roads in good condition. 30-40 seconds more and I would have been merging on to on a busy interstate in which could have resulted in personal injury to myself and other drivers, along with car damages. Luckily this happened before time. VW rep refuses to solve the issue by replacing the seat and all side and side curtain airbags (as I suspected due to reading other complaints on here and other internet sources). They found the sensors had reason to go off what reason they haven't been able to establish the cause making this a mechanical issue and not a driver issue. I am in a loaner VW Jetta and still fret the side airbags will go off. After being a loyal buyer of VW since 1987, they can count one less in the family. I have already contacted a lawyer and will be contacting my local news station to try and "out this problem" and make sure that this information be known to the public of VW's lack to investigate these issues and lack of compassion and customer service in severe issues like this.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #42

Aug 132005

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 32,000 miles
Passenger side curtain airbag and seat airbag deployment with no collision. Passenger side airbag sensor too sensitive. Slight swerve and brake to avoid small animal. No collision involved. Car has no visible signs of damage. Never in an accident. Currently in the process of contacting vwoa.

- Fairplay, CO, USA

problem #41

Apr 192005

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 32,800 miles
While driving on an interstate highway with my girlfriend in the pass seat, the driver's side curtain airbags deployed for no reason. There was no impact or pothole hit. I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and get off to the shoulder. I received burns and deep bruises on my upper left arm and left side ribcage. Car was driveable from there, however the pre-tensioners for the seat belt also fired and could not use the seat belt. Upon talking with a local VW dealer, they advised that this would be an insurance claim, as the airbag would not just go off, and they mentioned that there have been no instances of random deployment...all have been due to something causing the deployment.?. I could have easily lost control of the car, and things could have been much worse. Still dealing with the medical.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #40

Jan 162005

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles
I have 2002 Jetta while driving down interstate hit small object in road with passenger front tire this caused both side curtain and seat airbag to deploy. Impact was not enough to blow front tire or cause me to loose control of vechile. Was told by insurance company they have seen this before have contacted Volkswagen and have appointment to get estimate on repair cost and if they will cover or insurance will have to cover.

- Orange City, FL, USA

problem #39

Jan 122005

Jetta

  • 4,500 miles
While driving 40 mph, the front/rear side air bags inadvertently deployed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The cause was not determined.

- South El Monte, CA, USA

problem #38

Feb 092005

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was on the road at 5 mph when all of a sudden the passenger side air bag deployed on its own. Manufacturer was contacted by the consumer.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #37

Feb 022005

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,000 miles
My daughter was exiting I-4 onto I-95 in daytona beach, fl. She was traveling about 45 mph, when the michilen tire on the right front wheel came off. This caused her to lose control of the 2002 VW Jetta (30,000 miles) and roll the vehicle. She was injured and the only car involved in the accident. None of the airbags deployed. I am concerned that the side airbag should have deployed lessening her injuries, as her head hit the side of the car and has caused great problems.

- Lake Forest, FL, USA

problem #36

Feb 062004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway at around 2:00P.M. in the afternoon and all of a sudden the passenger side front air bag, side seat air bag and the rear air bag deployed without any collision. My car was not damaged at all. The supervisor technician at trans ocean VW refused to cover the cost to repair three of the airbags even though my car was still under warranty. They claimed that the computer sensor detected an impact which triggered the deployment of the airbags. It was lucky that the deployment of the airbags wasn't on the driver's side, otherwise, I would have lost my control on the steering wheel leading to more serious consequences. I was just in shock at that time but the highway patrol was managed to guide me off the freeway. At last I claimed my insurance and paid $500 deductible from my pocket to fix the airbags. The insurance premium increased a lot after this so-called "accident". I hereby ask VW of America to recall all defective vehicles to prevent future accidents from happening.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #35

Aug 062004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
While driving air bags deployed. After being inspected by the manufacturer, they stated that there was crash damage. However, vehicle was not damaged. Insurance company inspected vehicle, and stated there was no damage, but there was a defect in the air bags.

