# 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — AIR BAGS
> NHTSA complaint `597121` · 2006-09-22 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 2
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** JETTA
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** AIR BAGS
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH OUT ANY REASONS AT ALL. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD, AT 20 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR FILLED UP WITH BLACK SMOKE AND THE PASSENGER CURTAIN, SEAT AND DASHBOARD AIRBAG ALL DEPLOYED. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. AND WAS ASTONISHED TO LEARN THAT NOT ONLY WAS I NOT SHOT AT  ( BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE) BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PROVOKE THIS. I CALLED VW THEY TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE FAULTY WIRING, AND TO BRING IT IN ASAP, THEY WOULD GIVE ME A LOANER CAR, AND IT WOULD TAKE 3-5 DAYS TO FIX. I DID SO, AND 3 HRS AFTER DROPPING OFF THE CAR, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MANAGER SAYING, PLEASE COME PICK UP YOUR CAR, WE WILL NOT FIX IT, YOUR CAR HAS BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT, YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE. NW MIND YOU I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 WEEKS, AND THERE IS NOT A DENT ON IT! I WAS FURIOUS AND CONFUSED. I ARGUED WITH THE GUY STATING THAT I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING, HE SAID THAT THE BLACK BOX CONTAINED A HIT CODE OF SOME KIND. THAT IT REGISTERED THAT I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT.  WELL DUH! ITS DEFECTIVE! TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I SUED VW, AND LOST! THEY INSISTED THAT ITS "NORMAL" FOR IT TO GO OFF, SAID EVEN IF YOU HAPPEN TO HIT A SMALL ROCK ON THE ROAD AND IT HITS JUST RIGHT, IT WILL CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY! HOW SAFE IS THAT!? ITS BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE THAT DAY AND VW HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE, STATING ITS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS.  *NM
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*