# NHTSA recall 08V178000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 08V178000
- Manufacturer's number: R6
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
- Reported: 2008\-04\-17
- Owners notified: 2008\-07\-31
- Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE\-INACTIVE
- Units potentially affected: 76900

## What is wrong

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004\-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003\-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED \(DUAL\-STAGE\) AIR BAG SYSTEM.  THIS SYSTEM  MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.  IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.


## What can happen

IN LOW\-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT\-OF\-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.  ALL OF THE DEFECT CRASH SENSORS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.  THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2008.  OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1\-800\-822\-8987.


## Notes

VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. R6.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-327\-4236 \(TTY 1\-800\-424\-9153\), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE](/makes/volkswagen/beetle/2003/recalls.md). Built 2002\-07\-30 to 2004\-10\-31.
- [2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE](/makes/volkswagen/beetle/2004/recalls.md). Built 2002\-07\-30 to 2004\-10\-31.
- [2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE](/makes/volkswagen/beetle/2005/recalls.md). Built 2002\-07\-30 to 2004\-10\-31.

## Investigated as PE08012

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE08012: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2008\-02\-15, closed 2008\-04\-24. FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR FAILURE. AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE\-INACTIVE.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V178000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V178000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [SB\-69\-11\-01](/bulletins/10038665.md), 2011-06-24, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V178000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V178000)

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