Recall 18V406 covers 2,564 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan, Jetta, Passat, and Golf vehicles for air bag inflator explosion risk. Free repair at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
Volkswagen is recalling 2,564 2003 Eurovan, Jetta, Passat, and Golf vehicles because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment. In a crash, metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants and cause serious injury or death; Volkswagen dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in these 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan, Jetta, Passat, and Golf vehicles is the metal canister inside the steering-wheel air bag module. In a crash, it burns propellant to create gas, which fills the air bag fast enough to cushion the driver. The inflator has to build pressure quickly, but stay within its design limits.
Volkswagen traced the problem to a driver frontal air bag production lot from calendar year 2002. The supplier reported that propellant humidity at the time of manufacture was too high after an air dryer malfunction. Over long-term temperature cycling, that moisture can degrade the propellant. If the driver's air bag deploys, the degraded propellant can create excessive internal pressure and the inflator can explode instead of inflating the bag in a controlled way.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the inflator and propellant, so an owner will not hear, feel, or see it during normal driving.
Who's affected?
Covers four Volkswagen nameplates from the 2003 model year, all tied to the driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2003 Volkswagen Jetta | front air bag |
| 2003 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2003 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| Units affected | 2,564 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
If the driver's frontal air bag deploys in a crash, a defective inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before an inflator rupture in a crash. Drive cautiously and schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan, Jetta, Passat, or Golf is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement, which replaces the inflator that can explode during air bag deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V406 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and leave extra following distance.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag inflator. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall, and the repair is available now because owner notification began May 2, 2019. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for this campaign. If you already paid for an air bag inflator repair, that prior cost is not covered by a separate recall reimbursement program.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| June 13, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 12, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| August 12, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 12, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 12, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 2, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V406?
Recall 18V406 covers 2,564 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan, Jetta, Passat, and Golf vehicles with a driver's frontal air bag inflator that can explode during deployment. Metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Volkswagen dealers replace the inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan, Jetta, Passat, or Golf is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V406. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall 18V406 or Volkswagen recall 69X3 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Volkswagen's remedy says dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator free of charge at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is metal-fragment impact during a crash. If the driver's frontal air bag deploys, excessive internal pressure can make the inflator explode, sending metal fragments toward the driver or passengers and causing serious injury or death.
What if I bought this Volkswagen used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2003 Volkswagen is included, then call a franchised Volkswagen dealer and reference recall 18V406 or Volkswagen recall 69X3.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V406000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V406 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V406000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →