Today, my daughter was driving our 2001 volkswagen jetta gls 1.8t down the road. The right side wheels went a few inches off the edge of the road. She remained straight and guided the car back onto the road. Once back on the road fully, the side airbag (driver's side) deployed. She was able to guide the car off the road to the shoulder. There was no impact with anything. There is no damage. The tires aren't even dirty. She received a welt on her left arm, (probably soon to be a bruise.) she has a ringing in her left ear and a reduction in hearing (probably temporary.) a very scary situation. It just happened today and I'm not certain what steps to take from here. I know it is a very costly repair to replace an airbag and I will be very nervous about my daughter driving this car on the highway if a minor bump in the road might set her airbag off and cause her to crash at 65 miles per hour.
2001 Volkswagen Jetta airbags complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 97, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving my 2001 jetta home after dropping my friend off at the airport, when out of no where deer jumped out onto the highway. I was driving at 80 miles an hour and did not have any time to react. I hit the deer, destroying the front of my car. The car wasn't in any condition to be driven, for the radiator had been destroyed. I was upset at the fact that my airbags weren't deployed. I'm glad that I was wearing a seatbelt, for I could have been seriously injured. I want to know if anything can be done, or should I contact a lawyer?
On a clear day, dry pavement, went to brake in city traffic and brakes failed causing me to rear end the car in front ( causing $2600 damages) and totalling my car. No injuries. Air bag did not deploy, possibly due to the low speed I was travelling.
Inadvertent passenger side airbag deployment: while driving along on the express way (I-495 w, long island, ny), my passenger-side airbag deployed for no reason. I did not come into contact with any other vehicle nor did I notice any debris hitting my vehicle at the time of the impact. Both the passenger side air curtain and passenger seat airbag deployed. Additionally, the engine cut off. Upon pulling over, I was able to start the vehicle without issue, and drive home.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. While driving the contact's vehicle hit something in the road and flattened the tire on the front passenger side. Three or four days later while driving 40- 45 MPH the driver's side air bag deployed. The current and failure mileages were unknown.
I was driving on the freeway going about 70 MPH when my driver side curtain airbag deployed for no reason. I pulled off the side of the road and called 911, the officer who came out told me that no damage was done to the tires or body of the car. There was no reason for this to have happened. I took it into the dealer they have sent pictures to vw and so far nothing has been done to fix this, which was 3 weeks ago!
As I was driving the passenger side airbags deployed for no apparent reason. I stopped to check for damage, did not see anything, and could not find anything in the road. Now I have a car with the headliner and front passenger seat blown apart. I took the car to the dealer for a diagnostic. They found a dent and told me that was the cause and I should report it to my insurance company to be covered under my collision. The insurance adjuster found the dent identified by the dealer showed signs of age and was not the cause. Making a judgment the presence of dirt, road grime and some surface rust suggested it was older damage. It was most likely caused by incorrectly adjusting the lift when work was done under the car. Finding no other damage that would cause deployment they closed the claim and my car was not repaired. Vw refuses to take responsibility.
Automobile accident involving tractor trailer. Car was hit directly on the drivers side, rear and front end of vehicle. Accident speed was 65 MPH. Two front airbags deployed but the drivers side curtain airbag did not. The air bag may have malfunctioned. The car was totaled. Driver sustained injuries to the left hemisphere of head. Reported to vw but have had no response.
Passenger airbag deployed with out any reasons at all. I was driving down a straight road, at 20 MPH when I heard a loud bang, and all of a sudden my car filled up with black smoke and the passenger curtain, seat and dashboard airbag all deployed. I quickly pulled over to see what happened. And was astonished to learn that not only was I not shot at ( because that's what it sounded like) but I didn't do anything to provoke this. I called vw they told me that it sounded like faulty wiring, and to bring it in asap, they would give me a loaner car, and it would take 3-5 days to fix. I did so, and 3 hrs after dropping off the car, I received a call from the manager saying, please come pick up your car, we will not fix it, your car has been in a car accident, you need to contact your insurance. Nw mind you I have had this car for 2 weeks, and there is not a dent on it! I was furious and confused. I argued with the guy stating that I had not hit anything, he said that the black box contained a hit code of some kind. That it registered that I was in a car accident. Well duh! Its defective! To make a long story short, I sued vw, and lost! They insisted that its "normal" for it to go off, said even if you happen to hit a small rock on the road and it hits just right, it will cause it to deploy! How safe is that!? Its been 2 years since that day and vw has refused to fix this issue, stating its my problem not theirs.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 25 MPH, the dashboard lights began to flicker on and off. Then, without an accident, the side curtain and seat airbags deployed on the driver's side. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to the dealership who was unable to determine the problem.
Ran over debris on interstate and seat side airbag deployed. Vehicle was repaired with new airbag and was replaced with new module and sensors. No injuries just ear ringing. Happened 2nd time going around a corner at approx. 35 miles an hour, seat side airbag deployed again resulting in loss of control of vehicle and severe burns to left arm. No repairs have taken place to vehicle yet.
I was making a right hand turn around 5 MPH. The passenger side curtain airbags and seat bag deployed unexpectedly. The passenger seat belt also no longer functions. There is no damage anywhere on the vehicle. Vwoa is looking into the problem.
Dt: while driving 60 MPH suddenly there was a flash followed by a loud bang. The smell was of smoke as if there was fireworks. The consumer pulled over immediately. The passenger's side air bags deployed. The consumer was startled and concerned. He called 911. There was no crash, damage, or injury other than the shock and loud noise ringing in the ears. 911 instructed the consumer to drive home if able or call for a tow truck. The consumer got out and inspected the vehicle and decided to drive home. There have been no previous problems with the airbags. The consumer was on a newly paved highway. The consumer felt this could not be due to a road hazard at that time. The consumer contacted volkswagen dealer, who said it was not their problem. The consumer contacted manufacturer, who said they did not have a problem or any issues like that with the airbags. No corrections or repairs have been made.