- Effort, PA, USA

problem #34

Aug 172004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,795 miles
After I was pulled out of a parking spot, the doors clicked as if they were going to lock automatically as they normally do at 10 mph. The click sounded funny, so I looked at the door locks and noticed that they hadn't locked. Soon thereafter, the battery on the car stopped, which I noticed because I couldn't accelerate and I couldn't turn the steering wheel. I started the car again, without a problem. The airbag light went on and stayed on and I noticed that the lights in the back seat over the doors stayed on though. I traveled to my next stop and the lights in the back seat went out. I then started toward my next stop and had reached 25 mph when the side airbag in the driver's seat exploded. I called the dealer to see if the car was safe to drive, they said it was. I then started driving to the dealer when the battery cut out again; I could tell because I could not steer and I could not accelerate. I pulled over to a safe spot and called for a tow truck. While I was sitting in the parked car with the A/C on waiting for the tow to arrive, the passenger-side curtain and seat airbags deployed. The car is currently at the dealer so they can investigate if there was a malfunction. No, I'm not kidding, that's what they said.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #33

Aug 052004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
I was driving along highway 50 and all of a sudden the passenger side, door and seat air bags deployed. The elk grove volkswagon dealership is accusing me of running over something and I know that I didn't. I was going 65 mph and if I would have ran over something to jolt my car enough to deploy my airbags, I'm sure all of them would have deployed, as well as, I would have been aware of some type of collision.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #32

Jul 132004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 52,000 miles
Was in an automobile accident and was hit square in the side of the car at 45 mph. Damage was done to entire left side of vehicle. No air bags deployed. I have front and side air bags. Called Volkswagen to determine where sensors are, and the sensor on the side is where I was hit. I did some research through NHTSA reports on Volkswagen, seems there are a sufficient amount of consumer complaints with the airbags, many of which state Volkswagen didn't want to discuss or take care of. I am concerned with for my own safety while driving this Volkswagen.

- High Point, NC, USA

problem #31

Jul 012004

Jetta

  • miles
Problems with air bag system resulted in unnecessary deployments. VW refused to discuss the matter with the dealer or the consumer. There was an intermittent air bag deployment of the head and side passenger air bags during normal travel. The vehicle was still under warranty. The consumer discovered that 40 other 2002 Jetta owners experienced this same problem.

- Laytonsbille, MD, USA

problem #30

Jul 042004

Jetta

  • Manual transmission
  • 34,000 miles
Curtain airbag on passenger's side, seat airbag on the passenger's side, and the dashboard airbag cover fell off. Dealer refused to repair it. While drivign the consumer heard aloud bang. The passenger side air bag had deployed although there was no imppact. No injuries were stated.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #29

May 012003

Jetta

  • 12,000 miles
Request for information and complaint (ref tis request #7094 dgd). The passenger-side side-impact andside-curtain air bag deployed without an impact

- Galloway, OH, USA

problem #28

May 142004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles
While driving between 30 and 35 mph consumer hit a pot hole and front passenger and side curtain air bags deployed. Dealer notified.

- Englewood, CO, USA

problem #27

Apr 062004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 48,500 miles
Passenger side/window airbag deployed. Dealer stated that computer was reading crash damage. Consumer indicated vehicle was not involved in a crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer pulled data off the computer that indicated that there was a crash and damage to the right front wheel. Due to their findings the manufacturer refused to cover any repairs under warranty. The consumer's insurance company also performed an investigation and they concluded that there was no evidence of a crash. The insurance company and manufacturer are trying to schedule a time to get together and take the air bags apart to determine what caused them to deploy.

- Centerburg, OH, USA

problem #26

Mar 122004

Jetta

  • miles
While driving at 35 mph passenger side airbags deployed after hitting a small bump in the road.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #25

Mar 132004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Unintended deployment of airbag at 55 mph. No crash involved.

- Amana, IA, USA

problem #24

Mar 062004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,800 miles
While accelerating from a stop at 10 mph the side impact air bags on the passenger side inadvertently deployed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

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