The airbag light on the vehicle seems to be on all the time, there has been no reason for the light to be illuminated, the vehicle has not been in an accident. Apparently this airbag requires replacement at least once a year. It is possible that while the airbag light is on the vehicle will not deploy airbags in a crash. I have talked with several owners of vw beatles and all have had this problem. The last thing that should fail in a vehicle should be the airbag, and replacement is very expensive at $300 once a year. Replacement of a relay seems to repair the issue for a few months but is not a permanent repair as the symptoms return. Due to the fact that the vehicle odbc computer system will not display codes this cannot be repaired by non-manufacturer autoshops. Vw owners could really use some help here please look at the following site http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=205721&highlight=airbag for a listing of some of these problems.
2001 Volkswagen Beetle airbags complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 40 of 40, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2001 brand new beetle started developing stains on the seat from day one. Blue jeans and dark sweaters stain the interiors to that color everytime someone sits down in the car. The throttle body has gone out three times, costing me over countless dollars in repair fees and is now out for the fourth time. Crown volkswagen in tyler, tx has repaired it each time, the longest repair lasting about four months. They've paid for the repair once, but do not provide me with a replacement rental vehicle, refuse to pick up the phone during the day or return phone calls, and has cost me tons of time and money traveling from dallas to tyler to check on the car and pick it up. Once, I drove two hours from nacogdoches, tx to tyler, tx on the scheduled pick up day, having tried to call before leaving town to make sure it was ready, only to find that they hadn't gotten to the car when I arrived. This happened twice during the same repair which lasted a couple of weeks. They have been uncooperative, and the car is horrible. The arm rest broke one day as I lifted it, it just fell apart in my hands, the interior covering on the doors and dashboard flakes off, the sunroof broke numerous times while driving over a railroad track to get to work everyday. It finally jammed the visor so that it no longer works. The seat moving mechanisms no longer work. The airbag is in constant malfunction, the check engine and eps lights are always on. I constantly have to pull my car over onto the side of the road because it loses power and I have to restart it to get it to work again, although it never has a lot of power. This particular issue has nearly caused several wrecks. I am incredibly lucky. The cruise control no longer works, and it takes about 200 dollars a month to fill it up with gas because the engine problems effect the fuel efficiency.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen new beetle. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer stated that the air bag switch was connected to the seat belt, which caused the light to illuminate. The air bag was not covered under the warranty. The repair costs were over $500. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 88,540. * updated 12/12/07 *bf updated 12/12/07
Air bag light on for 2nd time since aug 2006 when car was bought used. Newbeetle.org members all have had the same problem and I keep getting charged to read code and turn off the light because it's an "intermittent" code. I'm tired of driving around a vehicle knowing the air bags will not deploy if I get into an accident.
Air bag light came on. Took to dealer. The driver side airbag is defective and needs replaced. For $780 they replaced the airbag and wiring harness. This airbag was defective and should be replaced under warranty. This is a life safety issue and volkswagen is responsible!
Air bag light came on. Took to dealer. The driver side airbag is defective and needs replaced. For $780 they replaced the airbag and wiring harness. This airbag was defective and should be replaced under warranty. This is a life safety issue and volkswagen is responsible!
2001 volkswagen beetle airbag warning light suddenly illuminated. *kb the dealer determined the air bag was defective, however no repairs were performed, because the warranty had expired.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5o MPH the front part of the vehicle hit against a tree. The driver and the passenger air bags deployed however only the driver was in the vehicle. The end of the left side of the passenger air bag hit the driver's face causing permanent facial damage (acute recession glaucoma). The car was deemed totaled.
Air bag dashboard light came on. Only a volkswagen dealer has the equipment to diagnose the problem and tell me what needs to be done. The dealer will not look at my car unless I give them $100. Is this not price gouging? No automobile diagnosis with that expensive. It will not take but a few minutes to hook the computer up to the car and spit out a reason for the airbag light. So, I can pay them $100 to tell me what the problem is or I can ride around without airbags. This type of extortion should not be allowed.
The air bag light illuminated while driving at 55 MPH. Vehicle was taken to the dealer. Diagnostic test showed that the passenger's air bag was defective, and the problem was not covered under a recall.
Consumer clipped the curb with the right front tire and the driver's side air bag deployed. Dealer estimated a charge of $1,400 to make the repairs.
Wire broken on seat belt light and air bag.
Consumer felt that the airbags and seat belts should not be hooked up together. Both airbags and seat belts were inoperable.
Consumer was involved in a rear end collision. Upon impact, driver's air bag failed to deploy.
I have 21,500 miles on my 2001 vw beetle, has been in the shop aprox 6 times for the same problem, car hesitates and stalls out as check engine light is a constant on, dealership cannot find the problem, my wife and I were almost killed in vehicle due to stalling out in front of fast moving traffic, I let them know that this vehicle was an endanger to my and my families life while driving and would like this vehicle towed in, and since was an on going problem also needed a rental car and the dealership and volkswagen of america both refused on both accounts, because of the bitter taste in my mouth for vw. I no longer want this car.
The air bag light in the vehicle was coming on and staying on. The dealer has replaced the air bags four times. After the last time, the light continued to come on. The dealer could not find the problem, but simply reset the air bag light. The manufacturer is aware of the problem.
New beetle 2001: VIN#[xxx] e air bag system keeps failing. 7 repair attempts have been made by vw authorized repair representatives. Vw has not identified the root cause of the problem.*ak vw made me an $2,000.- trade-in allowance offer (against the purchase of a new vw). If traded, this car would very likely be re-sold to a consumer with the dealers full knowledge of the safety problem as vw refuses to take this car off the market place. What should I do ?? Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
While traveling on the highway air bag light appeared on the dashboard and will not go off until the vehicle is shut down.
The vehicle was in a side collision and was impacted at 45 MPH. None of the air bags deployed upon impact. *nlm ph
Consumer called complaining while driving the vehicle at 40mph had an accident, car slippery driver loss control and hit rail guard bridge, and neither of the air bags deploy. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts
Air bag did not deploy but car was totaled when it burst into flames after it rear ended car in front of it. Paid extra money for fire safety features on this car but it started on fire anyway. This is my daughters car and she was driving at the time. Dt
While driving, right front tire experienced a blowout, the passenger side air bag then deployed, there was a scratch on the wheel, no specific tire information given, claim 53-c850-661.
While driving, another vehicle ran consumer off the road, causing consumer to run over a curb, the passenger side seat air bag deployed, claim 43-r829-345.
The consumer had a side impact accident, but the passenger side air bag failed to deploy resulting in a serious injury to the passenger. *yh the consumer stated the belt tensioner deployed which caused his increased acceleration over the normal forces .
While driving 55 MPH and rolling over some pieces of tire tread on road driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed. Dealer has been notified. Please give any further details.
Dealer says air bag must be replaced. Never deployed. Should it not last longer.
While driving on a bridge at 50 MPH was involved in a collision and air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained injuries. Please provide any futher information.
While driving 50 MPH was involved in an accident, and air bags did not deploy. Manufacturer has been notified, and requested consumer to take vehicle to dealer to receive a diagnostic check.
While driving 40mph the car hit gravel/ spet off the side of road, and caused passenger's side to hit a tree. Neither driver's side nor passenger's side airbags deployed. Vehicle has been declared totaled.
Was driving 40mph and another vehicle turned in front of volkswagen. Other vehicle was "t" boned. Upon impact, neither air bags deployed. Driver suffered minor injuries & had emergency treatment.
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