2014 Volkswagen Passat · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 354owner reports
- 53,000median miles
- $700median quote
- 13involved a crash
Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
354 of the 565 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2014 Passat.
Narrower sheets: Takata airbag inflator recall (294 reports) · Airbag warning light stays on (48 reports)
Tick what matches of 354 reports
Airbag 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.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the clock spring (69 reports), the occupant sensor (52 reports) and the inflator (18 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.
What owners paid
15 of the 354 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $875.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 32,000 and 80,200 miles, from the 90 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 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.
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication for the airbag control module. For trouble code DTC B10001B. Driver airbag igniter resistance too high -N95
Grinding noises can be heard from the area of the steering wheel/driver airbag or steering column when maneuvering OR Various controls, warnings or fault indicators, such as airbag, electronic stabilization programming (ESP), steering assist etc., light up ...
This document reminds dealers that Takata SDI Frontal Airbag Inflators replaced with the 69M9 Safety Recall will not be requested for return through the Warranty Parts Portal but will be requested for return through the Takata XPO Return Program.
VOLKSWAGEN: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FRONT SIDE AIRBAG PRESSURE SENSOR INTERRUPTION/SHORT TO B+. THE DTCS B101715 AND B103615. *JS
5 more on the 2014 Volkswagen Passat page.
What owners wrote
“The controls on the steering wheel have stopped working along with the air bags were disabled (the light is on). Sounds like the clock spring.”
Filed Dec 13, 2023
“Clock spring is broken air bag will not deploy which is a recalled component for some vehicles. Somehow my Vin is not on the list.”
Filed Aug 2, 2023
“Iâve been try to contact the recall department for my air bag issued for 2years straight since I purchased the vehicle but no appointment has been set to fix the airbag recall”
Filed Jun 14, 2023
“Vehicle originally was taken in for a recall on the clock spring, now having the same issue again start up a couple months ago. The driver side airbag will no longer function under these conditions”
Filed Jan 22, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 13 of 354 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 34 reports