Side/window Air Bag problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta - part 1

Driver side air bag deployment, no apparent reason. Driver side curtain air bags deployed at 35 mph no apparent reason. Injured driver with burns and ringing in ear.

I was driving up olney st. In providence, ri when all of a sudden without notice the side airbag curtain and waist side seat air bag deployed without and impact.

2003 vw Jetta tdi spontaneous/unintended passenger side airbag (seat) and side curtain air bag (window) deployment. While driving on freway s880 hayward,CA at 65mph on Mar 01 2011. Passenger side, side curtain airbags deployed. There was no collision, impact with road debris or rough pavement involved. It will be reported to dealership. Seeking repair ears ringing, smoke, engine shut off coast to side of road air out smoke and engine was able to start. Stopped one mile down road and report to chp on side of road at a street. This happened at 9:25pm on my way to work.

Driver started from a stopped position, ran over curb between 5-10 mph, side airbags deployed.

My husband was driving on route 87 in new york when without warning the driverside airbags in our 2003 Jetta deployed without warning. No lights where on or any impact or crash.

2003 vw Jetta: spontaneous/unintended passenger side, side curtain air bag deployment. While driving subject car on may 5, 2010, passenger side, side curtain airbags deployed. There was no collision, impact with road debris or rough pavement involved. Reported to dealership. Seeking repair of same.

My husband was driving my car over railroad tracks when the passenger side airbags deployed and the car shut off. Fortunately my husband was driving slow and no one was injured. My vw dealership instructed me to contact my insurance agent. They conducted an investigation and found no evidence of collision and refused to cover damages. Then I brought the car to vw and they discovered some undercarriage damage and informed my insurance agency. Upon re-investigation of the car the insurance decided that they would now cover the damages that are estimated at around $5,000 but I have a $500 deductible and my premiums will now go up. As far as I am concerned railroad tracks should not deploy airbags and I should absolutely not be responsible for any costs related.

2003 vw Jetta - side and window airbags deployed on passenger side while car was parked overnight. No visible signs of impact to cause airbags to deploy. Will have to have new airbags put back in at approximate cost of $2,500. If deployed while vehichle moving could be a dangerous situation. Vw told us going over a pothole can also cause them to deploy.

Driving home from work when the passenger seat air bag and the passenger window air bag just went off for now reason while I was driving. I did not hit anything and nothing hit my car.

Vehicle passenger side curtain and seat airbags deployed unexpectedly when driver encountered minor pot hole in road. There was no exterior damage to the car or wheels due to the pot hole. Driver paid out of pocket (and via insurance) to replace airbag system. Volkswagen acknowledges no responsibility for faulty system or repairs. Driver suffered potentially permanent hearing damage due to blast of airbag deployment.

The consumer was driving a 2003 Jetta GLS traveling at a speed of about 35mph when the driver side airbags "curtains and seat airbags" spontaneously deployed. There was no impact to the vehicle that would have caused the airbags to deploy. After conducting extensive research on 2002-2004 Jettas, this seems to be a major issue that is not being recognized by vw of America.

Was driving to a movie theater and a was doing about 25 mph and I hit a small pot hole in the road and my passenger side seat and curtain airbags deployed there no dents no crash nothing at all.

The 2003 Volkswagen Jetta station wagon was parked in a parking lot which was landscaped with 3. 5-inch high belgian block curbs. From a parked position and at a dead stop the car was driven at almost no speed so that the right front tire climbed one of the belgian block curbs. The driver was alone in the car. As the right front tire climed the belgian block curb the passenger's seatback side-thorax airbag and the passenger's side airbag deployed. There was significant airbag which caused damage to the interior of the car, but there was absolutely no evidence of any damage to any part of the car arising from the contact between the front right tire and the belgian block curb.

