Volkswagen Golf, Passat Recall R/2021/404: Driver's Air Bag May Not Deploy Correctly If Activated, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 11 Oct 2021
- Launched
- 300
- vehicles in the UK
- 69AR
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
Volkswagen recalled Golf, Passat vehicles built between 22 May 1998 and 22 December 1999. Drivers airbag may not deploy correctly if activated. The dealer will check the airbag unit for the driver and if necessary the gas generator replaced. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
Drivers airbag may not deploy correctly if activated.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IF ACTIVATED Defect: Drivers airbag may not deploy correctly if activated. Remedy: On the affected vehicles the airbag unit for the driver is to be checked and if necessary the gas generator replaced.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: driver's air bag may not deploy correctly if activated.
The Fix
The dealer will check the airbag unit for the driver and if necessary the gas generator replaced.
Are You Affected?
Golf, Passat built between 22 May 1998 and 22 December 1999 may be included. Volkswagen estimates 300 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 campaign code 69AR or the DVSA reference R/2021/404. 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 | |
| GolfFront belt webbing | Low | R/2025/257 | |
| GolfFront belt webbing | Low | R/2025/256 | |
| ID.7, Id.buzz, Passat, Polo and 1 moreReplace front passenger airbag | Urgent | R/2025/208 | |
| GolfAnalysis vehicle modification | Low | R/2024/266 |
This is one of 220 Volkswagen recalls in DVSA’s data. The Volkswagen recall launched before it was R/2021/344 on 21 Sep 2021, for with temperatures below zero the door lock bowden cables can freeze. The one launched after it was R/2021/391 on 13 Oct 2021, for if the rear lid is opened and manually pushed up too far the electric spindle drive can…. You can also see every Volkswagen recall, all recalls launched in 2021 and airbag recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2021/404, launched 11 October 2021. 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.