10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
14 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,027 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Nov 052014

Jetta

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel and passenger side air bags inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #12

Nov 202014

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
Took to dealer for oil change and horn not working. In diagnosis, found that clockspring needs to be replaced which would also probably resolve the air bag light which is on. The price for repair $485. When calling other auto repair shops in the area ; could not find another shop to replace the clockspring, as it is a liability because of the airbag involvement. The dealer could not tell me whether the air bags worked but said replacing the clockspring should take care of the issue. Volkswagen customer care was contacted and said the car is out of warranty and they can do nothing about this, even though my voiced concern about the airbag issue was heard.

- Papillion , NE, USA

problem #11

Nov 052014

Jetta

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 15 mph, the air bag deployed without warning. The failure occurred after the vehicle drove over a sewer cover, which caused the front windshield to crack. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000. The VIN was not available.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Dec 032013

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 92,000 miles
Our car is driven by 2 drivers- I am 5 feet tall, my husband is 6'1". the car seat gets moved back and forth a lot as we both drive the car daily. In late November my husband moved the seat all the way back and it made a cracking noise. We later noticed the air bag light was on. He found the broken wire under the seat and repaired it, but the light was still on. A call to the dealership revealed they knew about the issue and the fix was to "not move the seat so much". the next week- before we had a chance to take the car in to get the light cleared- the car was involved in a collision. I rear ended a car in slow-and-go traffic when she switched lanes in front of me while I was accelerating. $15,000 in damage was done to the car but the air bags did not go off. A witness that stopped to help had to pry the door open to get me out. The fighter fighters all remarked that they could not believe the air bags didn't go off. No airbags could have been a huge issue if the accident was worse.

- Justin, TX, USA

problem #9

Sep 052013

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 121,000 miles
When pulling into work, my airbag light came on along with a message that said "airbag fault!" I have since had this diagnosed as a failed clock spring (located in the steering column), which VW will not replace because the car is over mileage and too old for any kind of goodwill replacement of the part. Since this is a critical safety system, I am disappointed that it failed on an effectively new car, when none of the 15-20 year old beaters I've driven have ever had a clock spring failure.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #8

Aug 152013

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked for one month. Once the contact started the engine, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #7

Aug 052013

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 102,500 miles
Air bag warning light came on. Technician says passenger seat sensor failure, $1200 repair estimate. Three weeks until new sensor arrives from the factory. Now I'm driving a car with no air bags, until the part arrives at the dealer. Air conditioning failure happens within hours of air bag sensor failure. Sensor and A/C connected through same 5 amp fuse which failed. Replacing the fuse activates the A/C, but fuse will randomly fail again after several engine restarts. Technician says fuse will stop failing once the air bag sensor is replaced. Could, what ever transient causing the fuse failure, be causing the air bag sensor failure" could the transient, be attenuated by the sensor until the sensor finally fails"

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #6

May 022013

Jetta

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact was driving 45 mph and crashed into another vehicle. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed of the incident. The contact sustained minor injuries but was able to drive the vehicle from the scene and to a local mechanic for diagnostics. The mechanic advised the contact that the vehicle was damaged beyond repair. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

- Wilbrahan, MA, USA

problem #5

Jan 092013

Jetta

  • 77,000 miles
The contact stated owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, a vehicle crashed into the vehicle causing it to crash into the vehicle directly ahead. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy and the air bag failure light illuminated. The contact sustained face, neck, and torso injuries after being thrown into the steering column. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 77,000.

- Mordan Hill, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 012011

Jetta

  • 45,000 miles
I turned my car on, and the airbag warning light came on. The owner's manual states to take it immediately to a dealer. I did so, as quickly as possible, for computer diagnostics. I was told the pods system had failed on my passenger side. My passenger airbag does not turn on when I have a passenger in the car. VW told me they would not pay for the part because I was out of warranty, due to mileage. However, I was also told that wear and tear on a vehicle does not impact the functioning of the airbags. Now, VW has a nationwide backorder of the part to repair my vehicle, with no indication of when I will be able to repair my vehicle. As of now, my vehicle is unsafe for passengers. According to the driver's manual, airbag failures may also reduce the effectiveness of the restraint system in the event of a crash. For the price of this vehicle, I would not expect the airbags to fail, ever, let alone in barely three years.

- Ewa Beach, HI, USA

problem #3

Dec 152011

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 60,000 miles
Airbags failed to deploy, 55 mph frontal impact. Vehicle sustained severe frontal damage and is more than likely totaled. No one was hurt but I think that the airbags should have deployed. I have pictures of vehicle if needed.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #2

Sep 082009

Jetta

  • 4,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 70 mph using the cruise control, she began tapping on the steering and suddenly the driver side air bag deployed. She crashed after the air bag deployed; however, she has no memory of the crash. She did not sustain any injuries. The current and failure mileages were 4000.

- Luxemeurg, WI, USA

problem #1

Jul 022009

Jetta

  • 1,500 miles
Passenger airbag off warning and airbag fault warning lights are on.

- Gainesville, FL, USA