2000 Volkswagen Beetle: airbag warning light

Filed Dec 19, 2014 · Airbags, Transmission · VA

I've had my beetle since 2005, and the airbag lights continuously come on as well as issues with the transmission. I've taken it to vw once for repair, and they come back on months later. I've read similar complaints from other vw owners concerning the airbag and transmission. I can't understand why this isn't a recall issue particularly since there was a death in 2007 with another owner. The airbag will not deploy when the light is on. The web page below voices the frustrations of many owners, and I do not understand why these complaints aren't being taken seriously. The repairs cost over $1600. How is this fair when having to get it repaired every year? Are you protecting vw? Trying to find someone to clear the codes is difficult because they have to go under the seat to adjust wires and using the computer to clear them, but they come back on a day or two later. Http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2000/volkswagen/beetle/air_bags/problem.aspx.

Filed Jun 19, 2013 · Airbags, Seat belts · 185,143 miles · CA

I turned on my car and the airbag light turned on.

Filed Feb 8, 2012 · Airbags, Electrical · VA

I purchased my vw beetle in 2005 with the carfax - no accidents or major repairs. Within months, the engine light and airbag light came on. The windows stopped working. I've probably spent more than what I paid for it. I just spent over $1800 at vw springfield in virginia and the engine light is back on again after only a few months. In addition, the transmission codes were discovered by other repair shops, but they told me I had to go to the dealership for the repair. Neither vw springfield or vw woodbridge ever checked the transmission. In fact, woodbridge told me to trade it in and purchase a new one from them.some kind of light or problem occurs in my car every time I've taken my car to this dealership and vw woodbridge in virginia. They continue to claim that it is a different problem every time with the same components. What is the purpose for diagnostics? Every time I take my car to any of the vw dealership, I will have to bring the car in multiple times within months. Something is not right. Hundreds of people are complaining about the same issues, and no one is investigating this. It appears that vw is being protected from selling us poorly made vehicles with hefty repair costs, because it doesn't make since that it's the same problem for hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. Is it that these repairs are major and brake lights aren't. A recall for these vehicles from 99 on should be processed. The fact that vw was in the news recently as selling people cars they knew had engine, airbag, ABS, transmission, electrical, and window major problems is astonishing, because nothing is being done. I'm disgusted with volkswagen and they should be held accountable for all this. I understand that the economic situation, but people are in just as much a situation as manufacturing companies. We don't have the money to keep giving away to vw. It's a moral shame.

Filed Jan 11, 2011 · Airbags · 80,000 miles · MN

Airbag light came on and stays on constantly on a 2000 beetle. There are too many complaints about the problem wiring under the seat causing the airbag light to stay on...this should be the subject of a recall investigation!

Filed Dec 14, 2010 · Airbags · 85,000 miles · MN

1. 2000 vw beetle worked fine. 2. One day I started the car up and the airbag light came on. It didn't come on the next time I started it, but it did the time after that and it comes on and stays on now every time I start the car. 3. Tried to have a mechanic check it out but they were unable to read the code. I went online and found out that many, many people have this same problem with the airbag light. (according to my research, almost all the beetles have this problem, as the wiring harness under the seats that connects the side airbags to the buckles on the seat belt was made about 3" too short and gets pulled forward or out completely when the seats are brought forward to gain access to the back.) this obviously should be a recall.

Filed Sep 23, 2010 · Airbags · 60,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH the air bag light stayed on. The contact stated that the air bag light came on after driving over a speed bump and if the vehicle was involved in a crash the air bags would not deploy. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer but refused to have a diagnostic test performed due to the cost. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Dec 29, 2009 · Airbags · 49,000 miles · IA

For the fifth time in 10 years, the airbag warning light has come on in my 2000 volkswagen new beetle (less than 50,000 miles and never in a crash). According to manufacturer when the airbag warning light is on the airbags are deactivated providing no protection in the event of a crash. Dealer has twice previously replaced driver side airbag harness and recommends doing so again.

