Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module (Volkswagen)
Vehicle recall 18V-406. NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Jun 13, 2018.
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The short answer
NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Jun 13, 2018. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
(Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and EuroVan Chassis vehicles.
Upon deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
What should you do?
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver’s frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69X3.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: 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 www.safercar.gov.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 2,564 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Volkswagen Eurovanand 2003, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen Jettaand 2003, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen Passatand 2003, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen Golfand 2003, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.