The defect
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles, manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats. If the right front passenger seat gets wet, the occupant control module may not properly detect the presence of a child restraint installed in the seat.
The risk
If the control module does not detect a child seat installed, the airbag will not turn off. If the airbag does not turn off, in the event of a crash necessitating front airbag deployment, a child secured in the child seat may be at an increased risk for serious injury.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the control modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2012, 2013 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2012 | 65 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2013 | 93 | 6 |
Other air bags recalls in 2012
22 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the air bags; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 12V527000 8 Nov 2012 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 12V528000 8 Nov 2012 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 12V522000 31 Oct 2012 | General Motors LLC |
| 12V492000 9 Oct 2012 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 12V488000 5 Oct 2012 | Ford Motor Company |
| 12V439000 10 Sept 2012 | Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC |
| 12V432000 5 Sept 2012 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 12V409000 20 Aug 2012 | Coda Automotive |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012