There are 50 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Volkswagen Beetlein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The airbag sensors were issued a recall. The dealer confirmed this. The car dealership is refusing to replace the airbag sensors until other issues with the car are fixed. I paid to have them do a diagnostic on the car to address the other problems. They are refusing to give me the codes to check what other problems exists with the car.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON..WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY AIRBAG MODULE ...VW DEALER SAYS PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND I CAN NOT GET MY CAR INSPECTED.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SEVERAL 03 BEETLES BUT NOTHING THAT INCLUDED THE 03 CONVERTABLE VERSION OF THIS LIGHT BEING ACTIVATED THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT I KNOW OF AND IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN WHERE NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IF I EVER GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. GOD FORBID. THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THE VIN BUT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THE PART IS NOT DEFECTIVE. ALSO OPPOSITE LIGHTS IN THE REAR SEEM TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC ISSUE NEW FUSES NEW BULBS AND RELAY SEEMS NOT TO FIX THIS ISSUE. COULD POSSIBLE BE PART OF THE SAME 03 BEETLE BREAK SWITCH RECALL??
REGARDING/RELATED TO CLAIM 0484819107 69 COMPLAINTS: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY: SEAT ... I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA 1.8T WITH FRONT HEATED SEATS. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SEATS HEATER 2 DAYS AGO ON 12/13/2005 AFTER THE HEATER WAS ON FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES. BURNING A SMALL HOLE TROUGH THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY LEFT SIDE (BUTTOCK) I HAVE COME TO FIND SINCE THIS HAPPENED, MY NHTSA HAS ... HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/.../SEATS-FRONT_ASSEMBLY-SEAT_ HEATER_COOLER.SHTML 29 COMPLAINTS: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY FREQUENTLY MELTS INTO A GLOB OF PLASTIC, AND REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE OWNED TWO NEW BEETLES ( 2003 & 2004), AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIME BETWEEN THE TWO. MY OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE(S) HAS SHOWN ME THAT IF THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS ... HTTPS://WHTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/SEARCH/?CX=PARTNER-PUB-6745124734283845%3A6PV4IH4BRAD&COF=FORID%3A10&IE=ISO-8859-1&Q=VW+FIRE&SA=SEARCH&SITEURL=HTTPS%3A%2F%2FWWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM%2FVOLKSWAGEN%2FBEETLE%2F2002%2FSEAT_BELTS_AIR_BAGS%2FWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/.../ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM.SHTML WASN'T IN THE VEHICLE PERSONAL ASSISTANT/PROJECT CONSULTANT HELPING HARD WORKING PEOPLE LIKE YOU FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *PM
TAKATA...AIR BAG SYSTEM AIR BAG SENSOR ISSUE...AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED IN 2008 UNDER RECALL, BUT HAS FAILED AGAIN...
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DIAGNOSED AT SERVICE BY DEALER (CAMPBELL/NELSON VW) INDICATED THAT A SENSOR OR SWITCH LOCATED IN THE DRIVER-SIDE SEATBELT LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND EVEN WHEN THE SEATBELT WAS LATCHED, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A $400 REPAIR AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN AIR BAG WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED FOR AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION, FLASHED, AND REMAINED LIT INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
FIRST I MUST ASK MYSELF WHY AM I WASTING MY TIME AGAIN? YOU CAN WRITE TO NHTSA ALL YOU WANT AND EXPLAIN YOUR COMPLAINT / DEFECT BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS IT GOES, THEY NEVER RESPOND AND NOTHING GETS REPAIRED FOR FREE UNLESS NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE YET DIE! *TR
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. CALL TO THE VW DEALERSHIP YIELDED COMMENT FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT "SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELT LATCH BREAKS; YOU NEED TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT REPLACED (AT MY COST)". ON MAY 14, 2014 I HAD THE SERVICE REPAIR DONE. MILEAGE WAS 49,486. COST WAS $292.16. SERVICE WAS DONE BY JIM ELLIS VOLKSWAGEN MARIETTA, 1860 COBB PARKWAY, MARIETTA, GA 30060. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. IF WE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, MY PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR; THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIFE-THREATENING, THEY COULD HAVE DIED. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD MAKE A RECALL OF 2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES AND REPLACE THE LATCH AND SENSOR (TO AIRBAG) AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER. *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG HAD FAILED AND THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, AND THAT IT COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE DRIVING. CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ADDRESSED IN 2008 WITH THE VECHICLE AND THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARLY REPAIRED "IT WAS JUST ADDRESSED". I COULD NOT GET ANY FURTHER RESPONSE. I HAVE NEVER HAD OR READ ABOUT A CAR HAVING TO HAVE AIRBAGS REPLACED AS A SCHEDULED SERVICE OR MAINTANCE. AIRBAG FAILURE SHOWES THAT IT WAS NOT DONE RIGHT TO BEGAIN WITH. THE CAR WAS PURCHACED WITH 34,000 MILES AND NOW HAS 60,111 MILES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG POSSIBLITY DEPLOYING WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN NOT DEPLOYING DURING A CRASH. ANY HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THIS MATTER IS MUCH APPRICIATED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ROLL OVER BAR SUDDENLY DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE AND THE PLASTIC COATING WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,610.
MY CAR WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND MY FIANCE, WHO WAS DRIVING, SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK AND A CONCUSSION AS A RESULT OF HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STAYS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED EVEN WHEN NO SEATBELTS ARE PUT ON. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V178000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE SYMPTOMS SEEM SIMILAR.
AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS FIRST TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT AS OF 1/1/11, THESE WERE RECALLED FOR 2004-2006 BEETLES AND 2003-2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES. NO RECALLS YET FOR 2003 BEETLES, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEMS THAT ARE YET TO BE FIXED BY VW!!! SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST DELAYING THE RECALL UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS/INJURIES. 2 RECALLS OF A FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN 4/2008 & A PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (POD) DEALER REPROGRAM REPAIR IN 12/2004 BUT AGAIN NOTHING FOR 2003 MODELS EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED IN LATE 2003. *TR
I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS WIRES CONNECTED TO IT, THIS WIRES SNAPPED ON THEIR OWN. MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON, FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS I HAD THIS LIGHT ON IN MY CAR. THROUGH RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, LOTS OF BEETLE OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION PROVIDED INDICATES THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026