Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle

Oct 30, 2024 — Recall Campaign #24V834000

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.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 248,330 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

24V834000

Manufacturer:	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Recall date:	October 30, 2024
NHTSA Campaign #:	24V834000
Units affected:	248,330

Description:: 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.
Consequeces:: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Corrective action:: 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.
Notes:: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Affects the following:

2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints
I am reporting a recurring safety-related defect involving the factory-installed infotainment touchscreen in my 2017 Volkswagen Passat SE Technology. The touchscreen intermittently malfunctions in several ways. At times, the entire infotainment system freezes and becomes completely unresponsive, preventing access to any controls. The screen also has developed "dead spots" where touch inputs do not register. Additionally, it sometimes registers "phantom touches," responding to inputs when the screen is not being touched. I believe this presents a safety concern because the infotainment system is an integrated component of the vehicle and is intended to be operated by the driver. When the system freezes, fails to respond, or registers unintended inputs, the driver may have to divert their attention from the roadway to determine what is happening, attempt to operate the system, or restart it. Dead spots can also prevent the driver from accessing desired functions. Pennsylvania recognizes the safety risks associated with distracted driving, including activities that take a driver's eyes off the roadway or hands off the wheel. A malfunctioning factory-installed touchscreen can create this type of distraction even when the driver is attempting to use the vehicle's integrated system. I have found multiple reports from other 2017 Volkswagen Passat owners describing similar infotainment problems, including frozen screens and touchscreen areas that become unresponsive. This suggests that the issue may be a recurring defect rather than an isolated failure. I believe NHTSA should investigate this issue to determine whether there is a common defect affecting 2017 Volkswagen Passat infotainment systems and whether Volkswagen should provide a remedy. A factory-installed vehicle control system should respond consistently and predictably. A touchscreen that freezes, fails to register inputs, or generates unintended inputs can require additional driver attention and interaction.;
2019 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Complaints
The 2019 Volkswagen Final Edition SE Beetle’s rear trunk latch/lock will fail and not open from the outside with the car unlocked and using the key fob due to it being jammed closed. In an emergency situation, there’s no manual way to open the rear hatch, and there are no visible markings showing where the override is to be or what to do to open it up from the inside in an emergency. Further, after reading the owner’s manual, it shows several different ways it can be opened depending on the year the vehicle was built, and the 2019 says to stick the flat end of your key into a slot on the right and slide it to the left to which mine failed and did NOT work. Dealership Service Technician showed me the plastic part that failed within the latch; however when I asked him not to replace the latch at a total price of $1500.00, the part was damaged for some unknown reasons. This would be a tragic event waiting to happen in an emergency!!! It could be the same in several other 2019 VW models I took the vehicle to my local dealership, and costed me $200.00 for a diagnostic and to have them open it, to which they said took them 3-hours… FROM THE DEALERSHIP: COMMENTS, BODY ELECTRICAL C/S - REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOUND THE REAR LATCH FAILED. FOUND WHOM EVER TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY RELEASE DAMAGED THE LATCH. REMOVED THE INTERIOR TRIM WITH THE HATCH CLOSED. WAS ABLE TO GAIN A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE LATCH. SEPARATED THE PLASTIC HOUSING FROM THE LATCH HOUSING IN ORDER TO USE A PICK TO RELEASE THE LATCH TO GET HATCH LID OPEN. CUSTOMER DECLINED LATCH REPLACEMENT. CUSTOMER REQUESTED TO NOT REINSTALL THE TRIM AND THE FAILED LATCH. PLACED THE TWO SCREWS FOR THE TRIM AND THE TWO BOLTS FOR THE LATCH IN THE CUP HOLDER. PLACED THE LATCH ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. PLACED THE TRIM IN THE TRUNK AREA. CUSTOMER TOOK THE VEHICLE WITH OUT REAR TRUNK LID LATCH INSTALLED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.;
2019 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE Complaints
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the vehicle was jerking while driving up an incline, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated while driving 63 MPH, the vehicle shut off with several warning lights illuminated. The contact was forced to coast the vehicle to a stop in the middle of the highway because the steering wheel could not be turned. The contact was almost struck by a tractor trailer after the failure. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and pulled over to the shoulder before resuming normal driving. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on several occasions however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 632.;