82,5310.00 just replaced the catalytic converter. We have always had some type of an electrical problem from the beginning. Cd player and stereo. Cd lcd panel would say no cd in which you would have a cd in the jacket if you kept pushing the button sometimes it would work. At times you can only read half the call letters for stations. Rolling down back of the windows you would hear a very loud pressure thumping noise. So loud you could not roll down the window in the back. When you would take the car in. Mechanic's always said, it was basically our imagination.
Dt: contact states the drivers' side curtain air bags deployed without a collision. The seat belt jammed and could not be latched after this incident occurred. There is a police report (#05-5207) states there was no evidence that the vehicle had an impact. The air bag light was not illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a service dealer and told to contact vw of america. She did fax the police report to the manufacturer and they agreed to repair the vehicle without cost. The service dealer could not find what caused the air bag to deploy. The consumer is still driving a rental car because the car has not been repaired. *nm a wheel and tie rod was replaced.
Since 05/29/05 I am seing air bag indicator on the panel (dash board), I contacted the dealer and scheduled appointment for a check. I also scheduled appointment for hazard switch recall. While checking the federal safety agency and other sites I came to know there are few other people who had similar situation and filled a complaint with the federal safety agency. So I would like to include my case with the federal safety agency so that if I will be informed if any recalls be done on this issue. I request the federal safety agency to act soon to have these recalled before any unwanted incidendents occur and before there are any major issues with this. Please keep me and others informed the progress of the case.
While parking the vehicle, the air bags deployed inadvertently. Owner says that the air bag light would came on and stayed on since monday 02/07/2005. Owner contacted the dealer and was told that the vehicle could not be seen for this defect until 02/23/2005. *jb *bf
Turn signal/emergency flash light failed, airbag warning light turned on and stayed on.
While driving vehicle hit a pot hole and the right side door air bag inadvertently went off. No injuries reported. Driver took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, but mechanic could not duplicate the problem.
On 4/5/05 @ 5:15pm.... My wife (driver), 11 month old daughter(rear facing car seat in back center), & I (front passenger) were at a complete stop at a traffic light. When we proceeded through the intersection (with cars in front/back of us) we hit a small pot hole after completing the left turn onto route 117. Once we hit this small pot hole, the passenger side airbags deployed (curtain & passenger seat bags) we immediately called the warwick police dept. Office theodore insisted that this had to be a malfunctioning air bag. Please note that there wasn't any other damage to the car... No flat tire... Nothing except for the malfunctioning airbags in the car having been deployed and caused interior damage to my car. I went to the vw dealer and they refused to repair the damage and suggested going through my insurance (liberty mutual), who also refused to pay for the repairs. Interior damage: ceiling panel, curtain airbag, passenger leather seat ripped and its airbag deployed. Car is currently at the dealer and I am not sure what to do at this point but I need the car to be repaired since we need it for transportation... So I may need to go ahead and have it repaired at my cost for now. (between $2,000 - $3,000 worth of damage).
The passenger side air bag deployed after running over a small pot hole at 15 MPH. Consumer has an appointment with the dealer to inspect the vehicle.
While driving 55 MPH driver's front/rear side air bags inadvertently deployed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Please refer to case/odi: 8022481; respectfully request case be reevaluated. Vw claims small ding on underside of vw jetta is to blame for side and seat airbag deployments. They are wrong and are trying to use this excuse to get out of numerous faulty airbag deployments. No vw experts could answer my specific technical questions. The owner's manual specifically states reasons for airbag deployments, and the small ding on the underside of my vehicle is a not a reason; instead it serves as an unsupported excuse. [jetta ride extremely low to ground; there will always be dings, marks, etc., for the vw corporation to use as an excuse.]
While driving 35 MPH, the side/front air bags inadvertently deployed . The dealership was notified. The cause was not determined. Please provide more information.
The air bag light is on and the dealer will replace the entire air bag at a cost to the consumer.
Complaint received via e-mail. My son-in-law last year was driving down the expressway and they just went off. Thank goodness no one was hurt. Had he had his kids in the car, lord only knows what would have happened. They live in toledo, ohio. They have since gotten it fixed out of their own pocket, and no cooperation by volkswagen of any kind. My son also has a jetta and it caused me concern for him and his wife also. They live in portland, oregon.
I just purchased in october a jetta gls 2001 car from the vw dealership in college park maryland. Last month while I was making a right hand turn, I hit the curb with my tire but no visible damage to my car was done nor another car involved. To my alarm, my airbag on my right front seat side deployed. I took this to the dealership and they said airbags don't go off there was an accident ect. They would not hear my complaint nor help me. Now I witnessed on the fox news that these jetta make/models have false airbag deployment and 109 cases have been reported. I want to be added to the list and also I want to file this complaint. This is not only a safety issue but an outrage. The dealership needs to fix my car. In fact, I have a 3 yr warranty on my car but the vw dealership told me to go through my insurance or pay $1900 for them to fix it.
2001 volkswagen jetta was impacted on th eside yet the side air bags failed to deploy.***no answer required***. *mr *tt
While driving smoke filled in car, flames appeared between driver seat & counsel. My 17 y/o got 2nd degree burns putting out flame. Airbag, driver side deployed while car was shut off and seat was being moved back. This caused pain to my husband's arm.
The consumer was involved in a frontal collision. Both frontal air bags failed to deploy. This caused the passenger to sustain major injuries and was taken to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. Please provide additional details.
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