While driving on interstate, driver side airbag deployed for no reason. This was not preceded by a pothole, flat tire, swerve, or any other event. Driver was hit in head by airbag, but managed to control car and bring to halt in breakdown lane. Only damage to car is the airbag. No other vehicles involved.

: the contact stated while driving 30 mph through an intersection, the vehicle was t-boned on the passenger side. The side and curtain air bags did not deploy. Five people sustained minor injuries and a police report was taken. The dealer was not contacted.

: the contact stated while driving 60 mph the passenger side and curtain airbags both deployed. After the deployment, the steering column locked and the vehicle was maneuvered to the emergency lane. The airbag light was not illuminated prior to deployment. The driver was the only occupant in the vehicle and was wearing a seat belt. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for inspection. It was determined the airbag sensor had activated as if in a crash however no crash occurred. The manufacturer was alerted.

I have 126,000 miles on my 2003 Jetta. I was driving down the highway on my way home from work and the driver side impact airbags deployed for no reason.

Dt:the contacts stated while driving the passenger's side/curtain air bag deployed. The vehicle was not in an accident prior to the deployment. There was no warning prior to the incident. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. The manufacture stated the vehicle must have been in a previous accident because the black box contains crash data and there was damage to the undercarriage. The manufacturer will not repair this vehicle. There was an investigation NHTSA action number pe04081.

I was driving my car on a straight section of road that was newly graded gravel at about 35 mph when the passenger side air bags deployed. Both the side air curtain and the seat air bags went off. The seat bag hit my wife on the back of the upper arm leaving some bruising and what looked to be large welts and burns. The swelling and burns went away after we found some ice and pack her arm in it. Vw says that we were in a collision but we were around no one and did not hit anything. There is no damage to my car for any collision. My insurance company fixed the car under a comp. Claim as they were unable to find any collision damage.

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The driver's side air bag deployed for no reason. The speed at this time was about 60 mph. The contact was unaware of any debris that may have been on the road. The contact did not lose control of the vehicle. The air bag warning light was not on prior to the incident. There were no injuries. The dealership was contacted and the contact was to take the vehicle to the dealership tomorrow, and the vehicle was covered under a warranty. This occurred on August 31, 2005.

I was driving my 2003 vw Jetta under normal road conditions. I stopped at a red light in an intersection, continued when it turned green. I hit a small sized pothole at the other end of the intersection at speeds below 15mph, which caused the wrongful deployment of the side curtain and seat airbags as well as locking the seatbelt tensioner making it inoperable. I inspected the vehicle after the incident and found no damage whatsoever to all body panels and wheels/tires. The following morning I had a mechanic inspect the car for any suspension or steering problems and none were found. I took the vehicle to the dealer where I purchased it to have it fixed under warranty and the dealer and vw of America have denied warranty repairs and have not yet done anything to fix the problem. I did research on the internet for similar incidents with this make and model and have found that there have been 500 similar incidents of spontaneous airbag deployment in 2002-2004 vw Jettas, golfs, gti and new beetles around the country.

I was on my way to florida, driving south on I-95 (going through the town of st. Marys) when I ran over a grey metal grate (the same color as the road) that was in the middle of the left lane (I was driving 70 mph). The grate was approximately 1ft x 1ft and about 1 inch thick. As soon as I ran over it, the side curtain and the side seat airbags (on the driver's side) deployed causing damage to the seat, seat belt, and my left arm was burnt.

Passanger's side airbags deployed for no reason while vehicle was in motion. Driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle, avoiding the very real possibility of personal injury and property damage. Driver suffered extreme emotional distress and temporary hearing loss, in additon to damage to interior of vehicle. The vehicle will be sent to the dealer in the am.

Very simple: I was driving and the passenger side airbag exploded. Something needs to be done!! this car needs to be recalled. The deploying of the airbag scared me so much that I almost crashed over this!.

Ford pickup truck was stopped to make left turn. My attention was diverted and I failed to stop. Hit truck in rear. Passenger air bag deployed. Driver air bag or side air bags did not. Seat belt prevented personal injury.

