1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Air Bags Problems

A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GT, EQUIPPED WITH FRONTAL AIRBAGS WAS IN A COLLISION DUE TO THE USE OF AFTERMARKET PARTS, WHICH INCLUDED AFTER MARKET BALL JOINTS NOT SUPPLIED FROM THE DEALER, THIS PART FAILED AFTER 12.7KM ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 110KM/H 65MPH, THE CAR STEERING WAS VERY SHAKY WHEN ENTERING A SLIGHT TURN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD FRACTURED IN THE HUB KNUCKLE AND HAD CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE, THE STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING BECAUSE THE TIRES WHERE NOT ON THE GROUND, THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE RAD SUPPORT AND FRONT AXLE OF THE CAR, BRAKING ALSO FAILED DUE TO THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING FORCE BEING ON THE FRONT WHEELS THAT WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE CAR THEN STRUCK A GUARD RAIL 3 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE REST, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THERE WAS NO NEED DUE TO THE ANGLE IN WHICH THE CAR STRUCK THE RAIL. SAFETY BELTS WORKED AND CARS MECHANICAL OPERATION (BESIDES FRONT SUSPENSION, AND BODY DAMAGE) WAS STILL FINE. WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE ALL REPLACED A WEEK PREVIOUS TO CRASH. BEWARE NON-VOLKSWAGEN PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

REPLACED IGNITION COIL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS!! ELECTRIC WATER PUMP REPLACED. EATER CORE EXPLODED A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR! COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AS CAR FILLED WITH ANTIFREEZE CLOUD. BELT DRIVEN WATER PUMP WENT A WEEK LATER. ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DOOR HANDLE BROKE TWICE!. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

PAST YEAR: AUTO DOOR LOCKS FAILED, COULD NOT OPEN EITHER FRONT DOOR; TRANSMISSION FAILED, EXHAUST SYSTEM RUSTED OUT, HEADLIGHTS OUT, SIGNALS OUT, WHEEL BEARINGS NEED REPLACED, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE CAR IN NEARLY 1 YEAR, REQUIRED NEARLY $5000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *JB

Mileage: 67,000

THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON THE SNOW ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A GUARDRAIL. THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. *CB

Mileage: 84,000

THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON THE SNOW ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A GUARDRAIL. THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. *CB

Mileage: 84,000

MY PASSAGNER AIR BAG SHOWED DEFECT. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR NO REASON.*AK

PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FORWARD. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL U TURN IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLE BY SWERVING. INSTEAD, SHE HIT CENTER OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRSBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. DIGANOSTIC PERFORMED BY DEALER REVEALED THAT IGNITOR WAS BAD. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, DEALER AGREED TO PAY FOR AIR BAG IF I PAID FOR LABOR. ALTHOUGH I AGREED, I WAS SUPRISED TO HEAR THAT AIRBAGS DO NOT FALL UNDER THE SAME WARRANTY REQUIRMENTS AS SEAT BELTS. ALTHOUGH I'M THANKFUL THAT VW AGREED TO COVER THE $600 FOR THE AIRBAG, I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO COVER THE $100 IN LABOR FOR A SAFETY DEVICE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 50,000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE, AND BOTH AIR BAGS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AND HIT A PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS LYING IN THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

DURING VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM ALL SIDES, AND PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

DRIVER HIT THE CURB AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE HEAD. THE DRIVER WAS POSSIBLY KILLED BY THE AIRBAG. *AK

VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STANDSTILL; DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED; DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED 5 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT; PASSENGER PREGNANT. *AK