2007 Volkswagen Passat Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Dec 29, 2025 · 106 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2007 Volkswagen Passat, 40% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 98,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air” (28% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Takata air: mentioned in 30 of 106 complaints (28%)
  • Bag fault: mentioned in 7 of 106 complaints (7%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 34 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles1 · 3%
10k–25k miles3 · 9%
25k–50k miles1 · 3%
50k–75k miles5 · 15%
75k–100k miles7 · 21%
100k–150k miles11 · 32%
150k+ miles6 · 18%

How serious are the reports?

Of 106 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.

Volkswagen Passat air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2013, with 382 complaints
1997: 119971998: 81999: 2119992000: 172001: 2620012002: 112003: 2320032004: 82005: 420052006: 1482007: 10620072008: 322009: 1220092010: 452011: 520112012: 2962013: 38220133822014: 3542015: 8820152016: 252017: 2820172018: 52020: 420202021: 3

n = 1,652 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2021 Passat317%—
2020 Passat422%—
2018 Passat511%49,900
2017 Passat2825%33,750
2016 Passat2524%46,000
2015 Passat8836%53,000
2014 Passat35460%50,000
2013 Passat38251%56,718
2012 Passat29661%62,000
2011 Passat531%93,000
2010 Passat4528%62,500
2009 Passat128%75,000
2008 Passat3219%114,000
2007 Passat10640%98,500
2006 Passat14826%93,674
2005 Passat43%43,000
2004 Passat83%29,740
2003 Passat234%44,500
2002 Passat112%78,000
2001 Passat266%64,445
2000 Passat173%52,500
1999 Passat213%49,766
1998 Passat82%85,000
1997 Passat13%100,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2017, with 36 complaints
2010: 2201022011: 1201112012: 3201232013: 1201312014: 7201472015: 5201552016: 352016352017: 362017362018: 112018112019: 2201922022: 1202212023: 1202312025: 120251

n = 106 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (4)

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleOct 30, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V834000 · 248,330 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleApr 18, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V247000 · 71,335 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleMar 6, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V148000 · 363,713 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleFeb 10, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V078000 · 659,493 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owned a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V148000(Air Bags) and 17V509000 ( Fuel System, Gasoline), and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted.

Received Dec 29, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11707536

I am filing a complaint in regards to Volkswagen failing to offer a solution to repair the Takata airbag which was recalled. I have tried contacting VW numerous times over the past two years as I live in Juneau, Alaska, which is landlocked and the only option is to send the vehicle on a ferry to…

Received Aug 29, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11541436

The Air bag fault message came on the dash. My VW Passat car was not involved in any accident. I took the car to VW dealer for the diagnosis for which I was charged. The air bag fault message is no longer there but I am sure my air bags have not been replaced. I have been advised that I may have to…

Received Jan 2, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11445877
Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen Passat NMS II Chinese spec PHEV. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Jengtingchen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2007 Volkswagen Passats have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 106 owner complaints about air bags for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat (40% of the 262 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2007 Volkswagen Passat air bags?

Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do air bags problems start?

The median reported mileage is 98,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2007 Volkswagen Passat?

The most frequent phrase is “takata air”, in 30 of 106 complaints, followed by “bag fault” (7).

See all 2007 Volkswagen Passat problems or air bags problems across all Passat years.