There are 29 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2005 Volkswagen Beetlein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact's son owned a 2005 Volkswagen Beetle Turbocharged. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 60 MPH during early evening hours, he traveled over black ice in the road, which caused the vehicle to spin around several times before crashing into the guardrail and concrete wall several times, striking the front and rear of the vehicle, where it eventually came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. There was no reported fire. The front passenger side occupant sustained a severe concussion. The driver sustained a spinal curvature injury and a severe concussion. Medical attention was received, and both occupants were seen at a hospital. There were no warning lights illuminated before or after the failure. The police were on the scene, but it was unknown if a police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V178000 (Air Bags). The contact spoke with the sheriff, who referred to a lawyer. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The contact was notified of the crash through the 360 app. A local dealer was able to be located. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000. The VIN was not available.
Passenger Air Bag Off. Light comes on.0
AIRBAG LIGHT THAT IS LOCATED ON THE DASH IS ON. TOOK TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT PART IS NO LONGER MADE. WITHOUT THIS SENSOR THE AIR BAG IS RENDERED USELESS. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE CODE THAT IS GIVEN 00003 CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE. AND 00532 SUPPLY VOLTAGE LOWER LIMIT NOT REACHED. AIR BAG MODULE HAD INTERNAL FAILURE. WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND CHECK PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. IN THE EVIDENT I WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE I CAN NOT DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON JUST WONDERING IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TAKATA RECALL
I HAVE A 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT WORKING. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF! I LOOKED UP RECALL PARTS FOR MY CAR, AND I NOW SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG: FRONTAL: SENSOR / CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL STATES THAT THE SOLDIER JOINT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, AND THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALL BACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. HOPEFULLY I WILL NOT NEED THEM AND WILL NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WANT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THIS CONTROL MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED, AND FIX MY CAR SO I CAN GET IT TO PASS INSPECTION, AND GET BACK TO DRIVING IT SAFELY. THANK YOU, (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (CLAY COOLEY VOLKSWAGEN PARK CITIES 6223, 5555 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209 (469) 425-9452) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CONTROL SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. *TT *JS
"TAKATA RECALL" THIS VEHICLE AIRBAG SIGNAL LIGHT SHOWS ON THE GAUGE AND DOES NOT GO OFF DURING DRIVING FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS.
MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAS THE WARNING LIGHTS ON FOR THE AIRBAG. THE REPAIRMAN DIAGNOSED IT AS CODES P1738 AND P1739 WHICH INDICATE THE FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. 76,900 CARS UNDER RECALL 08V178000 HAVE THE SAME ISSUES FOR THIS. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VW DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO FIX, I FEEL I AM BEING PENALIZED BY HAVING TO PAY 500.00 TO REPAIR A KNOWN PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VW AGAIN IF THIS IS WHAT I CAN EXPECT.
CALLED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT THE 08V178000 RECALL AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ON MY VEHICLE AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SAYS IT IS THE FRONT RIGHT CRASH SENSOR WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS RECALLED YET THEY REFUSE TO INSPECT AND HONOR THE RECALL. THEY SAY THE COMPUTER TELLS THEM THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE (NA). WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,495.
3 OUT OF 4 OF MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. 1 IS STUCK UP. ANOTHER HAS BEEN REPLACED, WHILE ANOTHER ROLLS DOWN, WHEN I'M PUSHING THE POWER UP!!! MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ UPDATED 05/09/18*JB *CN
PODS UNIT DEFECTIVE. DIAGNOSED SEPT. 23 2015. STILL NOT AVAILABLE. HAVE BEEN DRIVING W/O AIR BAGS SINCE. ( DEALER DISABLED AIR BAGS) TECH SAYS OVER $1000.00 TO FIX. DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. WHY AM I LIABLE FOR A SAFETY ISSUE?
I TOOK MY 2005 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE TO THE SERVICE PROVIDER BECAUSE MY R HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. ALL THE WIRES TO THE HEADLIGHT WERE EXPOSED. THE PROTECTIVE PART OVER THE WIRES WERE BRITTLE AND APPEARED TO HAVE JUST ROTTED OFF. EACH WIRE WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE ANY ONE WILL WORK ON IT DUE TO THE HAZARD. I LOOKED AT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT AND SOMEONE HAD REPAIRED THE WIRES ALREADY ON THAT SIDE. LOTS OF ELECTRICAL TAPE AND WIRE NUTS. I STILL HAVE NO R HEADLIGHT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AS WELL SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED LAST YEAR. I OWN ANOTHER BEETLE. IT IS A 2000 AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL. I HAVE READ ABOUT WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS AND FEEL THAT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE I FELT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPORTED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE SHORTS OUT DO TO FAULTY WIRE ROUTING CAUSING THE SEATBELT TENSIONER HARNESS TO GET CUT OR SHORTED BY THE DRIVER SEAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE WAY THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE DESIGNED, THE WIRING WITHIN THE BUCKLES FRACTURED AND DISABLED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT THEY WOULD BEND INWARD, TOWARD THE PASSENGER, WHEN BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE - LIGHT ILLUMINATED, REPLACED CONTROL MODULE IN DASHBOARD, DID NOT CORRECT THE ERROR. VW DEALER AND COMPANY REFUSE TO DISCOUNT REPAIRS EVEN AFTER BEING PROVIDED 100'S OF DOCUMENTS PROVING THE SAME ISSUE ON OTHER SIMILAR CARS. THIS FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V178000, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR
MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HAS THE SAME BAD WINDOW REGULATORS AS THE REST OF THE RECALLED ONES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON WITHOUT ANY WRECKS TO MY AUTO VIN # [XXX]. I'VE REPORTED IT TWICE TO STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS AND ONCE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFERENCE NUMBER: 810010103. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ANSWER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA . THE ONLY REPLY I GOT FROM STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS IS THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME 130.00 JUST TO DECIDE IF I'M COVERED UNDER THE WINDOW REGULATOR RECALLS AND OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $338. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIR AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500.
AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR SECOND TIME, VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, HAS COST ME SO FAR $110 FOR A DEALER TO CHECK AND $117 FOR PARTS NOT TO COUNT MY LABOR FOR REPLACEMENT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTRA $400 OR SO. I BELIEVE VEHICLE FALLS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BAD PARTS I FOUND THE BAD PARTS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NO. 08V178000 ON MY VEHICLE WHICH I STILL HAVE. WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE, WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BY VW AMERICA BUT ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT NO. RCMN-08V178-2838.PDF FOUND ON THIS WEB SITE UNDER DEFECTS & RECALLS, IS IN FACT ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY REPAIRS FINISHED, WHICH SHOULD ONLY REQUIRE THE AIRBAG COMPUTER TO BE RESET AND MY PREVIOUS COST AND POSSIBLE LABOR CHARGE REFUNDED TO ME BY VW OF AMERICA. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 29 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