The recalled models: 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedans, 2007 Volkswagen Passat wagons, 2012-2014 Volkswagen Passat sedans, and 2017-2019 Volkswagen Beetle coupes and convertibles
The automaker says it’s not aware of any warranty or field claims relating to this problem.
The faulty airbags are made by Takata, the now-defunct company responsible for an ongoing recall campaign that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.” Takata airbags installed in over 42 million vehicles from 19 different automakers have caused at least 27 deaths and 400 injuries in the U.S. so far.
According to documents provided by NHTSA, the driver-side airbags in these vehicles—known as Takata SDI-D frontal inflators—could become more dangerous as they age. As a result of an agreement made with the agency, Volkswagen dealers will replace the airbags now with newer versions, free of charge, before they become a more serious safety concern.
