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1999 Volkswagen Jetta Airbags Problems

22 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

22
Complaints
14
Crashes
Feb 2003Dec 2002
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (22)

mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2008

TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY AIRBAG LIGHT CHECKED, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD CLEAR IT. IT WAS CLEARED, THEN POPPED UP AGAIN AND HAS SINCE THEN STAYED ON. *TR

NHTSA #: 10230396
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2005

CAR ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB

NHTSA #: 10140515
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Nov 2004

MY FRIEND HAD AN AUTOMOBLE ACCIDENT LAST WEEK AND HIS CAR'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HE DID HIT THE GUARDRAILS HEAD-ON AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED HE WANTED ME TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ABOUT THIS HIS CAR WAS A VW JETTA '99 I'M SURE THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN THIS WRECK . *AK

NHTSA #: 10100556
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2003

I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT ABOUT 40MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR RECEIVED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE AND HIT ALL 3 AIRBAG SENSORS. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD ITS AIRBAGS DEPLOY AND IT WAS A TOYOTA.

NHTSA #: 10007947
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT CAUSED A CHAIN OF REACTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA #: 8024134
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL AND A REAR COLLSION BY HITTING A DITCH AT 40-50 MPH. VEHICLE SPINS ON TWO OCCASION AND HIT THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA #: 8021705
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2002

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 40MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.** *JB. *AK

NHTSA #: 8021225
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2002

THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD CAME ON.THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $700.00 TO REPAIR . I WAS INFORMED THAT WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION.THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN CRASHED AND IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW SHOULD ADDRESS AND REPAIR.R.*AK

NHTSA #: 767254
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jun 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA #: 762908
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2002

I PURCHASED MY '99 JETTA NEW. AFTER APPRX 7 DAYS THE AIRBAG WARNING ILLUMINATED FOR NO REASON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY HAD A DIFFICULT TIME DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THEY DID GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF, BUT AFTER A WEEK IT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK A SECOND TIME, AND THIS TIME THE KEPT IT FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY DECIDED IT WAS A SESOR, THEN CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER 2 WEEKS THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. SEVERAL MECHANICS WARNED ME AGAINST DRIVING IT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, CITING A POSSIBLE DEFECT. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF UNTILL ABOUT THE 20,000 MILE MARK. IT WENT ON AND I TOOK IT IN, THEY FIXED IT WITHOUT MUCH EXPLAINATION. NOW AT 54,000 IT IS ON AGAIN. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT WHICH MIGHT PREVENT MY AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. BEFORE NOW, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ONLY COST WAS TIME AND EFFORT. NOW I MUST PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, A RENTAL CAR AND TO ACTUALLY HAVE IT REPAIRED, ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME THING WITH LITTLE HELP FROM VOLKSWAGEN OR THE DEALER. I WAS HOPING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THERE MAY BE A POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SENSOR, WIRE HARNESS OR THE AIRBAG ITSELF. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA #: 760481
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2002

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASBOARD BECAME ILLUMINATED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT VW'S NEED SUPPLEMENTAL WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED IN STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTION AS SHIPPPED FROM THE FACTORY. DEALER SAYS "MOST" VW NEW JETTAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND CHARGED $90 TO INSTALL NEW CONNECTOR. IF THIS IS TRUE SHOULDN'T VW HAVE TO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY SYSTEM? NLM

NHTSA #: 759829
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: May 2001

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA #: 887230
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 2000

I HAVE EXPERIENCED 4 PART FAILURES, EACH ON MY AIRBAG SYSTEM ON MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE FIRST PART FAILURE OCCURED ON MAY 28, 1999 AND SUBSEQUENT PART FAILURES OCCURED AS FOLLOWS: 7-30-1999, 2-23-2000 AND 7-11-2000. WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURANCE, MY CAR WAS DELIVERED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 11, 2000 AND THE MAINTENANCE WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL AUGUST 4, 2000 DUE TO THE UNAVAILIBILITY OF THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THIS DEFECT, AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT MY DEALERSHIP HAS EXHAUSTED THEIR EFFORTS IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. WITH THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, I FEEL THAT MY VEHICLE MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE "LEMON LAW". AT THIS TIME I AM REQUESTING THAT I RECEIVE A REPLACMENT VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA #: 727118
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Aug 2000

THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH-SPEED, FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN IT WAS CLIPPED FROM THE SIDE AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. IT CRASHED HEADLONG INTO A VAN GOING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH. THE IMPACT SENT THE CAR BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET BEFORE IT SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO A HALT. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS SEVERELY DAMAGE--$7,000--AND THE ENGINE MAY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AS MUCH AS 2 INCHES. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE TO GUARANTEE THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD PERFORM PROPERLY ONCE THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN ON 7/27/00. ON 8/1/00 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM "DAVID." I PHONE BACK ON 8/2/00. AFTER EXPLAINING THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT TO DAVID, HE TOLD ME IN ADVANCE THAT HIS "PRODUCT LIASON TEAM" WOULD PROBABLY CONCLUDE THAT THE CRASH DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA REQUIRED TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. I EXPRESSED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE NO ONE FROM VOLKSWAGEN HAD EXAMINED OR PLANNED TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. HE TOLD ME THAT WE COULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER OURSELVES (IT IS NOT DRIVEABLE) AND THEY COULD ANALYZE THE COMPUTER DATA ONBOARD RE. THE CRASH CONDITIONS. THIS WAS ALL THEY COULD OFFER US. ALL WE WERE SEEKING WAS AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER SUCH SEVERE CRASH CONDITIONS, AND A GUARANTEE THAT WHATEVER NEEDED TO BE DONE TO ASSURE THEY WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY VOLKSWAGEN OR ITS DEALER. BOTTOMLINE, IN A HIGH-SPEED, FRONT END COLLISION, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA #: 726417
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Apr 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN INTERSECTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT, AND RAMMED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM SIDE .CAR WAS COMPLETLEY TURNED AROUND INTO THE STREET, AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA #: 860219
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 2000

IT WAS RAINING AND CONSUMER SLID INTO REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR AT 25MPH. HOOD BENT AND CAME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA #: 858725
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Nov 1999

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA #: 850397
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Sep 1999

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AFTER BEING REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER . THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA #: 848066
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 1999

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AIRBAG LIGHT COMES AND SHUTS DOWN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA #: 844554
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jun 1999

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40MPH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA #: 839185
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: May 1999

CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT & BROADSIDED VOLKSWAGEN.DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INVESTIGATOR & VOLKSWAGEN PERSONNEL INSPECTED VEHICLE. VEHICLE BELOW THRESHOLD FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA #: 835902
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 1999

WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FROM A GREEN LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED THE RED LIGHT, STRICKING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE WHERE NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOT PROTECTING PASSENGER AND *AK

NHTSA #: 835215

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