Fault found with airbag. Clockspring located in steering wheel has connection for airbag. Igniter could corrode and cause airbag to fail in event of head on collision.
1999 Volkswagen Passat airbags problems
21 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 55,000. 4 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 21
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 55,000
- crashes
- 4
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Frontal5
- Side/window3
- Frontal: sensor/control module1
- Frontal: driver side: inflator module1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Volkswagen Passat airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Volkswagen Passat airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Passenger air bag lid failure
This investigation involves the volkswagen (vw) passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) lid utilized in my 1998-2002 vw passat.the psir lid may detach from the instrument panel during air bag deployment.the office of defects investigation (odi) of the federal safety agency opened the preliminary evaluation on may 23, 2003 to determine whether alleged psir lid detachment presents an unreasonable safety risk to passengers in the vehicle.odi?s investigation reveals that detachment of the psir lid during air bag deployment may occur for two reasons: 1) the shape of the psir lid, and the length of the attaching tether, may snag the air bag during deployment applying additional pressure on bolts that fasten the lid to the instrument panel (ip); and/or 2) the original psir lid design (subject vehicles) utilized six grade 4.8 mm carbon steel tack weld bolts which may not be as strong as the new design psir lid consisting of six grade 8.8 mm carbon steel press bolts that are heat treated.odi concludes that detachment of the psir lid is a defect because the lid should remain attached to the ip after deployment of the airbag.however, after analyzing vw?s responses, and test data collected by vw and faurecia, the psir lid supplier, odi believes that further investigation would not likely identify a safety-related defect trend because a detached psir lid and parts do not project towards a passenger during deployment of the airbag.the test data shows that the airbag pushes a detached psir lid upwards into the windshield during deployment, and away from the passenger compartment.it is highly unlikely that a passenger would contact the psir lid or associated parts during air bag deployment.therefore this engineering analysis (ea 03-020) is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. For a detailed discussion of the psir lid and testing, see the attached report.
EA03020
Passenger sir door mounting stud failure
Odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-021) based on two reports of failed bolt studs that attach the passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) door cover to the instrument panel (ip) on the volkswagen (vw) passat (model years 2000, 2002).vw has indicated to odi that it has no additional reports.vw implemented a process change on march 1, 2002.this process change consisted of changing the bolt application that fastens the psir door to the ip from a weld on application to a press on application.vw also changed the material of the bolt.vw stated that the changes were made to ease production by eliminating a welding process.odi has upgraded its investigation to engineering analysis (ea03-020).
PE03021
What 1999 Volkswagen Passat owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen passat. Immediately after the vehicle was serviced by the dealer, it was then serviced by an auto detailer. The air bag indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit. When the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic for inspection, he was informed that the issue could not be repaired. A volkswagen dealer stated that the air bag light was illuminated because there was too much resistance in the wiring for the air bags. They further stated that the contact would have to replace the air bags. The vehicle has four air bags: two in the instrument panel and two in the seat backs. The cost to repair them would be $600 per air bag. The contact refused the repair. The vehicle has never been involved in a crash and the air bags have never deployed. The contact feels that the failure should be volkswagen's responsibility. The failure mileage was 98,000 and current mileage was 106,000.
1999 passat engine seized due to a oil pump failure. *ts the consumer had the oil leak repaired on 5 different occasions. The consumer had other problems with the vehicle such as a faulty drive shaft, right cv joint, the glove compartment latch, the control knob for the side view mirrors, the heater control unit, engine control unit, water pump seal rings, a power steering leak which was had to be fixed twice, the coolant pump, o-rings and the oil pump and pump rod bearings. There is a noise coming from the rear right wheel, oil is leaking from the valve covers.
1999 volkswagen passat tie rods and driver side airbag were bad. *kb the vehicle was taken to the dealer for it's 40000 miles checkup when the problems were found. The air bag light was on when the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The consumer contacted the manufacturer but since the vehicle was no longer under warranty they refused to pay for any of the repairs. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair facility. The independent tech could not repair the air bag therefore the air bag light was still illuminated. The consumer looked on the internet and found out that 1999 passats were recall for tie rod issues in 1999 and notification were sent out in october 1999, one month before the consumer purchased her vehicle. The consumer also found several complaints in reference to the air bag light illuminating.
Loose airbag igniter connection under the steering wheel, causing the airbag system to deactivate itself. This incident is frequent as reported by many owners on various online forums (audiworld, vwvortex, usenet newsgroups, etc). An internet search on "airbag igniter: driver side resistance too high" on google returned numerous reporting on this issue. In my particular instance, this has happened on both a 1999 vw passat 1.8t/20v and a 2000 vw golf 1.9l tdi.
Air bag light came on and did not go out. Repaired and recurred eight times. *bf
While driving the air bag warning light continuously illuminated on the dashboard. As a result, air bags became inoperative, and wouldn't deploy when needed. Dealership inspected vehyicle at least 10 times, and lately dealer charged to the consumer every time vehicle had a problem.*ak
Air bag warning light stayed illuminated while driving. This was caused by a bad sensor that rendered the air bags inoperative.
When maintenance was being performed on the vehicle, the air bags deployed. *jb
Airbag fault indicator stays illuminated. Dealer indicates that the passenger side, side-airbag sensor is bad. Vehicle has never been in an accident. Normal wear and tear. Only routine maintenance performed, with the execption of passenger side door trim replaced after adhesion failed. The radio has poor fm reception and no am reception. I only include this information because another consumer complaint (odi id: 840263) has indicated similar symptoms.
Questions about the 1999 Volkswagen Passat airbags
Does the 1999 Volkswagen Passat have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the airbags of the 1999 Volkswagen Passat, 3% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Passat airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 55,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Volkswagen Passat airbags?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Volkswagen Passat have bad airbags?
The Volkswagen Passat model years with the most airbags complaints are 2013 (382 complaints), 2014 (354 complaints) and 2012 (296 complaints).
Other 1999 Volkswagen Passat problems
Brakes 233Suspension 118Engine 88Steering 76Electrical 58Visibility 33Acceleration 32Fuel system 29Transmission 29Lights 16Tires 12Body 11Seats 10Seat belts 4Locks 3Driver assistance 1Wheels 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1999 Volkswagen Passat?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history