Recall 18V247 affects 71,335 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles for a driver air bag inflator explosion. Repair is free at franchised Volkswagen dealers.
Volkswagen is recalling 71,335 2006-2007 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment. In a crash that deploys the air bag, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death, and Volkswagen dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in the 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat and Passat Wagon is the metal canister inside the air bag module. In a crash, it burns propellant to create gas that fills the driver's air bag. The air bag depends on that pressure being controlled, so the bag inflates without the inflator body breaking apart.
In this recall, the Takata inflator uses propellant wafers that degrade after years of exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature cycling. If the air bag deploys after that degradation, the propellant burns too aggressively. That creates excessive internal pressure and the inflator body can rupture or explode instead of inflating the air bag normally.
There is no warning sign before failure. The inflator is sealed inside the driver's air bag module, and the problem shows up only when the air bag activates during a crash.
Who's affected?
Covers the Passat and Passat Wagon across the 2006 and 2007 model years, both tied to the same front air bag inflator module.
| 2006 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2007 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon | front air bag |
| 2006 Volkswagen Passat Wagon | front air bag |
| Units affected | 71,335 |
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?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can explode and send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before the inflator failure. Schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat or Passat Wagon is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free driver air bag inflator replacement that addresses the rupture risk during deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen sent one. If not, reference recall number 18V247 when you call.
- Avoid delaying the repair; the risk occurs if a crash deploys the driver's frontal air bag.
- Call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 with questions and reference Volkswagen recall 69Q8.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician removes the recalled front driver air bag inflator and installs an alternate inflator. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs tied to replacement of air bag inflators under this campaign. If you already paid for related work, ask the service desk to explain what is covered by this recall and what remains outside the reimbursement policy.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| April 18, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 18, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| April 18, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 30, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V247?
Recall 18V247 covers 71,335 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles with a driver's frontal air bag inflator that can explode during deployment. Volkswagen dealers replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator for free. This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.
What should I do if my 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat or Passat Wagon is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V247. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the front driver air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 18V247 or Volkswagen recall number 69Q8 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Volkswagen dealers replace the front driver air bag inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included vehicles, regardless of where you bought the car.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an exploding driver's frontal air bag inflator during a crash that deploys the air bag. Metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers and cause serious injury or death. If your VIN is included, Volkswagen dealers replace the driver air bag inflator for free.
What if I bought my Volkswagen Passat used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner or purchase location. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Passat or Passat Wagon is included, then call a franchised Volkswagen dealer and reference recall 18V247 or Volkswagen recall number 69Q8.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V247000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V247 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V247000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →