2014 Volkswagen Passat · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light stays on
- 48owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
48 of the 354 reports of airbag on the 2014 Passat describe airbag light on.
Part of Airbag warning light or recall (354 reports) · also: Takata airbag recall
Tick what matches of 48 reports
Airbag light on on other Passat years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside airbag problems for the warning light itself: an airbag or SRS light that stays on, or comes and goes, with no crash involved. The light is the car saying part of the airbag system may not work when it's needed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the clock spring (29 reports).
Recalls and investigations
5 recalls on the airbags cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned.
All 10 recalls on the 2014 Volkswagen Passat, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Passat
Air bag clockspring failure. Open.
Air bag clockspring failure. Closed may 4, 2018.
Air bag clockspring failure. Closed sep 28, 2015, led to recall 15V-483.
Passenger air bag lid failure. Closed apr 23, 2004.
Passenger sir door mounting stud failure. Closed oct 7, 2003.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 56,000 and 92,000 miles, from the 33 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
VOLKSWAGEN: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FRONT SIDE AIRBAG PRESSURE SENSOR INTERRUPTION/SHORT TO B+. THE DTCS B101715 AND B103615. *JS
Technical Bulletin (Airbag Warning Lamp ON): The airbag control unit self-test may be susceptible to alarm horn resonance during the self-test causing the airbag light to illuminate in the instrument panel.
VOLKSWAGEN: DURING A SELF TEST, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HORN ALARM RESONANCE THAT CAUSES AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE IN INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT AIRBAG SYSTEM STILL IS OPERATIONAL. MODEL 2012-2014 JETTA GLI, PASSAT. *PE
What owners wrote
“I was driving and the airbag light randomly came on out of the blue. While trying to parallel park I noticed my steering wheel clicking. We ran codes on the car and we are confident that the clock spring failed. My horn and cruise control also no longer work.”
Filed Jun 11, 2026
“The airbag light came on and shortly thereafter the steering wheel buttons stop working, the steering was stiff and harder to turn and ultimately the horn stop working. I feel driving a vehicle with a broken clock spring is extremely dangerous and is a safety issue.”
Filed Jun 8, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 48 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 34 reports