Recall 15V483 affects 415,825 2010-2014 Volkswagen vehicles for air bag clock spring contamination. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
Volkswagen is recalling 415,825 2010-2014 GTI, Jetta, Passat, Golf, Cc, Eos, and Tiguan vehicles because debris can contaminate the air bag clock spring and tear the cable that powers the driver's frontal air bag. If that connection is lost, the air bag will not deploy in a crash, and Volkswagen dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The steering wheel clock spring in these 2010-2014 Volkswagen GTI, Jetta, Passat, Golf, Cc, Eos, and Tiguan vehicles is a spiral-wound flat cable inside the steering column. It keeps electrical power and signals connected to the driver's frontal air bag while the steering wheel turns. The air bag relies on that connection to stay ready in a crash.
Debris inside the clock spring assembly, including long hair or long fabric fibers, can contaminate the moving parts. That contamination can pull internal guide loops out of position. Once those loops move, they put tension on the flat cable until the cable tears. A torn cable breaks the electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
If the clock spring cable ruptures, the airbag monitoring indicator light illuminates right away. That light is the warning sign that the driver's frontal air bag connection has been lost.
Who's affected?
Spans seven Volkswagen nameplates from 2010 through 2014, all tied to the front air bag component.
| 2012 Volkswagen GTI | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Jetta | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen GTI | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Jetta | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen GTI | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen GTI | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Jetta | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
| Units affected | 415,825 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A lost electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag prevents the air bag from deploying in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The airbag warning light illuminates when the clock spring cable ruptures; treat that light as a repair signal and schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2014 Volkswagen GTI, Jetta, Passat, Golf, Cc, Eos, or Tiguan is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free air bag clock spring cover or replacement, the repair that protects the driver's frontal air bag connection.
- Tell the dealer whether the air bag light is on, because that decides whether the clock spring cover or a new clock spring is installed.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen mailed one, or reference recall number 15V483 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete; the driver's frontal air bag connection can fail if clock spring debris tears the cable.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician checks the air bag light first. If the light is off, the technician installs a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring. If the air bag light is on and the clock spring requires replacement, the technician installs a new steering wheel clock spring. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Volkswagen has a general reimbursement plan on file for documented repairs paid before the recall notice. Ask Volkswagen customer service or the service desk how to submit prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 4, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 15, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V483?
Recall 15V483 covers 415,825 2010-2014 Volkswagen GTI, Jetta, Passat, Golf, Cc, Eos, and Tiguan vehicles with air bag clock spring contamination. The damaged cable can disconnect the driver's frontal air bag. Volkswagen dealers install a protective cover or replace the clock spring for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2014 Volkswagen GTI, Jetta, Passat, Golf, Cc, Eos, or Tiguan is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 15V483. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the clock spring inspection and repair. Reference recall number 15V483 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Volkswagen states that these repairs are free. Dealers install a protective cover when the air bag light is off, or replace the steering wheel clock spring when replacement is needed.
What is the safety risk in recall 15V483?
The safety risk is loss of the driver's frontal air bag connection. If the clock spring cable tears, the driver's frontal air bag will not deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Volkswagen did not tell owners to stop driving, but the VIN check decides whether the repair applies.
What if I bought this Volkswagen used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received Volkswagen's owner notice, check your VIN and call a franchised Volkswagen dealer with recall number 15V483. Volkswagen customer service is also available at 1-800-822-8987.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V483000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-822-8987 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V483 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V483000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →