2011 Volkswagen Passat Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 31%of 16 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 93,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Volkswagen Passat, 31% of the 16 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 93,000 miles. 2 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.
“Water pump defect causes timing chain malfunctioning as vehicle may stall while driving. Vehicle may overheat as water failure causes antifreeze to leak and cause overheating to fire hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #11364544, filed 2020-10, 203,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11383113, filed 2020-12“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10855043, filed 2016-04, 93,000 miles“The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Passat. While reversing in a parking area, a cracking sound was heard from the steering wheel. In addition, the power steering lost power and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The dealer diagnosed that the issue was related to a clock spring recall. The dealer resolved the recall issue, but the failure recurred six months later. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was advised that due to the previous recall repair, the vehicle could not be repaired again per the recall and the contact would have to pay out of pocket. …”
NHTSA complaint #10956488, filed 2017-02, 66,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10214740Jun 23, 2022In conjunction with the Georgia Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle Division and Department of Driver Services, Volkswagen sent Takata airbag recall reminder notices to…
- 10172558Mar 6, 2020Takata Incentive Program - Safety Recalls 69Q8 and 69Q9
- 10171391Feb 10, 2020In conjunction with the Ohio DMV, Volkswagen will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 9,000 Volkswagen owners in the State of Ohio on February 10…
- 10170837Jan 24, 2020In conjunction with the Georgia DMV, Volkswagen will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 7,900 Volkswagen owners in the State of Georgia on January…
- 10170641Jan 21, 2020In conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Volkswagen sent Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,800 Volkswagen owners in the state of…
- 10170640Jan 15, 2020In conjunction with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, Volkswagen sent Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 21,100 Volkswagen owners in the state of…
- 10168673Nov 4, 2019In conjunction with the Houston Dept. of Neighborhoods, Volkswagen will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 4,600 Volkswagen owners in the state of…
- 10166744Oct 14, 2019In conjunction with the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Volkswagen will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 20,200 Volkswagen…
- 10161471Nov 26, 2018Additional Safety Inquiry and Reporting instruction.
- 10161470Nov 21, 2018Additional Safety Inquiry and Reporting instruction.
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 2011 Volkswagen Passat
6 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsWheels
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 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