Problems · by component
2005 Volkswagen Jetta air bags problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta cite air bags, 10% of all 248 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
10% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, SHE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND LOST CONTROL AFTER SPINNING AND HITTING TWO MORE GUARD RAILS THE NEVER DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED A CLOSE HEAD INJURY AND FACIAL LACERATIONS. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSE, WHY DIDNT HER AIR BAGS GO OFF ? IS SO SHE MAY HAVE NOT SUSTAINED SUCH INJURIES.”
“STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (RANDOM DASHBOARD LIGHTS, DOORS, LOCKS, WINDOWS WOULDN'T WORK, KEY FOB BATTERY DIED, ETC) THEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. CONTINUED ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH NEW BATTERY, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW/DOOR WOULDN'T OPERATE OR WORK AT ALL. NEEDED MASTER KEY FOB TO LOCK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BUT ALL OTHER DOORS WOULDN'T LOCK WITH FOB. NEXT, I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING, PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN IT. FROM THERE RANDOM DASHBOARD LIGHTS, DINGING WITH DRL AND FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERATING VEHICLE, AND AIRBAGS LIGHTS ARE ON. MY MECHANIC SENDS ME TO A MECHANIC SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN VW. MECHANIC REPLACES WINDOW MANAGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR HARNESS. STILL FIND ISSUES WITH AIRBAGS SO I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN ST PETERS MO DURING A SNOW STORM. HAND THEM ALL MY PAPERWORK, THEY GO IN AND FIND THAT MY CAR IS BEING WORKED ON AND SEE THAT THEIR ARE SPLICES, CONNECTIONS BUTTED, SO THEY "FIX" THE AIRBAGS AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. HOWEVER, I HAVE A TODDLER IN THE BACKSEAT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING, ETC. DEALERSHIP CANNOT SPEAK TO OTHER MECHANIC SHOP'S WORK SO THEY…”
“FRONT END COLLISION ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATE 45 MPH, POSSIBLY SLOWER. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE PRIMARILY ON DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. FLAME IGNITED ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED FIRE. *TR”
“2005 VW.JETTA - VIN# [XXX]. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD & DOWN SHIFT HARD WHEN THE CAR HAS RUN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING TRAVEL. ALSO, THE FAULTY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED AND MAY SHOW INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER & 02 SENSOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE CODES STILL SHOW WHEN PUT ON THE MACHINE. THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION.”
“I WAS DRIVING ALONG YESTERDAY AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR "AIR BAG" CAME ON. I RESEARCHED THIS AND ACCORDING TO OTHER CONSUMER BLOGS, A LOT OF CAR OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE A JETTA RECALL - BUT THERE SHOULD BE ONE!!!”
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEVER GOES OFF WHEN I FIRST START IT IT HAS A WARNING NOISE AND SAYS AIRBAG FAULT THEN THE LIGHT STAYS ON THE CAR ALSO WHEN DRIVING IT SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE RPM WINDOW BETWEEN THE 2 AND THE 3 AND IT WONT WANT TO GET UNSTUCK YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THEN PLACE BACK ON THE PEDAL AND THEN IT JERKS AWAY”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.