2003 Volkswagen GTI air bags problems
Owners reported air bags problems in 19 complaints for the 2003 Volkswagen GTI, 26% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 19 26% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 51,000 miles 13 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 1
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When air bags problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 13 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 51,000 miles, and 62% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 8 crashes, 6 injuries, 1 death.
What owners wrote
Consumer was driving at 5 MPH and struck a pot hole and side door air bags deployed. Also, side window malfunctioned, and seat recliner broke.
I was making a left turn across a major highway. Pulled into the lane of traffic when an oncoming car moved into my lane. I was traveling around 20 MPH, and consequently slowed to approximately 10 MPH. In avoiding the car I turned left and the drivers side of the car hit a curb. The car drove up onto the curb and then quickly off of it. It was not a direct impact, the curb was hit at an angle. The curtain and side airbags both fired on the driver side.