Volkswagen Passat Recall R/1998/056: The Drivers Air Bag Could Have Been Unintentionally Deactivated, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 15 Jul 1998
- Launched
- 121
- vehicles in the UK
- R/1998/056
- DVSA reference
Volkswagen recalled Passat vehicles. Were the owner had requested to have the passengers air bag deactivated it is possible that during the deactivation process the drivers air bag could have been deactivated instead of the passengers. The recall notice describes the fix as: interrogate the air bag control unit and reconnect the wiring to the drivers air bag. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
Were the owner had requested to have the passengers air bag deactivated it is possible that during the deactivation process the drivers air bag could have been deactivated instead of the passengers.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: THE DRIVERS AIR BAG COULD HAVE BEEN UNINTENTIONALLY DEACTIVATED Defect: On certain vehicles were the owner had requested to have the passengers air bag deactivated it is possible that during the deactivation process the drivers air bag could have been deactivated instead of the passengers. Remedy: Interrogate the air bag control unit and reconnect the wiring to the drivers air bag
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: the drivers air bag could have been unintentionally deactivated.
The Fix
The recall notice describes the fix as: interrogate the air bag control unit and reconnect the wiring to the drivers air bag.
Are You Affected?
Passat may be included. Volkswagen estimates 121 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Volkswagen, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Volkswagen.
- Book with any franchised Volkswagen dealer, quoting the DVSA reference R/1998/056. See how to get a Volkswagen recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beetle, Crafter, EOS, FOX and 9 moreTakata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement | Stop driving | R/2025/357 | |
| ID.7, Id.buzz, Passat, Polo and 1 moreReplace front passenger airbag | Urgent | R/2025/208 | |
| Arteon, Golf, PassatOn certain vehicles with electromechanical brake servo and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) of a limited production period there is a possibility that a heat protection mat was incorrectly fitted. In individual cases the brake fluid reservoir can melt and cause a brake fluid leak into the engine compartment | Urgent | R/2024/014 | |
| Arteon, Golf 8, Passat, TiguanThe fuse in the high-voltage system of plug-in hybrid vehicles was in some cases produced with too little so-called fire sand | Urgent | R/2022/086 | |
| Golf, PassatDriver's air bag may not deploy correctly if activated | Urgent | R/2021/403 |
This is one of 220 Volkswagen recalls in DVSA’s data. The Volkswagen recall launched before it was R/1997/091 on 17 Mar 1998, for malfunction of air bag. The one launched after it was R/1998/052 on 17 Jul 1998, for 1) air mass meter grid may detach and jam throttle open & fuel pipes & 2) metal brake…. You can also see every Volkswagen recall, all recalls launched in 1998 and airbag recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/1998/056, launched 15 July 1998. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.