2015 Volkswagen Passat · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 88owner reports
- 53,200median miles
- $500median quote
- 8involved a crash
Newest report Jan 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
88 of the 242 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Passat.
Narrower sheets: Takata airbag inflator recall (38 reports) · Airbag warning light stays on (32 reports)
Tick what matches of 88 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 (39 reports) and the occupant sensor (20 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the airbags cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 7 recalls on the 2015 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.
None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.
What owners paid
11 of the 88 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $145 to $700.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 66,961 miles, from the 47 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 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 ...
What owners wrote
“The clockspring on my 2015 Passat went out at the beginning of July. The part is on major backorder and I was told that it won't be in for at minimum a year. I do not have an airbag, a horn, or access to any of the controls on the steering wheel. My local dealership was of no assistance. There was no warnings when the clockspring failed.”
Filed Sep 13, 2022
“The clock spring has broken again. The clock spring had been replaced on this vehicle in spring 2020, it is currently summer 2022. The vehicle currently has approximately 162,000 miles. I am concerned because the VW dealers state that there is a nationwide back order on this part, with people waiting since early 2022 for the part at this time.”
Filed Sep 11, 2022 · 162,000 miles
“Clockspring broke so no airbag and the dealership wonât fix it and itâs under warranty.”
Filed May 24, 2022
“Clockspring broke when making a turn in the drive-thru pharmacy. Loud pop, then lost all power to steering wheel. Horn does not work, none of the controls work and the airbag is not guaranteed to work. Car has been at dealership for 5 months waiting for a repair. No ETA for 5 months now....”
Filed May 12, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 8 of 88 reports involved a crash and 9 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
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 28 reports