Side/window Air Bag problems of the 2003 Volkswagen GTI

Seven problems related to side/window air bag have been reported for the 2003 Volkswagen GTI. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 02/01/2009

Driving to school and was about to pull into the school when I was cut off, swerved out of the way and went on to the curb at an angle to where it only hit the front right tire. I quickly came down and my side curtain airbags deployed. I was going about 30 but slowed down to about 10 mph right before impact. I have hit potholes harder and nothing happens. Seems like a clear malfunction my friend was hit by the airbag, but suffered no serious injuries. The only exterior damage was that I got a leak in my right front tire and had to get it replaced.

2 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 08/04/2008

Driver side air bags deployed while I was driving 70mph down I 75 n in ohio. I did not hit, clip or graze another vehicle. Clear malfunction, have pictures to prove it. Luckily it was 5:30am Monday August 4th, 2008 and there were few cars on the road.

3 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 12/01/2006

Was driving the speed limit down interstate 5 in washington, adhering to the speed limit. When my passenger curtain airbag and side seat air bag deployed for no apparent reason. It is a 2003 Volkswagen Gti. My friend sitting in the passenger seat was bruised up rather neatly.

4 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 11/01/2005

I was making a left turn across a major highway. Pulled into the lane of traffic when an oncoming car moved into my lane. I was traveling around 20 mph, and consequently slowed to approximately 10 mph. In avoiding the car I turned left and the drivers side of the car hit a curb. The car drove up onto the curb and then quickly off of it. It was not a direct impact, the curb was hit at an angle. The curtain and side airbags both fired on the driver side. There was no significant deceleration, and I have hit pothole harder than this impact and the airbags did not deploy. The car is currently begin evaluated by my local dealer.

5 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 07/09/2005

I was driving at 15 mph and hit a pothole. All of a sudden my passenger side airbags deployed along with the passanger side seat airbag. There is no damage to the car what so ever. There was no reason for the airbags to deploy imagine airbags depolying every time someone ran over a pothole. . Read more...

6 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 01/13/2005

Consumer was driving at 5 mph and struck a pot hole and side door air bags deployed. Also, side window malfunctioned, and seat recliner broke.

7 Side/window Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 10/17/2003

Hit a curb at a low rate of speed ( less than 5mph) and driver side side impact air bag deployed. Only external damage to car was flat tire.


Other Air Bag related problems of the 2003 Volkswagen GTI



Safety Ratings of GTI Cars
Fuel Economy of GTI Vehicles
GTI Service Bulletins
GTI Safety Recalls
GTI Defect Investigations