Side/window Air Bag problems of the 1998 Volkswagen Passat

1. Early on braking (intermittent) and now always at engine startup 2. The abs brake comes on solid, the brake light flashes, and three beeps on engine startup. This indicates that the abs braking system has failed. And indeed I currently have no abs, although the brakes work, and the car cannot pass DC inspection because of the warining lights on the dashboard. 3. I have attempted to diagnose the problem by running the vag-com diagnostics on it. Vag-com cannot communicate with the abs control module which indicates the abs control module must be replaced. I am currently in pursuit of a used replacement part or a rebuild of the current module due to the high price of this part from vw and the fact that it has not been recalled. I have also submitted a complaint to vw of America.

While driving at 35 mph driver side side impact air bag deployed. The vehicle was not involved in a crash. The consumer contacted the manufacturer.

At 70 mph side air bags went off. Car filled with smoke swerved off road. Consumer contacted Volkswagen which was looking into the problem. The manufacturer was unwilling neither to investigate the cause nor to fix the deployed air bag.