2013 Volkswagen Jetta Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I discovered that my 2013 Volkswagen Jetta has a completely nonfunctional airbag system. On 8/23/23- airbag warning light illuminated and has remained on. In 08/2025- Midas staff informed me the light may indicate an airbag defect and referred me to Volkswagen. On 09/24/2025- Volkswagen dealer inspection documented both front crash sensors were unplugged/damaged, leaving the airbag system inoperable. Safety concern: I unknowingly drove this car for over two years with no functional airbags. This created a severe risk of injury or death in the event of a motor vehicle accident. This car was sold by Carvana as having passed a 150-point inspection and under warranty coverage. However, Carvana later stated that they have a disclaimer that shifts the responsibility of the car being safe to drive onto the consumer, and that they never claimed the car had a functioning air bag system.

Passenger seat air bag light off light is on

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bags indicator warning alarm sounded as if there was a passenger seated in the seat. The passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Passenger air bag light is on saying off

Component Failure: Airbag Light is On, No steering wheel electronic controls work including cruise control. Safety: I'm uncertain if the Airbag will deploy in the event of a crash. Dealer Confirmed: Dealer states the Steering Wheel Clock Spring requires replacement, but that it is not a part of the VW recall issued August 2015. Inspected: Hiley VW Dealership inspected the vehicle Warning Lamps: Airbag Light is currently on. Uncertain when it started since I'm the 2nd owner of the vehicle.

My car's clock spring has failed causing the driver side / steering wheel airbag connection to fail in my car. I see that many other VW's including many VW Jettas in the same year of manufacture had a recall for this exact issue but searching by my VIN does not show a recall. I am informed that I am currently about the 1600th (yes, 1600) person waiting for this part on back-order from VW. If needed, I will be happy to provide the information of the auto repair facility that has diagnosed the problem. I think this is quite a lot of circumstantial evidence of a likely product defect that should warrant investigation particularly because failure of this part disables the air bag safety system. This is even more troublesome considering the unknown delivery date of the part due to the backorder.

The contact owned a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while making a left turn at 5 MPH, a motorcycle crashed into the passenger’s side of the vehicle at a high rate of speed. The driver’s side air bags did not deploy; however, the passenger side side-curtain air bags deployed and then deflated. The passenger sustained neck injuries and was taken by ambulance to seek medical attention. The motorcycle rider died on the scene. The emergency services arrived on scene to administer assistance to those injured on scene. The driver also sustained bruises after the radio and window glass struck her chest and was taken for further tests. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a junkyard and deemed totaled by the Insurance provider. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,600.

Airbag malfunction indicator lamp has illuminated, horn is not funtional. Returned to Volkswagen dealership for diagnosis, prognosis being faulty "clock spring." Was previously indicated as repaired under recall exhibiting same symptoms some years previously but, problem has resurfaced and is persisting.

MY CAR WAS ALREADY RECALLED FOR AIRBAG SPRING ISSUE BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND STILL CONTINUE ON ALWAYS.

REAR SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES ARE FRAYED. CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. BACK SEATS ARE RARELY IF EVER USED SO IT ISN'T FROM WEAR OR MISUSE. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS.

MY WIFE MUST SIT ON AN EXTRA SEAT CUSHION IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. BUT WHEN SHE DOES THE AIR BAGS DEACTIVATE. SO AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY AROUND HER SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO SWITCH THE AIR BAGS ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO SWITCH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS ON SO THEY WILL DEPLOY IF THERE IS IMPACT.

AIRBAG LIGHT/SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD IS ALWAYS ON,CHARGING OUTLET NOT WORKING , VW LET US PAY $189.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WANT US TO PAY $500.00 FROM THE REFUND FOR THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO FIX THE AIRBAG PROB. THEY CLAIM IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING CHEWED BY RODENTS.

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON IN MY DASH. MY SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED IN. SO I PULLED OVER AND UNBUCKLED MY SEAT BELT AND BUCKLED BACK UP. BUT IT DIDN'T TURN OFF THE SEAT BELT LIGHT. I DID IT FOR A COUPLE MORE TIMES. STILL DIDN'T WORK. I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND WAITED MOMENTARILY. TURNED IT BACK ON. TRIED BUCKLING BACK UP TO NO LUCK. THE WHOLE CAR RIDE TO WORK HAD A ANNOYING SEAT BELT CHARM. 2013 JETTA GLI WITH 48K MILES.

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED IN UNDER 3 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VW IS REFUSING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A PART DEFECT ON THEIR END AND IS REQUIRING ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND IS GARAGE KEPT AND IN MINT CONDITION.

2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE IT WAS T-BONED CAUSING IT TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JS

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 5/27/15 AROUND SUNSET AND TWO DEER JUMPED OVER A BARBWIRE FENCE AT THE END OF ROUND HAY BALES. AT THIS TIME, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN I SEEN THEM, BARELY HAVING TIME TO STOMP ON MY BRAKES. I ESTIMATE I HIT THEM GOING AT LEAST 55 TO 60 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. I AM CONCERNED WITH WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY ESPECIALLY SINCE MY CAR IS POSSIBLY TOTALED. I HIT THE DEER FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY BUMPER TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR, SENDING THE HOOD INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SMASHING THE DRIVER SIDE BACK INTO THE DOORS. THE DAMAGES GO ON AND ON, THANKFULLY I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. BUT SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT THE MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED DO NOT REMOTELY TOUCH THE PAIN: NECK PAIN WITH NUMBNESS THAT COMES AND GOES TO MY HANDS, SEVERE BACK ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY BUTT, PELVIC PAIN WITH NUMBNESS TO MY BUTTOCKS, LEFT SIDED RIB PAIN WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH ESPECIALLY WITH TO MUCH EXERTION AND PAIN WITH DEEP BREATHES, LEFT KNEE/ANKLE PAIN AND THE INABILITY TO BEAR COMPLETE WEIGHT TO KNEE/ANKLE ALONG WITH SWELLING. SEVERE PAIN THAT SHOOTS DOWN BACK TO PELVIC WHEN BENDING OVER, INABILITY TO CROSS LEGS AND ANKLES WITHOUT CAUSING STABBING PAIN IN PELVIC AREA. AS A NURSE MYSELF, I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE MEANT TO DO SO I WOULD NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MANY ISSUES AS I DO NOW. THE PURPOSE OF AIRBAGS ARE TO PREVENT INJURIES AND SINCE MINE DID NOT DEPLOY, I'M SUFFERING SEVERELY WITH CONSTANT PAIN THAT KEEPS MY FROM SLEEPING WELL(CAUSING FATIGUE), THE INABILITY TO STAND OR SIT FOR A PROLONGED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND TO STAND IN CERTAIN POSITIONS.