There are 3 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Passatin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN HER 2011 VOLKSWAGEN CC WHEN HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALER ON OCTOBER 30TH, 2018, 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. SHE WAS TRAVELING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON A COUNTY 2 LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER HEAD ON. THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH IS HER CAR AFTER THE CRASH. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE AIRBAG 100% SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN THAT CRASH.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS NOTIFIED IN APRIL, BUT IT IS NOW AUGUST AND THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
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