Seven problems related to air bag have been reported for the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The light on my dash came on for the drivers airbag and had it checked by the dealer March, 2010 for my 2001 vw Beetle 1. 9 diesel. I was told the chip in the seat belt had gone bad needs to be replaced. Approx. $175. 00 the service dept. Called vw and they could not tell me if my defective chip in the seatbelt will deploy upon impact. 50% chance it might. I have noticed all the $ I have put into this car vw generally is not on the recall lists for anything. Also, the headlight bulbs generally burn out every year and they need to be replaced. Vw doesn't tell how to change the bulbs in the manual. Had to go to the dealer to show how to change a light bulb which I feel is a safety issue. I will not buy another vw because they do not back up their product. Also I know this my be old information but I didn't know where I could report this until I saw something in the paper. I don't know many other vw's out there are with this type of problem but I have talked to vw complaint dept. And all they told me is that they go off of dealers records. I really don't believe it because some of the problems I have had either does n't change for fixing or vw fixes some of the problems in the next models coming out of which I am stuck with the problem. No help from vw.
: the contact stated while driving 5o mph the front part of the vehicle hit against a tree. The driver and the passenger air bags deployed however only the driver was in the vehicle. The end of the left side of the passenger air bag hit the driver's face causing permanent facial damage (acute recession glaucoma). The car was deemed totaled.
Consumer felt that the airbags and seat belts should not be hooked up together. Both airbags and seat belts were inoperable.
I have 21,500 miles on my 2001 vw Beetle, has been in the shop aprox 6 times for the same problem, car hesitates and stalls out as check engine light is a constant on, dealership cannot find the problem, my wife and I were almost killed in vehicle due to stalling out in front of fast moving traffic, I let them know that this vehicle was an endanger to my and my families life while driving and would like this vehicle towed in, and since was an on going problem also needed a rental car and the dealership and Volkswagen of America both refused on both accounts, because of the bitter taste in my mouth for vw. I no longer want this car.
Consumer called complaining while driving the vehicle at 40mph had an accident, car slippery driver loss control and hit rail guard bridge, and neither of the air bags deploy. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts.
New Beetle 2001: VIN#3vwbk21c11m426959 e air bag system keeps failing. 7 repair attemps have been made by vw authorized repair representatives. Vw has not identified the root cause of the problem. Vw made me an $2,000. - trade-in allowance offer (against the purchase of a new vw). If traded, this car would very likely be re-sold to a consumer with the dealers full knowledge of the safety problem as vw refuses to take this car off the market place. What should I do ??.
While driving, another vehicle ran consumer off the road, causing consumer to run over a curb, the passenger side seat air bag deployed, claim 43-r829-345.