Complaint received via e-mail. My brother was driving my 2003 Volkswagen Jetta on route 17 in new jersey and passed over railroad track at a speed between 20-30 mph (on 50 mph highway). After clearing the tracks the drivers side curtain airbag and side airbag deployed. Luckily, no one was hurt. . . Immediately he came to my job (I work at a car dealership) for one of the technicians ,for me to look at. Vehicle. We could not find any damage or any signs of a collision. So, I took my car to Volkswagen so this could be fixed. Then, I was informed because driving over the railroad tracks triggered my crash sensor causing it to register a crash or collision, this was not covered. The dealership then informed me to call my insurance company and file a claim. Now I would like your advice is this suppose to happen, and since it happened to me, should it happen to everyone if the warranty doesn't cover it. Wouldn't a faulty sensor rather then a busy road traveled by thousands a day cause this.

The driver was making a right turn out of the parking lot when all of a sudden the air bag deployed inadvertently. Manufacturer was contacted by the owner.

On July 3, 2004 the passenger's side/curtain airbag deployed without cause. The passenger sustained minor injuries. There was damage to the vehicle. When the vehicle was inspected by the Volkswagen field technician he said that there were some small dents that caused the deployment. When someone from transport canada inspected the vehicle he said that there was no reason for the side curtain airbags to have deployed. He said that the dents were there before the clear coat was even put on the vehicle. There was no collusion.

In June 2004, I was driving down joplin rd near quantico, va and driver-side airbag deployed. While its a winding road, I didn't feel any impact. The dealer said that although there was no physical damage to the outside of the car, something hit the inside of the car on the passenger side telling the airbag to deploy. They said my insurance company will have to cover the airbag/seat replacement (about $2500). This is the second time an airbag deployed in this vehicle for no apparent reason. (note: I previously reported this complaint in July 2004 but had included both incidents in one complaint. ).

In December 2003, I was driving on I-495 in the DC area and hit a small rock (felt similar to hitting a pothole). My passenger-side airbag deployed. . . After inspection, the dealer said that, although there was no damage to the outside of the car, there was a small scratch on the airbag sensor. It was considered a collision and my insurance had to cover the bill (around $2500). Six months later (June 2004), I was driving down joplin rd near quantico, va and driver-side airbag deploys. While its a winding road, I didn't feel any impact. I just got a call from the dealer's service dept. Saying that (again) while there is no visible damage to the outside of the car, it appears that something hit the inside of the car on the passenger side telling the airbag to deploy. Again, they said my insurance company will have to cover the airbag/seat replacement.

While exiting the baltimore harbor tunnel north bound at 55 miles per hour I hit a pothole. The pothole slightly damage the right front(passenger side) rim and broke the tire seal. The driver side curtain and seat airbag deployed unexpectedly. Also can not retract or adjust my seat belt. Minor medical injures ocurred. Decided to check for others who have had this problem and it seems Volkswagen in all those cases will not take responsibility, so I decided to file a complaint. Will speak to my dealer ASAP.

While driving 25 mph consumer ran over a rock. This caused the driver's side seat air bag to deploy. Consumer drove the vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that a cause had not been determined. A representative would inspect vehicle and then make a determination.

While driving 5 mph, the passenger air bag deployed. The vehicle was taken to two repair shops for an inspection. The consumer had just accelerated from a red light when the passenger side air bag deployed for no apparent reason. The service dealer refused to repair the vehicle stating it was a manufacturer's defect. .

While backing out of my driveway, at no more than 1 or 2 mph, the drivers side, side curtain airbags deployed. Vw has thus far claimed the vehicle hit something causing them to deploy.

I hit a pothole and my side curtain airbags deployed. Vw states that the airbags should have deployed in this situation and that I am responsible for the cost of repairs ($2196. 85 in parts plus whatever they charge for labor).