Air bag light is on. The left front seat belt buckle is the cause of the light being on. Apparently the sensor in the buckle is defective.
2003 Volkswagen Beetle airbags complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 60 of 60, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. The contact noticed that the air bag sensor light illuminated on the instrument panel. The light remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was due to a loose electrical connector for the driver's side air bag. The recall repair was performed incorrectly. On three separate occasions, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for the same failure, but with no resolutions. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved with the air bag deployment. The federal safety agency campaign id number was unknown. The failure mileage was 15,000 and current mileage was 45,000.
Air bags light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer two times on nov 15,2005 cause:00591 lt side belt switch it was replaced. On dec/12/ 20007 the test diagnostic and confirm fault cod 00591,drivers seat belt switch faulty. Estimate fore service $472.00 I had to declined .if they replaced it two years ago it shouldn't have the same problem.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. When the engine was started, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The light illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the air bag sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was excluded from the recall, although the failures were identical. The failure mileage was 83,000 and current mileage was 85,000. Update 09/10/08 *cw updated 09/15/08.
The vehicle has less than 47,000 miles on it and the airbag sensor light came on. This airbag has never been used or deployed. It is not damaged and the vehicle has been maintained properly. I was informed by the dealer that it is a defective airbag and I would have to pay over $700 for a new airbag. I believe the dealer should be responsible for the replacement if they equipped the vehicle with a defective airbag.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible. The contact stated that the air bag light in his vehicle would illuminate while driving various speeds. The dealer replaced the passenger side air bag due to resistance in the warning light; however, the failure recurred. He took the vehicle back to the dealer a total of eight times. The most recent time the vehicle was taken to the dealer was in december of 2006 and the light turned off. In july of 2008, the light illuminated again. The contact consulted the manufacturer about the federal safety agency campaign id number 08v178000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module), but they claimed to have no knowledge of the recall. The recall was scheduled to begin on approximately july 31, 2008. The contact is currently waiting for someone from volkswagen to call back. The current mileage was approximately 65,000 and failure mileage was 5,694.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, which indicated that the air bag system was inoperative. She took her vehicle to the dealer and a technician reset the air bag sensors. Immediately after the repair, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the sensors needed to be replaced at the discounted price of $250. The manufacturer stated that because the recall for the federal safety agency campaign id number 08v178000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module) does not begin until july 31, 2008, the contact would have to pay for the repairs. The current and failure mileages were 32,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible. While driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated, which instructed the contact to stop the vehicle. He called the dealer and was advised to bring the vehicle in for repair. At 27,680 miles, the dealer identified the failure with the air bag crash sensor. They replaced the front passenger side crash sensor and two windows. The failure recurred at 27,680 miles and the manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 08v178000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module). The contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 41,297. Updated 07/08/08. *bf updated 07/03/08.
Frontal air bag crash sensor is bad barley out of warranty . I have read about this problem alot on the internet and believe this should be a recall by volkswagen's it is a safety issue.
