Problems · by component

2010 Volkswagen Passat air bags problems

48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Volkswagen Passat cite air bags, 28% of all 172 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
48
28% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“In 2018, my VW clockspring/airbag was replaced under the VW recall. Last week the airbag clockspring failed, causing my air bag pop out. Luckily I was not driving. There is no current recall on the recalled replacement and this is unacceptable. I took my VW back to the dealer that did the work and they stated that there was no recall and they would not replace. It is incredibly dangerous that this has happened. I am very angry that VW's replacement would not hold up for the lifetime of the car nor will they honor their parts.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2021Air bagsODI 11437451
“TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD HER FUEL PUMP REPLACED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SCHUMACHER VOLKSWAGEN OF WEST PALM BEACH (3001 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409) WHERE THREE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE; NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS), 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), AND 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). DESPITE THE RECALL REPAIRS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER THEN TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT AN UNKNOWN PART NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED AND THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. DUE TO THE DISCOVERY, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACKED TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2020Fuel system, gasoline, Air bagsODI 11355341
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCHUMACHER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (561-935-4690, LOCATED AT 3001 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, SUITE C, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2019Fuel system, gasoline, Air bagsODI 11174727
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT, THE CONTACT HEARD SEVERAL POPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL UNDERNEATH THE HORN PAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V148000 (AIR BAGS) ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2018. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2018Air bagsODI 11152380
“TAKATA RECALL I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICE. I BRING IN TO THE KING VW TO HAVE IT DONE. BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED BY NHTSA OR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAPERWORK ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THIS FROM CARFAX. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, FIRE OR SUCH, SPEED WAS 0 MPH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2018Air bagsODI 11144113
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,182.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2018Air bagsODI 11114611

Showing 6 of 48 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2018NHTSA 18V148000

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported Feb 10, 2016NHTSA 16V078000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Air bagsReported Aug 4, 2015NHTSA 15V483000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.