Recall 22V945 covers 37,558 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles for driver's air bag inflator explosion risk. Repair is free at franchised Volkswagen dealers.
Volkswagen is recalling 37,558 2015-2016 Beetle Convertible and Beetle vehicles because the driver's side air bag inflator can explode after long-term heat and humidity exposure. Sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants and result in serious injury or death; Volkswagen dealers will replace the inflator free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver air bag module in the 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and Beetle contains the inflator for the driver frontal air bag. The inflator is the metal canister that creates gas when the air bag deploys in a crash. Its job is to fill the air bag quickly while staying contained inside the module.
On affected vehicles, the Takata SDI-D inflator uses ammonium nitrate propellant, the chemical that creates that gas. After long exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and temperature cycling, the propellant degrades. If the air bag deploys after that degradation, the inflator can explode instead of operating as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The driver will not see a light, sound, smell, or change in normal driving that shows the inflator has degraded.
Who's affected?
Covers the Beetle coupe and Beetle Convertible for the 2015 and 2016 model years; both use the same driver front air bag module.
| 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | front air bag |
| 2015 Volkswagen Beetle | front air bag |
| 2016 Volkswagen Beetle | front air bag |
| Units affected | 37,558 |
| 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 car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the driver's air bag inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm your VIN and schedule the air bag replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible or Beetle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free driver's-side air bag replacement for the inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 22V945 and Volkswagen recall 69EM when you call.
- Call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 if you need help before the dealer appointment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician replaces the driver's side air bag covered by campaign 22V945. The replacement parts and labor are covered, so the dealer repair is free now through a franchised Volkswagen dealer. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for prior repairs under this campaign. If you already paid for air bag work, ask the service desk to confirm whether that repair is separate from this recall before authorizing any new paid work.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| December 21, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 17, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| February 17, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 17, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 17, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 26, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V945?
Recall 22V945 covers 37,558 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and Beetle vehicles with a driver's-side air bag inflator that can explode after long-term exposure to humidity and heat cycling. Volkswagen dealers will replace the driver's side air bag for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible or Beetle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 22V945. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the driver's side air bag replacement. Reference recall number 22V945 or Volkswagen recall 69EM when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Volkswagen's remedy says dealers will replace the driver's side air bag free of charge at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is serious. The driver's-side air bag inflator can explode and send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. The repair path is a free driver's side air bag replacement at a Volkswagen dealer.
When were owners notified about recall 22V945?
Volkswagen mailed owner notification letters on October 26, 2023. If you own a 2015-2016 Beetle Convertible or Beetle and never received a letter, check your VIN and call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or a franchised Volkswagen dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V945000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V945 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V945000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →