NHTSA Complaint #10568824 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAS HAD 4 FAILURES OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO VOLKSWAGEN CERTIFIED DEALERSHIPS, THE PART THAT KEEPS FAILING IS A SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT. WHEN THIS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS RENDERED USELESS. IT GOES OFF RANDOMLY, WITH NO TRAUMA OR INCIDENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE PART COSTS MORE THAN $600 TO FIX. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED IN 2008, 2010, 2013 AND NOW THE SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN. EACH TIME IT WENT OUT IT WAS WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PREVIOUS FAILURE, ALTHOUGH UNTIL RECENTLY I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS DISABLED - I WAITED TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE. THE LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY TURNS OFF ONE OUT OF EVERY 10-15 DRIVES. THE VOLKSWAGEN REGIONAL CASE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT - DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PART IS CLEARLY FAULTY AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILED DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN OR ANY FACTORS I COULD CONTROL - THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AND EXPECT ME TO PAY THE COST FOR THE YEARLY/BI-YEARLY FAILURE BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. THE FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAD LOWER MILEAGE. (PLUS, I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000) THIS PART CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS STICKING THE CONSUMER WITH THE BILL FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. WHEN I ASKED "IF I PAY TO FIX IT NOW, WILL YOU BE COVERING THE REST OF THE REPLACEMENTS IT WILL OBVIOUSLY NEED DOWN THE LINE?" THE ANSWER WAS A "NO." IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY SOME BODY WITH AUTHORITY OVER THIS COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT MEETING BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS. I MAINTAIN THE PARTS OF MY VEHICLE EACH YEAR THAT I AM REQUIRED TO - VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DO THEIR PART TO MAKE THEIR VEHICLES WORK PROPERLY. *TR