Side/window Air Bag Problems of Volkswagen Jetta - part 2

I have a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta this morning while driving my car to work in houston texas on interstate 59 south my driverside window airbag deployed as well as the seat airbag. After getting to the side of the road my car cranked back up and I got out to inspect if there was any damages. I found no damages on the car and the air bag deployed for no reason. I am lucky I did not swerve or there would have been a huge wreck. I believe there should be a recall on all of these 2002 Jetta since there have been so many occurrences of this happening.

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2002 vw sedan wa broad sided by a motorcycle. It hit the right front door and buckled the center post and bent the roof and the dash was pushed in. The vw has front and side airbags. None of the air bags deployed. My son was covered with glass and the right hand mirror just missed him.

I was driving down the road at about 30 mph when my car stalled in the middle of the road and my driver side airbags had been deployed. My seatbelt restricted so hard, I could hardly breathe anymore. Nothing had hit my car and I had not gone over any potholes or bumps. Vw said that it is not their responsibility to repair my airbags or the damage done to my headliner and driver seat. I no longer have a functioning seatbelt either. This is a huge safety issue for America. Not only did the airbags deploy with no accident, I no longer feel safe driving in my own vehicle. What if I get into an accident tonight without the proper protection a car is guaranteed to have? if I was killed or my kids were killed, would vw do something then?.

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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.

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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.

I own a 2001 Jetta, I am the original owner. On Tuesday October 14, 2008 I was driving in California for about 20 minutes when my airbag light started blinking on and off. About every 10-15 seconds it would turn on, then 15 seconds later it would turn off. About 15 minutes later I was on the 91 freeway in rush hour traffic and going about 5-10 mph in the slow lane when all of a sudden I heard a big explosion. It sounded like someone threw a large cement block at my window and I felt a surge up pain rush up my left side of my body towards my fingertips. I immediately started choking due to the powder that was coming from my car when I realized it was my airbag. I pulled over to the side of the freeway and assessed the damage. The side airbag came out from the seat of my car and thrust me to the right of my car. I could not hear in my left ear and the left side of my body (from my shoulder down to my hip, down to my fingers) was throbbing. My left pinky and ring finger became numb and even though I rolled the window down, I could barely breathe and could not stop coughing. After sitting for about 10 minutes, I got back on the road and stayed in the slow lane not proceeding 40 mph.

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Today, my daughter was driving our 2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1. 8t down the road. The right side wheels went a few inches off the edge of the road. She remained straight and guided the car back onto the road. Once back on the road fully, the side airbag (driver's side) deployed. She was able to guide the car off the road to the shoulder. There was no impact with anything. There is no damage. The tires aren't even dirty. She received a welt on her left arm, (probably soon to be a bruise. ) she has a ringing in her left ear and a reduction in hearing (probably temporary. ) a very scary situation. It just happened today and I'm not certain what steps to take from here. I know it is a very costly repair to replace an airbag and I will be very nervous about my daughter driving this car on the highway if a minor bump in the road might set her airbag off and cause her to crash at 65 miles per hour.

Car information: 2002 Volkswagen Jetta #: while exiting driveway, rear tire became caught on curb. Airbags deployed on passenger side (side curtain protection airbag and backrest side airbag). No collision had occurred. Car immediately died in street but later started. Contacted insurance company, as well as vw dealer.

2002 vw Jetta,husband ran over pothole, passenger side airbags deployed. Had to tow car and get rental. No impact or accident. Waiting for vw to look at car. Am sure they will say it's our fault just from what I'm seeing on web. How can government have 499 plus incidents of investigation and not make vw recall?? maybe not until someone dies and they get sued.

I was driving my 2002 Volkswagen Jetta and hit a pot hole in the road causing my passenger, side and head air bags to deploy. There was no impact. My passenger side tire hit the pot hole. There were hundreds of reports of this occurring. I researched online and probably many more since then. I was wondering if there was a recall made, and if not, why not? yes, these are good if a real crash occurred, but dangerous to no crash occurrences. Something should be done and I, nor any other Volkswagen owner, should be responsible for this. Thank you. Nhtsa action number : pe04081 NHTSA recall campaign number : n/a make / models : model/build years: Volkswagen / golf 2001-2003 Volkswagen / gti 2001-2003 Volkswagen / Jetta 2001-2003 manufacturer : Volkswagen of America, inc component : air bags:side/window date investigation opened : December 16, 2004 date investigation closed : April 1, 2005 this investigation identified a total of 499 reports (482 owners reports and 17 warranty claims). The crash sensing systems algorithm may recognize certain non-crash impacts (wheel, tire and undercarriage impacts) as deployable events.

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.

I was driving the vehicle about 5mph and went over a water drain in the road the passenger side seat air bag deployed along with the visor airbag on the same side. My niece was in the passenger seat when this incident happened and received white powder in her eyes and scrapes on the side of here face. There was no reason for the vehicle to deploy the airbags at all causing about $2,000. 00-$3,000. 00 in damages to the vehicle for no reason.

Was driving down the street and my side air bags deploy for no reason. I did not hit anything there is no damage done to my car nor been in a accident. Went to vw southern states and was told that my car only has a 50,000 mile warranty and that I have to pay for the car to get fixed. About 3,000 dollars he said. . . . .

I inadvertently hit a pot hole. The pot hole was probably a little deeper than most. The driver's side-curtain airbag, the seat side airbag and the seatbelt tensioner were deployed. There was no damage to the car. There was no immediate danger to me. I did not lose control of the car even with the startling deployment of the safety systems. I was told by the guy in one of the body shops that I went to to get estimates that vws and bmws are known for their "touchy" airbag systems. I do not think that it is reasonable to have a $2700 repair bill, the inconvenience of all of the legwork to get my car fixed or the temporary non-functioning of my car's safety system just from hitting a pot hole! I am working on a claim and have not yet had the car repaired. Parts listed as being necessary to replace are: side curtain airbag, seat side airbag, seat belt/tensioner assembly, seat cover, a-pillar trim, headliner, sail panel trim, airbag sensor and airbag control module. Also, the car will need to be plugged into a computer analyzer in order that the airbag codes be reset.

While driving down the road at about 30 mph the side curtain airbags and the seat airbags wrongfully deployed. There was no reason whatsoever for this to happen.

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.

I was driving less than 10 mph through a parking lot, pulling into a spot when my side air bags deployed. I saw that there is an existing complaint (NHTSA action number : pe04081) outlining this exact problem. When I got out of my car to inspect I found that I had hit nothing. There was no impact, not even a scratch. The repair is pending with my local vw dealer. I am not yet sure who will financially be responsible.

Inadvertent passenger side airbag deployment: while driving along on the express way (I-495 w, long island, NY), my passenger-side airbag deployed for no reason. I did not come into contact with any other vehicle nor did I notice any debris hitting my vehicle at the time of the impact. Both the passenger side air curtain and passenger seat airbag deployed. Additionally, the engine cut off. Upon pulling over, I was able to start the vehicle without issue, and drive home.

I was driving the car normally and at the speed limit on a road close to my home when I drove over a small bump or pothole in the road. Normally, this impact would have been so small as to barely cause any extra motion in the car. However, on this occasion, after I ran over the bump, the driver's side seat and driver's side front and back curtain airbags deployed. I was startled when this occurred and accidentally jerked the steering wheel, hitting off of the divider with the front tire. I inspected the car to make sure nothing hit the vehicle, and to check that prior to the airbag deployment, I had not hit anything , I had not, three days after this incident, after filing a claim, insurance company called me to inform me that the manufacturer had notified them that when the airbags had deployed a report was sent to the manufacturer with data from the incident. The insurance company suggested I contact NHTSA to file a report. The report showed that the airbags did not deploy due to a collision. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer from which I purchased it to have the airbags reinstalled, and to repair damage done during the aftermath of the incident. The front driver's side tire was damaged and needed to be replaced.

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.

The contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving the contact's vehicle hit something in the road and flattened the tire on the front passenger side. Three or four days later while driving 40- 45 mph the driver's side air bag deployed. The current and failure mileages were unknown.

The passenger side air bag/ curtain on 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, deployed while turning right on a winding road. I was traveling under 20 mph. The engine shut off, and because it was on a blind turn I was almost hit by a car behind me. After 30 seconds I turned the engine on, and pulled over to a safe area to inspect the car. I travel the road everyday and no pot holes exist. The dealer said that the computer did not register an accident. The manufacturer, engineer, looked at pictures sent by the dealership, and said that there were scrapes under the car which must have caused the deployment. Asked the dealership and manufacturer if the side air bag/curtain was not replaced would the other air bags be effected. They told me they did not have any public information on the effect one deployment has on the rest of the system, and I would have to replace it for the other air bags to provide protection. I called the manufacturer customer service, and they called the dealership, who now reported that the computer read an accident occurred. I was told to contact the insurance company.

