Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain Volkswagen Passat vehicles under NHTSA campaign 24V-834. The recall is ongoing. Volkswagen reported it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on October 30, 2024.
The recall covers 2006-2007 Passat Sedans, 2012-2014 Passats and 2017 Passat Wagons. These vehicles have Takata SDI-D inflators in the driver’s air bag. The inflator may explode because its propellant can degrade after long-term exposure.
Owners can look up their VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if a Passat needs the repair. Dealers fix the problem free of charge by replacing the air bag module on the driver’s side. Volkswagen customer service is at 1-800-893-5298.
- Action type: Vehicle safety recall (NHTSA campaign 24V-834)
- Announcement and initiation dates: Reported to NHTSA on October 30, 2024
- Company and responsible agency: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and NHTSA, recall lookup
- Recall or campaign number: NHTSA 24V-834. Volkswagen 69EG, 69GQ and 69E6.
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: 2006-2007 Passat Sedan, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, with Takata SDI-D inflators. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Number of affected units: 114,478 US vehicles, Beetles included. NHTSA’s current record lists 248,330.
- Sold at and sale period: Not stated in the notice
- Hazard: The driver’s side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation.
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: Volkswagen says it is not aware of any warranty or field claims for this issue.
- Remedy: Dealers replace the driver’s side front air bag module free of charge. Volkswagen: 1-800-893-5298.
Table Of Contents
- Latest Volkswagen Passat Recall Updates
- Which Volkswagen Passats Are Affected?
- Why Were the Volkswagen Passats Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which Volkswagen Passat Model Years Are Included in the Airbag Recall?
- Is the Volkswagen Passat Airbag Recall Repair Free?
- Is It Safe to Drive a Volkswagen Passat with a Recalled Takata Air Bag?
- Can You File a Volkswagen Passat Recall Lawsuit?
- Is There a Settlement for Volkswagen Takata Air Bags?
- What Is a Takata SDI-D Air Bag Inflator?
- References
Latest Volkswagen Passat Recall Updates
December 4, 2024: Owner Letters Mailed
NHTSA‘s campaign record for recall 24V-834 says owner notification letters were mailed on December 4, 2024 [1]. That is ahead of the mailing date expected in NHTSA’s November 6 letter.
The record lists Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. as the manufacturer and gives Volkswagen’s own numbers for the recall: 69EG, 69GQ and 69E6. The record’s current total is 248,330 potentially affected vehicles.
November 6, 2024: NHTSA Acknowledges the Recall
NHTSA acknowledged the recall report in a letter to Volkswagen dated November 6, 2024 [2]. The letter lists certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles.
The letter also says owner letters were expected to be mailed December 27, 2024, and that eight consecutive quarterly reports followed by three annual reports are required.
November 1, 2024: Volkswagen Sends Dealer Advance Notice
Volkswagen sent dealers an advance notice for safety recall 69EG on November 1, 2024 [3]. The notice said the repair was not yet available. Dealers and owners would be notified in writing once the remedy became available.
The notice lists vehicle counts for the United States and Canada. Its counts reflect the overall population, and some vehicles may already be repaired.
October 30, 2024: Volkswagen Files Part 573 Report
Volkswagen Group of America submitted its Part 573 safety recall report to NHTSA on October 30, 2024 [4]. The report covers 114,478 vehicles in the United States with Takata SDI-D driver air bag inflators.
The filing lists 2017-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible models and certain Passat models. Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee had decided on the recall on October 23, 2024.
September 2, 2021: Reuters Reports Volkswagen Settlement
Reuters reported on September 2, 2021 that Volkswagen’s U.S. unit agreed to a $42 million settlement. The deal covers 1.35 million vehicles with Takata air bag inflators [5].
The report cites documents filed in U.S. District Court in Miami. They say around 35% of the inflators in Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that have been or will be recalled have not been repaired. The report does not list models.
Which Volkswagen Passats Are Affected?
Volkswagen’s recall 24V-834 covers these Passat vehicles with Takata SDI-D inflators:
- 2006-2007 Passat Sedan: 22,573 vehicles in the United States and 605 in Canada
- 2012-2014 Passat: 54,872 vehicles in the United States and 1,660 in Canada
- Passat Wagon, listed by NHTSA as model year 2017: 5,324 vehicles in the United States and 221 in Canada
Volkswagen’s dealer notice, the source of the Canada counts, lists the Passat Wagon under model year 2007, not 2017 as NHTSA does.
Volkswagen says some SDI-D inflators were “received as a remedy part.” The report gives the VIN range as not sequential, so each owner needs a VIN lookup.
Why Were the Volkswagen Passats Recalled?
