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Volkswagen Beetle Driver Airbag Inflator May Explode
critical How serious is it? About this label
An exploding inflator can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, which the notice says can cause serious injury or death. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V834000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Oct 30, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Part affected | AIR Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| Vehicles covered | 2 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2019 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
In certain Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles, the airbag in front of the driver can explode instead of inflating normally. This happens because the propellant inside the inflator breaks down over time, after long-term exposure to high humidity, high temperatures, and repeated temperature swings. If the inflator explodes, it can throw sharp pieces of metal at the driver or other people in the car.
What you should do
2. Contact a Volkswagen dealer to schedule replacement of the driver's side airbag module; call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
3. The repair is free.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 24V834000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (2)
Who to contact
Volkswagen — official Volkswagen recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-893-5298
The bigger picture
- Volkswagen Air Bag Recalls: Deployment Failures and Inflator Risks · all 16 Volkswagen recalls in this area
Other Volkswagen Beetle recalls
- Sep 23, 2020VW Jetta and Beetle Brake Master Cylinder Leakhigh
- Aug 22, 2019Volkswagen Jetta and Golf key removable when not in Parkhigh
- Feb 13, 2019VW Beetle Instrument Cluster May Not Warn of Brake Troublehigh
- Jun 1, 2018VW and Audi Brake Calipers May Reduce Brakingcritical
Official notice
- Component
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Safety risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.