MyCarTSB

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Airbags Problems

14 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

14
Complaints
1
Recalls
2
Crashes
Jan 2023Dec 2020
Date Range

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

Airbags Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #15V483000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Owner Complaints (14)

criticalAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2025

Your airbag warning light came on in August 2023 and stayed on. When checked in 2025, the dealer found that both front crash sensors were unplugged or damaged, making your entire airbag system non-functional. This means your airbags wouldn't deploy in a crash, creating a serious safety risk you weren't aware of while driving for over two years. The repair will require the crash sensors to be replaced or reconnected and the airbag system to be fully tested and restored.

NHTSA #: 11691807
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2023

Passenger seat air bag light off light is on

NHTSA #: 11549199
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2023

Passenger air bag light is on saying off

NHTSA #: 11549201
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bags indicator warning alarm sounded as if there was a passenger seated in the seat. The passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.

NHTSA #: 11537775
mediumAIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jan 2023

Component Failure: Airbag Light is On, No steering wheel electronic controls work including cruise control. Safety: I'm uncertain if the Airbag will deploy in the event of a crash. Dealer Confirmed: Dealer states the Steering Wheel Clock Spring requires replacement, but that it is not a part of the VW recall issued August 2015. Inspected: Hiley VW Dealership inspected the vehicle Warning Lamps: Airbag Light is currently on. Uncertain when it started since I'm the 2nd owner of the vehicle.

NHTSA #: 11504479
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2022

Airbag malfunction indicator lamp has illuminated, horn is not funtional. Returned to Volkswagen dealership for diagnosis, prognosis being faulty "clock spring." Was previously indicated as repaired under recall exhibiting same symptoms some years previously but, problem has resurfaced and is persisting.

NHTSA #: 11468336
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2022

My car's clock spring has failed causing the driver side / steering wheel airbag connection to fail in my car. I see that many other VW's including many VW Jettas in the same year of manufacture had a recall for this exact issue but searching by my VIN does not show a recall. I am informed that I am currently about the 1600th (yes, 1600) person waiting for this part on back-order from VW. If needed, I will be happy to provide the information of the auto repair facility that has diagnosed the problem. I think this is quite a lot of circumstantial evidence of a likely product defect that should warrant investigation particularly because failure of this part disables the air bag safety system. This is even more troublesome considering the unknown delivery date of the part due to the backorder.

NHTSA #: 11460189
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 2022

The contact owned a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while making a left turn at 5 MPH, a motorcycle crashed into the passenger’s side of the vehicle at a high rate of speed. The driver’s side air bags did not deploy; however, the passenger side side-curtain air bags deployed and then deflated. The passenger sustained neck injuries and was taken by ambulance to seek medical attention. The motorcycle rider died on the scene. The emergency services arrived on scene to administer assistance to those injured on scene. The driver also sustained bruises after the radio and window glass struck her chest and was taken for further tests. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a junkyard and deemed totaled by the Insurance provider. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,600.

NHTSA #: 11456274
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2020

MY CAR WAS ALREADY RECALLED FOR AIRBAG SPRING ISSUE BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND STILL CONTINUE ON ALWAYS.

NHTSA #: 11384893
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Feb 2018

2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE IT WAS T-BONED CAUSING IT TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JS

NHTSA #: 10839452
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2016

MY WIFE MUST SIT ON AN EXTRA SEAT CUSHION IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. BUT WHEN SHE DOES THE AIR BAGS DEACTIVATE. SO AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY AROUND HER SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO SWITCH THE AIR BAGS ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO SWITCH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS ON SO THEY WILL DEPLOY IF THERE IS IMPACT.

NHTSA #: 10888047
mediumAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2016

AIRBAG LIGHT/SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD IS ALWAYS ON,CHARGING OUTLET NOT WORKING , VW LET US PAY $189.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WANT US TO PAY $500.00 FROM THE REFUND FOR THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO FIX THE AIRBAG PROB. THEY CLAIM IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING CHEWED BY RODENTS.

NHTSA #: 10862375
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 2015

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED IN UNDER 3 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VW IS REFUSING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A PART DEFECT ON THEIR END AND IS REQUIRING ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND IS GARAGE KEPT AND IN MINT CONDITION.

NHTSA #: 10747821
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jun 2015

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 5/27/15 AROUND SUNSET AND TWO DEER JUMPED OVER A BARBWIRE FENCE AT THE END OF ROUND HAY BALES. AT THIS TIME, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN I SEEN THEM, BARELY HAVING TIME TO STOMP ON MY BRAKES. I ESTIMATE I HIT THEM GOING AT LEAST 55 TO 60 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. I AM CONCERNED WITH WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY ESPECIALLY SINCE MY CAR IS POSSIBLY TOTALED. I HIT THE DEER FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY BUMPER TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR, SENDING THE HOOD INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SMASHING THE DRIVER SIDE BACK INTO THE DOORS. THE DAMAGES GO ON AND ON, THANKFULLY I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. BUT SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT THE MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED DO NOT REMOTELY TOUCH THE PAIN: NECK PAIN WITH NUMBNESS THAT COMES AND GOES TO MY HANDS, SEVERE BACK ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY BUTT, PELVIC PAIN WITH NUMBNESS TO MY BUTTOCKS, LEFT SIDED RIB PAIN WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH ESPECIALLY WITH TO MUCH EXERTION AND PAIN WITH DEEP BREATHES, LEFT KNEE/ANKLE PAIN AND THE INABILITY TO BEAR COMPLETE WEIGHT TO KNEE/ANKLE ALONG WITH SWELLING. SEVERE PAIN THAT SHOOTS DOWN BACK TO PELVIC WHEN BENDING OVER, INABILITY TO CROSS LEGS AND ANKLES WITHOUT CAUSING STABBING PAIN IN PELVIC AREA. AS A NURSE MYSELF, I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE MEANT TO DO SO I WOULD NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MANY ISSUES AS I DO NOW. THE PURPOSE OF AIRBAGS ARE TO PREVENT INJURIES AND SINCE MINE DID NOT DEPLOY, I'M SUFFERING SEVERELY WITH CONSTANT PAIN THAT KEEPS MY FROM SLEEPING WELL(CAUSING FATIGUE), THE INABILITY TO STAND OR SIT FOR A PROLONGED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND TO STAND IN CERTAIN POSITIONS.

NHTSA #: 10722824

Other 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Issues