2003 Volkswagen Passat Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 4%of 628 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 44,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, 4% of the 628 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,500 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We were just leaving our friends house it was approx. 6am in morning little cold out so I turned on the seat warmers which is always nice touch to warm you up on those cold mornings, anyhow about 4-5minutes after seat warmers were turned on passenger side where I was sitting got rather warm and then hot and then actually start smoking and flames came out there was fire right under my bottom. …”
NHTSA complaint #10778124, filed 2015-09, 116,000 miles“On sept 20 2013 my wife showed me a spring that came from under the drivers seat . Ironically the next day the airbag light came on and wont go off . About a month later a 2nd spring appeared in the floorboard .car will not pass inspection . Vw really needs to address this .”
NHTSA complaint #10583614, filed 2014-04, 125,000 miles“1. Frontal collision impacting with side of pick up truck making ill-timed left turn in front of me 2. Driver's side airbag did not deploy. Passenger side (where no one or nothing was seated) did deploy. 3. My vehicle was declared a total loss”
NHTSA complaint #10269289, filed 2009-05, 42,740 miles“I have an air bag failure which will prohibit me from passing the state safety inspection. The air bag repair is over $1000. Is there a waiver or a process to dispute this? Are there resources to help consumers in these type of cases?”
NHTSA complaint #10249905, filed 2008-11, 29,000 miles“I have a 2003 vw Passat. I've had two leaks into the front right floorboard in the past six months from either a sunroof drain line or a air conditioner. The leaks have produced so much water that it has gone to right back floorboard. The plastic on the interior is worn off. The ashtray fell apart. They can't seem to get the alignment right so I keep going through tires and the tires I do have sound uneven when I rotate them, making me think there's a problem. Hove replaced the headlights three times in 1 and 1/2 years. …”
NHTSA complaint #10210280, filed 2007-11, 42,000 milesRelated recalls
- 18V406000Jun 13, 2018Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and…Covers: Volkswagen Passat 2003, Jetta 2003, Eurovan 2003 +1 more
Related 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 2003 Volkswagen Passat
169 complaintsEngine cooling
131 complaintsSeats
97 complaintsElectrical system
90 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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