Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Volkswagen Beetle air bags problems

Owners reported air bags problems in 76 complaints for the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, 16% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
76 16% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
45,000 miles 64 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
5 and 1
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When air bags problems show up

Air bags complaints by mileage, 2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 45,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 8 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 22 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 11 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 12 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 8 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 2 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 45,000 miles
Based on 64 complaints that include mileage. 64% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles8
20k to 40k miles22
40k to 60k miles11
60k to 80k miles12
80k to 100k miles8
100k to 120k miles2
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 64 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 45,000 miles, and 64% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries.

What owners wrote

Airbag light came on dash in late july. VW dealer contacted to see if safety hazard, told no. Received recall letter from VW one month later for airbag sensor. Called dealer to see if urgent safety matter. Told no, come in at our leisure. One week later, airbag deployed while driving on the highway in rush hour traffic when hit minor bump in the road.

Reported at 36,000 miles, August 2008 CrashInjury

Air bag warning light illuminated and dealer found that front crash sensor failed and that there was a related computer problem at approximately 30,000 miles and this was replaced under warranty. I was told that the airbag would not deploy in a crash because of this failure. At 40,000 the airbag light came on again and the dealer found that the other side front crash sensor had failed also and that the airbags would not deploy in a crash. The warranty has expired and I was charged $505 to replace this.

Reported at 30,000 miles, April 2008

Other problems reported for the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle

Air bags problems in other years

Air bags problems across all Volkswagen models