Left side air bags deployed without warning on my 2002 Volkswagen Jetta on 1/30/07. Vw claims there is crash data in the onboard computer. However no accident / crash occurred. The air bags deployed on their own. I see according to NHTSA #pe04081 that the investigation is closed on this. I'll bet this inadvertent air bag deployment continues to happen and only after someone gets killed and law suits fly will something get done about it.

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.

I was driving on the freeway going about 70 mph when my driver side curtain airbag deployed for no reason. I pulled off the side of the road and called 911, the officer who came out told me that no damage was done to the tires or body of the car. There was no reason for this to have happened. I took it into the dealer they have sent pictures to vw and so far nothing has been done to fix this, which was 3 weeks ago!.

: 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.

As I was driving the passenger side airbags deployed for no apparent reason. I stopped to check for damage, did not see anything, and could not find anything in the road. Now I have a car with the headliner and front passenger seat blown apart. I took the car to the dealer for a diagnostic. They found a dent and told me that was the cause and I should report it to my insurance company to be covered under my collision. The insurance adjuster found the dent identified by the dealer showed signs of age and was not the cause. Making a judgment the presence of dirt, road grime and some surface rust suggested it was older damage. It was most likely caused by incorrectly adjusting the lift when work was done under the car. Finding no other damage that would cause deployment they closed the claim and my car was not repaired. Vw refuses to take responsibility.

: the contact stated while traveling 35 mph over a pothole, the passenger side curtain airbags deployed. The dealership was alerted. Updated 12/01/06.

While driving to work, my left front tire went flat then my right side curtain and right side seat air bag deployed thus causing the vehicle to stall out and would not start on a busy highway. I was able to safely pull off to the side without getting hit and notified police. When the airbags deployed, I thought I was shot at. Other than a flat tire and a scratch on my rim, there was no undercarriage or body damage. I took it to my dealer in pleasantville, NY thinking it would be covered under warranty, since it is a 2004 vw Jetta with approximately 34,000 miles. They did absolutely nothing to help me with my problem. After 2 1/2 weeks at the dealer, I was told that vw was not at fault and they were not going to repair the car under warranty. They said they found crash data which of course they are going to find since the airbags deployed. They should have checked the sensors instead. The regional coordinator of vw America called me to let me know that since nobody was sitting in the passenger seat, that's what caused the airbag deployment. I guess we should all have crash test dummies sitting in our passenger seat so that this doesn't happen to us. The amount would be approximately $4,000 to fix. Right now I have it at an auto body shop to be repaired and will save the parts. This is a very expensive flat and I really think I should be reimbursed by vw. This is also a safety issue and they need to recall the cars. After researching on the internet (vwvortex. Com), there are many other people in my similar situation - some getting reimbursed and others not.

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: the contact stated while traveling 35 mph, the driver side curtain airbag and the rear left passenger side curtain air bag deployed without warning, pushing the contact to the right side of the vehicle, and damaging the seat belt. A police report and photos were taken of the vehicle. The contact sustained a welt on the left hip from the airbag. The vehicle was driven to a residence. The service dealer was notified and the vehicle was taken to the dealer the next morning. The manufacturer was notified.

: the contact stated while traveling 25 mph, the dashboard lights began to flicker on and off. Then, without an accident, the side curtain and seat airbags deployed on the driver's side. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to the dealership who was unable to determine the problem.

: the contact stated while driving 20 mph the driver and side curtain air bag deployed without warning. The dealer determined by computer diagnostic that a crash occurred although no crash actually occurred. The dealer can give no other reason for the deployment.

: the contact stated while driving 45 mph the vehicle in front slowed without warning, the contact swerved to the right to avoid the vehicle. The left front impacted with the right rear of the slowed vehicle. The driver side air bag deployed with extreme force causing the contacts hands to be removed from the steering wheel while the vehicle was still in motion. The deployed air bag also obscured the contacts view. The vehicle then became airborne over a ditch and came to rest in a field. The vehicle was totaled. Seat belts were in use by both driver and passenger however injuries were sustained. There was a police report filed at the scene. The manufacturer was contacted and stated the airbag deployment was normal for this type of impact.

: 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.

Ran over debris on interstate and seat side airbag deployed. Vehicle was repaired with new airbag and was replaced with new module and sensors. No injuries just ear ringing. Happened 2nd time going around a corner at approx. 35 miles an hour, seat side airbag deployed again resulting in loss of control of vehicle and severe burns to left arm. No repairs have taken place to vehicle yet.