I own a 2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible. It had multiple failures while still under warranty that were never particularly corrected. Would go out and car would not start - completely dead. Batteries were replaced, alternator was replaced, something with the stereo system was replaced, etc. This happened many times over the course of two years, from approximately 2005 to 2007. I could provide specifics if necessary since I have all receipts. It sometimes happened within a week of getting the car back from the previous "repair." needless to say it has been very frustrating, and we will never purchase another vw. The reason I am just now writing is because my local newspaper had a small paragraph mentioning that the federal safety agency is investigating a possible crash sensor malfunction in the airbag system. I have had to replace both of the sensors at my own expense since the car is no longer under warranty. The airbag indicator light first came on in june 2007 and the driver's side front crash sensor was replaced. Just a short time later, september 2007, the airbag indicator light came on again. This time they told me it was the passenger side crash sensor that need to be replaced. These repairs cost me roughly $1000 out of pocket. I think the federal safety agency would like to be aware of this as part of the investigation. Thank you very much. Ps: while listing "failures" below I will stick with just the two airbag failures and only provide info on other electrical problems if requested to do so. *tr crash sensor.pco
The air bag warning light is illuminated. I had it checked out and the dealer said the sensor was broken and needed repair. They said the air bag would not activate with the switch inoperable. I paid big$$$ ($391)to have this repair performed. *tr crash sensor.pco
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new beetle. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the air bags:frontal:sensor/control module failed and needed to be replaced. One year prior to the failure, the contact replaced the frontal air bag sensor. The vehicle was repaired, but a formal complaint was not made with the manufacturer. The contact is in possession of the failed component. The failure mileage was 44,500 and current mileage was 45,439. Crash sensor.pco
I was involved in a crash while driving my 2003 vw beetle convertible. I was unable to brake and avoid a semi-truck that was in directly in front of me. I was traveling at a speed between 30-40 MPH but did lose conscience so am not sure if remember exactly how fast I was going. My airbag did not deploy and my seat belt did not lock causing my face to slam directly into the steering wheel. The passenger side airbag which contained no passengers nor items did deploy. I suffered facial fractures and a broken nose. My fractures have healed but my nose needs to be reconstructed. My car was serviced at a collision center and then sent to the autobarn in countryside, il where the car was bought used in august of 2006. The car was returned to me on dec 27 but no explanation was given for the airbag not deploying. The transmission was also not working properly so I returned the car for additional service a few days later. The car was finally returned to me 2 weeks later with a new transmission but still no explanation for the airbag. Upon leaving the autobarn on january 17 with my car, the air bag light turned on and stayed on while I drove about 10 miles. I returned the car the next day and the service department stated the light did not go on for them and offered again no explanation.
Air bag safety sensor for airbags to deploy went out. And was not cover $591.00. To replace sensor switch. *tr dup
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. While driving 55 MPH, the air bag light illuminated. The dealer stated that the frontal driver side crash sensor caused the failure. The consumer replaced the crash sensor and there had been no further occurrences. The failure mileage was 39,268 and current mileage was 39,278. Updated 01-15-08. *kb the dealer would not cover the cost. Updated *jb SRS.pco
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt buckle was s defective ,and the air bag light constantly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times , and numerous diagnostics were performed. Currently, the cause of failure has not been found. The failure has been occurring since september 11, 2004. The current mileage is 59,500 , and failure mileage was 22,651.*ak SRS.pco
I test drove several vw new bettles prior to purchasing one. In many of them the air bag light indicator remained on. Is this a problem that you are aware of? Have there been recall on this?
Tl* - the contact's air bag warning light turned on after the vehicle reached 51,000 miles. The contact took vehicle to a volkswagen dealer and was told that the computer controller for the air bag system needed to be replaced by the owner at a cost of $1000. The contact stated that on december 27, 2006, while driving at 55 MPH ,the right side passenger's air bag / curtain deployed for no reason, bruising a passenger in the car. The weather at the time the air bag deployed was nice. The contact stated that he wanted to pursue volkswagen to get air bag repaired and working properly. The contact stated that volkswagen should pay for the repair.
Dt: the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated while driving and making a left hand turn the consumer heard a loud popping sound from the right front area. The consumer lost control of the vehicle; applied the brakes and hit the curb. The consumer began to accelerate to avoid hitting a light pole. This did minimize the hitting of the light pole. Upon impact, the front air bags deployed. The only impact on the vehicle was above the right front tire. The service dealer was not willing to cooperate because there was nothing to determine the cause of the accident. The consumer has contacted the manufacturer, and they will respond within 24 hours. *ak
2003 new beetle convertible. The car is less than two years old and the airbag light has turned on for no reason three times. (it stays on.) in sept '04 dealer replaced a crash sensor; in oct '04 dealer replaced the airbag; in may '05 dealer replaced crash sensor again. Srs.pco
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