The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles vehicles. The driver's side 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 risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed October 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69EM.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2015, 2016 |
| Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2015, 2016 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 | 2015 | 83 | 5 |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2016 | 48 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2015 | 16 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2016 | 11 | 2 |
Other air bags recalls in 2022
32 of the 933 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2022 concerned the air bags; Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed 321 campaigns in all.
| 22V929000 15 Dec 2022 | General Motors, LLC |
| 22V928000 14 Dec 2022 | Ford Motor Company |
| 22V878000 28 Nov 2022 | Kia America, Inc. |
| 22V873000 23 Nov 2022 | General Motors, LLC |
| 22V843000 15 Nov 2022 | Tesla, Inc. |
| 22V858000 2 Nov 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 22V684000 14 Sept 2022 | Ford Motor Company |
| 22V652000 29 Aug 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2022