Filed Jun 25, 2009 · Airbags · 135,000 miles · 00

2000 volkswagen new beetle recently my 2000 volkswagen new beetle had the airbag light come on. I scoured the internet to find possible causes and to my amazement, many people suffer from the same problem. It appears that the sensors and wire harnesses in the new beetles frequently fail triggering the airbag light to come on. I was told by an service tech. That when the airbag light is on, the airbags become deactivated, which seems to pose an extremely huge safety concern, seeing as the new beetle suffers many defects regarding the airbags. Thankfully, the problem in mine is the driver side airbag wire harness located under the driver seat. The wire length is not sufficient enough to with stand a lot of seat movement. Moving the seats forward too many times can actually cause these wires to break in half, which happened in my case, deactivating all the airbags and bringing up an error in the system. The dealership doesn't make the matter any better, by saying that I will have to pay $600.00 to replace not only the wire harness, but the side airbag as it comes as a complete package and the harness is not sold separately. In this economy, I cannot afford to replace an entire perfectly good airbag for a simple wire, so I am stuck having to drive around knowing that my airbags will not deploy if I get into an accident or possibly deploy prematurely without any cause. I believe that this issue should be looked at, since it not only affects the 2000 model, but all models up to 2006. Volkswagen should be held accountable for selling a product designed for occupant safety, that fails before the rest of the vehicle.

Filed Nov 24, 2008 · Airbags · 40,800 miles · MN

Problem: chronic failure of driver's air bag circuit purchased february 2000. Since july 2004 we have had repeated (eight) repairs done in response to the airbag light illuminating continuously, indicating the air bag circuit is faulty and the air bag won't fire should an accident occur. Despite repeated repairs, twice completely replacing the wiring harness, and once replacing the airbag itself, the airbag light has illuminated again this week and a ninth repair is needed. All repairs have been done and documented by our vw dealer. To date repair costs exceed $1500. The problem continues to occur.

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Airbags · 111,370 miles · VA

Airbag system malfunction: airbag (SRS) system warning light illuminated in the instrumental panel, originally on 9/24/2001. Vw dealer stated driver's seat side airbag needed replacement due to an internal cause and was replaced on 10/2/2001 at 15365 miles. Airbag light illuminated again and system was serviced on 4/8/2003 where vw dealer repaired connection under driver's seat at 36405 miles. Recently, airbag light illuminated again and was serviced on 10/13/2008. The driver's seat was removed and dealer repaired connection to driver's seat side airbag at 111370 miles. If this problem were not repaired, the driver's seat side airbag would not have deployed in the event of a side collision. Vw dealer stated that numerous vw new beetles have had air bag connection repairs for the driver's seat side airbag. Vw dealer stated they put an "extension" on the connecting wire and this problem shouldn't occur again. Again, vw dealer stated the air bag system connection under the driver's side front seat appears to be a recurring problem. This concerns me because there is a recurring connection problem with the airbag system, which diminishes the air bag system?s safety and reliability during a collision. Vw should recall and repair new beetles with this airbag connection problem so that the airbag system will no longer malfunction due to a faulty wire connection. My local vw dealer stated the problem was remedied with a new ?extension? Part and the problem should no longer occur. If I had three malfunctions with my vehicle?s airbag system and my local dealer recognized this is a problem in my area, this may be a widespread, recurring problem among new beetles. Vw new beetle owners should be officially notified of this potential safety problem with the airbag system so that the proper repair can be made to the airbag system to ensure the safety of the driver in the event of a side collision.

Filed May 29, 2008 · Airbags · 22,000 miles · VA

2000 vw beetle has had 3 airbags installed since 2002. The vehicle has never been in an accident. The airbag light is illuminated again and therefore will not pass the virginia state inspection process.. Three letters sent to vw with no success. Vw customer care representative will not look into the airbag system on the 2000 vw beetle since the car is out of warranty. The first airbag issue started under warranty. The three airbags replaced to date has been 2 drivers and 1 passenger side airbag. The airbag light has been reset numerous times with no success without replacing an airbag.

Filed May 5, 2008 · Airbags · 12,000 miles · VA

I have a vw new beetle and the airbag light came on took my car to the dealer and they say it's not their problem and they want to charge 700 dollars to fix it but the car is expensive.