VehicleVerdict

2006 Volkswagen Passat airbags problems

The 2006 Volkswagen Passat has 151 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

151

Airbags complaints

19%

Share of year

6

Crash-involved

3

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Related recalls

24V834000AirbagsOctober 30, 2024 · 248,330 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. 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.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

18V247000AirbagsApril 18, 2018 · 71,335 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.

16V079000AirbagsFebruary 10, 2016 · 151,767 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

What owners report

TAKATA RECALL I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR GOING ABOUT 70 MPH WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AROUND 3:15PM PST WHEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE AT ALL. THERE IS A KNOW RECALL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FOR MY CAR BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE. THIS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 2, 2016 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2006 Volkswagen Passat have?

NHTSA has 151 complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat airbags — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat airbags?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 16V079000, 18V247000, 24V834000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.