Volkswagen is recalling the Passats because the driver’s side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation. The degradation occurs after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. That may result in serious injury or death.
Volkswagen states that its internal testing of returned SDI-D parts did not identify any defects, and that the inflators currently do not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety to drivers of affected vehicles.
Volkswagen agreed to the recall in consultation with NHTSA out of an abundance of caution. NHTSA’s November 6 letter says it does not agree with Volkswagen’s statement that the matter currently does not have a safety risk.
The letter adds that the statement “has no force or effect” in terms of Volkswagen’s obligation to undertake and complete the recall.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
Volkswagen told NHTSA that it is not aware of any warranty or field claims relating to this issue for SDI-D air bag inflators. That is a company statement to the agency. It is not an NHTSA count of incidents.
The Reuters report of September 2, 2021 gave wider Takata figures that are not specific to the Passat. As of that report, at least 19 U.S. deaths had been attributed to faulty Takata inflators.
The report also said more than 400 injuries were tied to faulty Takata inflators and at least 28 deaths worldwide. Reports are not proof that an inflator caused every incident.
What Should Consumers Do?
Owners of a Passat that may be in the recall can take these steps:
- Look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to learn if your Passat needs the recall repair. The VIN is on the lower left of the windshield and on the registration card.
- Contact a Volkswagen dealer or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and give the recall numbers 69EG, 69GQ and 69E6.
- Ask the dealer to replace the driver’s side front air bag module. The repair is free of charge. The new part is an air bag without ammonium nitrate.
- Call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov for more information.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
NHTSA’s records include these earlier Passat air bag recalls, which are separate from recall 24V-834:
- Recall 20V-533 covers 1,829 vehicles, certain 2020 Passats, because the passenger frontal air bag may have been folded incorrectly [6].
- Recall 19V-862 covers certain 2012-2015 Passats thought to have been repaired under a Takata recall. Propellant degradation may make the driver’s side air bag inflator explode [7].
- Recall 18V-247 covers certain 2006-2007 Passat sedans and wagons. Excessive internal pressure may cause the driver’s frontal air bag inflator to explode [8].
Legal Options
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation lists the Takata air bag litigation as MDL No. 2599 in its December 2, 2025 pending MDL report [9]. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.
Senior District Judge Federico A. Moreno oversees that MDL in the Southern District of Florida under docket 1:15-md-02599 [10].
The report lists no active MDL for the Passat recall alone. A lawyer can review a person’s own facts. See our Volkswagen recall lawsuit page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Volkswagen Passat Model Years Are Included in the Airbag Recall?
The Passat model years in the airbag recall were built on these dates, per Volkswagen’s report: Sedans between February 15, 2005 and November 6, 2006, Wagons between October 21, 2005 and November 6, 2006, and 2012-2014 Passats between April 26, 2011 and July 23, 2014.
Is the Volkswagen Passat Airbag Recall Repair Free?
Yes, the Volkswagen Passat airbag recall repair is free. Volkswagen’s Part 573 report says the driver side front airbag module will be replaced at no cost to customers and that Volkswagen will not offer a reimbursement plan under this recall.
Is It Safe to Drive a Volkswagen Passat with a Recalled Takata Air Bag?
A Volkswagen Passat with a recalled Takata air bag has no do-not-drive or park-outside instruction in NHTSA’s record. Volkswagen says it understands that NHTSA is concerned that “after additional time, the airbag inflator may not perform properly in the event of a crash.” The hazard is serious injury or death.
Can You File a Volkswagen Passat Recall Lawsuit?
Whether you can file a Volkswagen Passat recall lawsuit depends on your own facts. The docket for the Takata MDL opened on February 5, 2015, according to the court’s docket record.
Is There a Settlement for Volkswagen Takata Air Bags?
A settlement for Volkswagen Takata air bags was reported by Reuters on September 2, 2021. Reuters said it covers rental car and out-of-pocket costs, including lost wages and childcare. Whether a Passat owner is covered is not established.
What Is a Takata SDI-D Air Bag Inflator?
A Takata SDI-D air bag inflator, as Volkswagen describes it in its Part 573 report, is a phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) airbag inflator. These are desiccated inflators containing 2004 propellant.
References
- https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/campaignNumber?campaignNumber=24V834
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V834-9683.pdf
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCMN-24V834-0798.pdf
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V834-6970.PDF
- https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/09/02/us-takata-recall-volkswagen
- https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/campaignNumber?campaignNumber=20V533
- https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/recallsByVehicle?make=volkswagen&model=passat&modelYear=2013
- https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/recallsByVehicle?make=volkswagen&model=passat&modelYear=2007
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_District-December-2-2025.pdf
- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4236477/in-re-takata-airbag-products-liability-litigation/