ERROR AIRBAG

[Bertieb]

After my car was parked for 14 days, whilst we were on holiday, when I started the engine yesterday I got an audible sound accompanied by a temporary message saying error airbag, and a permanently lit airbag symbol bottom right of instrument cluster. Any hopes that this was a temporary glitch have been dashed by the fact that the same now happens every time the engine is started.

Whilst we used the car to drive 170 miles back home from Gatwick, this all begs the question whether it is safe to drive the car until it is fixed!

I note that there is one member of this forum who on the 10 October reported that he has had this same issue on his Mk3 from the time he recently took delivery of the car, and rather worryingly hence reports that whilst the car is booked in for investigation, as of today the problem is still ongoing!

Just wondering whether this is another of these worrying software issues and whether anyone else is having similar problems, resolved or unresolved!?

[Bertieb]

Called VW Breakdown, yesterday, re. amber airbag light being on. They came out and spent best part of an hour checking things out, clearing out numerous error codes and updating software on a control unit. When finished they told me that all was working ok. This morning when I got in the car the amber airbag was back again! As a result the car will now have to go to the dealer, and I seriously wonder whether they will have a clue what’s causing the problem because the breakdown/VW Specialist guy told me that the error codes did not pinpoint which of the many many airbag system components was faulty,

I was told that they aren’t allowed to tell me what the error codes were but that a report would be submitted to VW against my chassis number.

I am well pleased with this situation because I am informed that whilst the amber warning light is displayed then airbags will not deploy if the car was involved in a collision! Also I understand that the car would not pass an MOT!

I had four trouble free years of motoring out of my 2020 Mk2 Tiguan but what with all the troublesome oversensitive tech on the Mk3 and now this, I am rapidly becoming disenchanted with VW because I think they’ve lost the plot!

[Bertieb]

Well, just hours after the VW Breakdown guy left, last Saturday afternoon, I started my Tiguan and…….airbag error messages and airbag light permanently lit again!
Tiguan now in main dealer workshop, courtesy of VW Breakdown, and diagnosis points to tension problem in the passenger seat belt apparently but after 3 days further work to remedy the problem is on hold as some particular cable/tool is required, which workshop does not have so it has to be obtained from VW on loan.
A day late, I have now arrived at my Daughter’s house, in Wokingham, driving a Cupra Formentor PHEV which whilst a bit of a hoot to drive, is not a patch on my Elegance for Comfort or Capacity! Apparently the Cupra is classed as an SUV but in my book it’s a hatchback, plain and simple, and quite a noisy hot buzz box!
A bit disappointed with VW as can’t understand a main dealer not being fully equipped and having to borrow tools!

[Bertieb]

Unfortunately Volkswagen continues to fail to impress me!
It’s bad enough a 4 month old car developing faults but when you can’t get replacement parts it all becomes a bit of a bad joke.
In fairness to the main VW Cardiff Dealership Service Dept they have, as promised, swiftly obtained the required diagnostic tool, identified the faulty part, and kept me informed….impressive as far are as I’m concerned…….BUT …Why on earth does VW think it’s ok to market a new model when you can’t get replacement parts for it, not to mention the horrendous software issues many owners are experiencing?? I’m told that the required part is on back-order for at least 3 weeks ….and maybe a damn sight longer!!
NOT AT ALL IMPRESSED!!
This is my 3rd Volkswagen but I’m wondering whether this one was a wise purchase?

[ms5keroid]

So many issues with this car, I've seen someone say their dealer told them it impacts 3-5% owners as if that's a great number on a brand new and not a very cheap car. That's possibly thousands and thousands of vehicles with (safety) issues, I feel like some regulation agencies should be informed and all over this.

Looking forward to your next update, hopefully they manage to get the part earlier and finally give you vehicle that's safe to drive because this is BS!

[joolstdi]

And the only place you can read about it is on this forum.
It not on you tube or none of the motoring magazines or the internet

It looks like that VW have Global black out on the subject and they have even stopped showing tv adverts on the new Tiguan

[Bertieb]

My Elegance eTSI has been off the road since 25 October. It needs a replacement part for a seat belt tensioner fault which is causing airbag errors.
The dealer has done everything swiftly and efficiently but the part is on back order with VW.
I wrote a formal complaint to VW, got an immediate “automated” response promising contact within 48 hrs.. 24 hrs later I got an email stating how sorry they were, how important I am, how they understood my disappointment, and how they were going to do everything they could to help, how they had elevated my case and that I would be contacted within another 48 hrs!!
Today, some hours over the 48, I got a call from VW …….basically sorry, sorry, understand, nothing they can do to expedite the part, but they will keep me updated! Basically, it will take as long as it takes by the look of it!
REALLY! It seems all they’re interested in is meeting Customer Service Targets which they’ve set themselves……..but they don’t appear to understand that’s not Customer Service!
VERY DISCONCERTING!!

[stevemc81]

My car is going in to the workshop on Wednesday with this airbag error. Did they insist on keeping it until they get the part? That would not be ideal.

[elan2s]

My car is going in to the workshop on Wednesday with this airbag error. Did they insist on keeping it until they get the part? That would not be ideal.

I am fairly sure that if the car is under warranty and the dealer needs to keep the car because of unavailability of a part the dealer needs to provide you with a loan car. Certainly with my wife's golf a couple of years ago the car needed a new MMI unit after the dealer applied update trashed it and we had a loan car for at least 2 weeks whilst they sourced a replacement. The dealer was able to charge VW for the cost of providing the loan car so they were not out of pocket.

[Bertieb]

My car is going in to the workshop on Wednesday with this airbag error. Did they insist on keeping it until they get the part? That would not be ideal.

Two things to note here:-

1. The VW breakdown Engineer told me that when an airbag error message is present - in the event of an accident involving collision, none of the airbags would deploy. He also stated that it would not pass an MOT test in that condition. Given that, then I would question potential Safety, Legal, and Insurance issues if the car is knowingly driven in such a state.

2. I got VW Breakdown to take my car to the Dealer, as they are obliged to do that. Under VW Breakdown you are then entitled to a replacement car, and apparently it has to be a VW Group vehicle. Initially you get it on a rolling 2 day arrangement…but, once I spoke to the Dealership, and it was established that things would take a while to diagnose and obtain the replacement part, they then took control of the loan car arrangement (mine is through Enterprise - a Cupra Formentor) and assured me that the loan car would stay in place until they were able to fix my car. I still have it, since 28th October.