NHTSA Complaint #760481 — 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I PURCHASED MY '99 JETTA NEW. AFTER APPRX 7 DAYS THE AIRBAG WARNING ILLUMINATED FOR NO REASON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY HAD A DIFFICULT TIME DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THEY DID GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF, BUT AFTER A WEEK IT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK A SECOND TIME, AND THIS TIME THE KEPT IT FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY DECIDED IT WAS A SESOR, THEN CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER 2 WEEKS THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. SEVERAL MECHANICS WARNED ME AGAINST DRIVING IT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, CITING A POSSIBLE DEFECT. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF UNTILL ABOUT THE 20,000 MILE MARK. IT WENT ON AND I TOOK IT IN, THEY FIXED IT WITHOUT MUCH EXPLAINATION. NOW AT 54,000 IT IS ON AGAIN. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT WHICH MIGHT PREVENT MY AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. BEFORE NOW, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ONLY COST WAS TIME AND EFFORT. NOW I MUST PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, A RENTAL CAR AND TO ACTUALLY HAVE IT REPAIRED, ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME THING WITH LITTLE HELP FROM VOLKSWAGEN OR THE DEALER. I WAS HOPING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THERE MAY BE A POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SENSOR, WIRE HARNESS OR THE AIRBAG ITSELF. THANK YOU.*AK