1999 Volkswagen Beetle: airbag warning light

Filed Feb 24, 2011 · Airbags · CA

1999 vw beetle. Airbag light came on randomly and won't turn off. Vw repair shop told me it would be $99 to diagnose the problem and a few hundred dollars to replace/fix the issue. The car has not been involved in an accident. Nothing has been done to fix the issue. It is a safety issue because I'm essentially driving around with no airbags. I refuse to pay that much money for something that multiple people have reported the issue about. Should be a recall.

Filed Apr 27, 2007 · Airbags · 87,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen beetle. While driving 55 MPH the contact depressed the brake pedal and the air bag light illuminated. The light remained illuminated , and vehicle was currently at a repair shop. The current mileage is 89,000 , and failure mileage was 87,000.

Filed Mar 9, 2007 · Airbags · 104,000 miles · NY

Tl*- the contact stated that when she cranked the 1999 volkswagen beetle the airbag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealership to be inspected, and they informed the contact that a sensor under the steering wheel needed to be replaced. The dealership replaced the sensor. Approximately 13 months later the airbag light started to illuminate again. The airbag light remained illuminated. The vehicle currently had 104000 miles. *ak updated 04/09

Filed Nov 10, 2005 · Airbags · ME

Airbag light came on (has gone off and on for over a year); local mechanic unable to determine problem. 11.09.2005 took it to vw in brunswick, maine. Mechanic thinks there is a resistance issue and recommended replacement. He thinks it is a malfunction. The cost is over $500! I spoke to two co-workers with different model vw's and had the same issue. Problem not resolved. Why should I pay for something that a mechanic thinks is wrong and others have to continuously pay for? If it is a defect then vw should be paying for it! My airbags have never deployed before. My car will not pass inspection with this light on.

Filed Apr 7, 2004 · Airbags, Lights · CA

While driving 5 MPH and without hazard flashing warning lights blinked on and off on their own. Also, driver and passenger side windows rolled up and down, and SRS light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection on numerous occasions. But, mechanic was unable to duplicate or resolve the problems.

Filed Dec 13, 2002 · Acceleration, Airbags · 58,000 miles · OH

1)driver's side window had difficulty going up since vehicle purchase, have to push with hand to assist. 2) just a few months after purchase sensor behind brake pedal failed, vehicle would shift from park, replaced. 3) air bag came on and then engine light soon after, catalytic converter replaced. Both warning lights off and replaced. 4) headlights are constantly blowing out, evidence of a short when replaced. Burn marks, and exposed wiring because plastic on connectors got brittle and cracked off. 5) air bag light on again, two weeks later engine light on. Told two sensors on mass air flow and some others are malfunctioning and now been replaced. Told there is a broken clock spring in steering column along with bad wiring harness, both affecting air bags. Also, told air bag is now bad and needs to be replaced because other defective components have shorted igniter in air bag out. I am a college student and cannot continue to fund repairs to this vehicle. Cannot sell either because of these problems, and now reputation of beetle for problems. Vehicle has never been in an accident, even so much as bumped. Meticulously maintained. Dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis----------------770755. *ak

Filed Aug 23, 2002 · Airbags, Visibility · AZ

Shortly after I bought the vehicle, engine"check light came on and stayed on. Also, cd player was not operating correctly and temperature display (by rear view mirror) did not work. Took in to dealer's svc dept. Many times, but problems persited . Dealer svc. Dept. Claimed everything working fine. Recently, the window on the driver side failed and it would not go up. Took car in to dealer svc. Dept. And got repaired. Shortly after that, car died. It was not the battery, so car was towed to dealer service dept. On 8-14-02. Dealer examined car and said it was the tri-lock system and didn't know how to fix it. Tri-lock system removed by dealer but car still not working. Problem: power windows did not work, push window button and trunk would pop open, air bag light stayed on, etc. Etc. Etc. The car has been at dealeship for over a week and dealer keeps telling me it's fixed, but when I go pick it up (3 times), the car is still doing the same thing, and the air bag light is still on all the time. Very frustrated and disappointed.

Filed Mar 25, 2002 · Airbags, Fuel system · NJ

While driving the car I noticed the speedometer & odometer weren't working (mileage froze at 26,139). The gas gauge was not working either. Then the check engine light came on and the airbag light. Brought into dealership and was told there were 19 failures when it was tested on their computer. Dealership claims the transmission needs parts replaced. (will be covered under powertrain warranty possibly). Still waiting on parts. They said after they replace parts of transmission they will let me know what else needs to be done and how much it will cost me. The standard warranty ended march 2001. The vehicle has low mileage (26,139). The battery had to be replaced last year. Many times the car wouldn't start and had to be jumped. The check engine light came on the first year I had the car and the dealership claimed it was a sensor problem.

Filed Oct 8, 1999 · Engine · NC

After only 3 months of ownership, the malfuction engine indicator light came on and stayed on. Took the car to the service center, I guess they reset the sensor on it. The end of september the airbag light came on and stayed on. Contacted dealer and he set up appointment to have it looked at. They looked at it and said they would have to order the part to fix it. I waited about 1 1/2 weeks before I called the dealer to see what the holdup was. They picked up my car from work and took it to the service center on october 6th. My receipt that was printed, states that the air bag test failed and they replaced it and also some ring. Today, two days later the airbag light is on again!!!! I am wondering how safe it is to drive this vehicle with this problem. The car is going back to the service center on monday, oct. 11th.