Volkswagen Recalls 2003 Models for Air Bag Inflator Defect
Volkswagen is recalling 2003 EuroVan, Jetta, Passat, and Golf vehicles because the driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defect could result in 'serious injury or death' due to metal fragments striking occupants, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe rating involving significant injury reports or potential.
Plain-English summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van, and EuroVan Chassis vehicles. The recall addresses a defect in the driver's frontal air bag inflator module.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN, JETTA, PASSAT, GOLF
- Brand
- VOLKSWAGEN
- Manufacturer
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Category
- Vehicle — Air Bag
- Affected units
- 2,564
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (4)
- EUROVAN
- JETTA
- PASSAT
- GOLF
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
Related recalls
Same brand · VOLKSWAGEN
- SevereVolkswagen Recalls ID.4 Vehicles Due to High Voltage Battery Fire Risk
NHTSA · 2026-09-30
- SevereVolkswagen Recalls 2025 Tiguan for Software Error Causing Engine Stalls
NHTSA · 2026-09-10
- High
- HighVolkswagen Tiguan rearview camera may fail to display after repair
NHTSA · 2026-05-20
- SevereVolkswagen Taos fuel pressure sensor may separate in a rear-end crash
NHTSA · 2026-04-22
Same manufacturer · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
See all →- SevereAudi Recalls 2024-2025 Q4 E-Tron Models Due to Battery Fire Risk
NHTSA · 2026-10-21
- SevereVolkswagen Recalls 2018-2021 Models for Steering Rack Bolt Corrosion
NHTSA · 2026-09-11
- SevereAudi Q5 front seat belts may fail to restrain occupants
NHTSA · 2026-04-24
Same hazard · air bag inflator explosion
See all →- SevereBMW Recalls 3 Series Vehicles Due to Air Bag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2024-07-03
- SevereVolvo Recalls 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 for Air Bag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2021-10-14
- SevereBMW Recalls 3 Series Vehicles for Air Bag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2021-05-27
- SevereNissan Recalls 2002-2006 Sentra Vehicles for Takata Air Bag Defect
NHTSA · 2020-12-01
- SevereVolkswagen Recalls Diesel Vehicles for Air Bag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2019-12-04
Similar recalls
- Severe
- Severe
- CriticalVolkswagen Recalls Beetle and Passat Models for Air Bag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2024-10-30
- SevereVolkswagen Recalls Diesel Vehicles for Air Bag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2019-12-04
- SevereVolkswagen Recalls Audi and Passat Vehicles for Airbag Inflator Defect
NHTSA · 2016-02-10
- SevereVolkswagen and Audi Vehicles Recalled for Air Bag Inflator Rupture Risk
NHTSA · 2016-02-10