Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2017-2019 model year Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Volkswagen had been refusing to recall the inflators arguing since 2020 about NHTSA’s interpretation of Takata defect data.*
“The driver’s side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling,” VW said in the required safety defect recall filing. Volkswagens included in this recall are equipped with the Takata SDI-D driver frontal airbag. “An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death,” VW acknowledged.
Dealers will replace the driver’s side front air bag module, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 27 December 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s numbers for this recall are 69EG and 69GQ. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov. about NHTSA Recall 24V834 or 24V-834.
*Chronology
- January 15, 2020: Meeting to discuss this topic was held between Volkswagen and the NHTSA.
- January 21, 2020: Follow-up meeting between Volkswagen and the NHTSA. As an outcome of the meeting, NHTSA clarified its expectation of a recall of all SDI-D inflators in the Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles.
- February 2020 – April 2020: Volkswagen and the NHTSA discussed the terms of a potential recall program internally and between the parties.
- April 30, 2020 – May 5, 2020: An agreement between Volkswagen and NHTSA to address the recall of vehicles equipped with Takata SDI-D airbag inflators was reached and fully executed by Volkswagen Group of America and NHTSA.
- December 9, 2020: Pursuant to the schedule set out in the agreement with NHTSA, Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee decided to conduct a safety recall for MY 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertibles containing SDI-D inflators as original equipment.
- December 14, 2022: Pursuant to the schedule set out in the agreement with NHTSA, Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee decided to conduct a safety recall for MY 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertibles containing SDI-D inflators as original equipment. Volkswagen is not aware of any warranty or field claims relating to this issue.
- October 23, 2024: Pursuant to the schedule set out in the agreement with NHTSA, Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee decided to conduct a safety recall for MY 2017-2019 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertibles containing SDI-D inflators as original equipment and for MY 2006-2007 Passat B6 vehicles and MY 2012 – 2014 US Passat vehicles containing SDI-D inflators received as a remedy part.
Volkswagen said it is not aware of any warranty or field claims relating to this issue for SDI-D airbag inflators.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
VW Ensnared in More Takata Airbag Shrapnel Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2017-2019 model year Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Volkswagen had been refusing to recall the inflators arguing since 2020 about NHTSA’s interpretation of Takata defect data.*
“The driver’s side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling,” VW said in the required safety defect recall filing. Volkswagens included in this recall are equipped with the Takata SDI-D driver frontal airbag. “An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death,” VW acknowledged.
Dealers will replace the driver’s side front air bag module, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 27 December 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s numbers for this recall are 69EG and 69GQ. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov. about NHTSA Recall 24V834 or 24V-834.
*Chronology
Volkswagen said it is not aware of any warranty or field claims relating to this issue for SDI-D airbag inflators.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.