Airbag error light
Author
Discussion

raspire

Original Poster:

74 posts

96 months

Thursday 19th August 2021
quotequote all
Was driving fine with no issues today, VW passat 18 plate 26k miles, parked up went shopping, came back and when turning the ignition on an airbag error message and light came on.

Not sure whats caused this, the car is just out of warranty, no damage to car or anything that I can tell.

Horn and buttons on the steering wheel also doesnt work after this light came on, quick google says clock spring has gone.

Airbags havent been deployed and steering it seems totally normal.

Could a very low speed bump in a car park from a reversing car when i was shopping have caused this or if that was to occur would the airbags deploy?


Drive Blind

5,610 posts

200 months

Thursday 19th August 2021
quotequote all
you need to get the car scanned with vcds or similar and take it from there.

I'd find a good local VW group indie. Dealers will probably charge £100+ just for a scan.

Where in the UK are you? somebody might be able to recommend somewhere.

halo34

2,890 posts

222 months

Thursday 19th August 2021
quotequote all
Sounds like clock spring if the buttons have stopped working.

The other frequent issue is passenger airbag switch, but that wouldnt stop the wheel buttons working.

How far out of warranty - any chance of goodwill?

raspire

Original Poster:

74 posts

96 months

Thursday 19th August 2021
quotequote all
Warranty ended 20th May 2021. Not sure how I would go about something on goodwill as this is the first time something like this has happened, although thinking about it all my services and purchases have been with local VW dealership

Would an OBD2 scanner I have here give me the code which i can then look up? I understand it can only be cleared with VCDS. I know a local indie thats pretty good, waiting on a call back on a new clock spring quote but thats just an idea of how much it would cost to replace based on my googling at the moment and not their diagnostic.

Also my biggest fear is that someone hit my car in the carpark and my airbags by code deployed but physically look ok, is this an unreasonable fear? Would all the airbags deploy in that case (if working properly) side bags etc too

Edited by raspire on Thursday 19th August 16:05

raspire

Original Poster:

74 posts

96 months

Thursday 19th August 2021
quotequote all
Uploaded a couple videos on this. Realised when filming steering wheel clicks when rotating too.

If anyone knows, im not sure if its in my head, does that horn casing when I try to use the horn seem a bit loose too? I cant tell if it was the same before or not but it seems loose to me now and more manoeuvrable than before

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ool4--njSTA
https://youtube.com/shorts/AAOObdYhl3c

raspire

Original Poster:

74 posts

96 months

Friday 20th August 2021
quotequote all
Replying to myself with more information for anyone who is googling for same / similar issue in future and stumbles across this thread.

Wobble on horn shown my video was normal when car is stationary so all good with that.

Took it to garage who has VCDS code came back as a disconnect of electronics in steering wheel. I.e the clock spring failed as suspected.

Trying to get a FOC replacement and pay for labour with VW dealership which they better honour if they want me to purchase again from them in future.