2002 Volkswagen Passat Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 2%of 636 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat, 2% of the 636 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Two driver's side airbags deployed when I drove through a pothole on a city street. I have driven into potholes no different than this in the past. There was no other damage to the car or tires. The impact was vertical; I did not experience any side-to-side motion. Cost of repair estimated to be between $2000 & $3000.”
NHTSA complaint #10679616, filed 2015-01, 77,000 miles“Airbag light and buzzer stays on all the time. Prestige auto of santa rosa wanted to charge me over $100 just to diagnose it. According to what I've read, a safety problem is supposed to be fixed with no charge.”
NHTSA complaint #10135850, filed 2005-09, 64,500 miles“Driving north in the far right lane on gallatin pk in nashville, tn, another driver in the south bound turning lane turned into oncoming traffic with no warning. My view was obscured by the line of traffic in the left hand north lanes. The car I was driving (2002 vw Passat) hit the car that turned in to my lane in a direct, classic t-bone hit. I never saw the car and hit the car at approx. 32 MPH without braking. The driver's side airbag on my car failed to deploy although the passenger side airbag did deploy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10172800, filed 2006-11, 91,000 miles“While driving into the mall parking lot at speed of 20 MPH all airbags exploded except the steering wheel airbag and my daughter suffered from arm and air injuries”
NHTSA complaint #11266719, filed 2019-10, 179,000 miles“Front driver side wheel hit a pothole while turning right, which flattened the tire. All driver side airbags as well as side curtain airbags deployed. Sensors appeared to be overly sensitive as there was no impending roll over or collision.”
NHTSA complaint #10063929, filed 2004-03, 29,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10213836Jan 22, 2016Airbag Issues.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 15% |
| 2020 | 4 | 22% |
| 2018 | 5 | 11% |
| 2017 | 28 | 25% |
| 2016 | 25 | 24% |
| 2015 | 88 | 36% |
| 2014 | 354 | 60% |
| 2013 | 382 | 51% |
| 2012 | 296 | 61% |
| 2011 | 5 | 31% |
| 2010 | 45 | 28% |
| 2009 | 12 | 8% |
| 2008 | 32 | 19% |
| 2007 | 106 | 40% |
| 2006 | 148 | 26% |
| 2005 | 4 | 3% |
| 2004 | 8 | 3% |
| 2003 | 23 | 4% |
| 2002 | 11 | 2% |
| 2001 | 26 | 6% |
| 2000 | 17 | 3% |
| 1999 | 21 | 3% |
| 1998 | 8 | 2% |
| 1997 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat
220 complaintsEngine cooling
135 complaintsFuel system
73 complaintsBrakes
72 complaintsExterior lighting
32 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsEquipment
17 complaintsSuspension
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology