YearToAvoid

2017 Volkswagen Jetta Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 21 airbag complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, 13% of all 159 complaints filed for the year. Eight of those complaints involved a crash and five involved injuries, with a median failure mileage of 27,500 miles. No related recalls are listed for this problem area.

Airbags complaints
21
13% of 159
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
27,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy during moderate-to-severe frontal or rear-end collisions, including impacts around 30-45 mph.
  • Several owners describe only partial deployment, such as the steering wheel airbag firing while side or passenger airbags did not.
  • Owners report the airbag warning light illuminating on its own, sometimes alongside failures of the horn, steering wheel controls, or other electrical systems.
  • One owner reported the passenger airbag deploying unexpectedly while the car was stationary and not involved in any collision.
  • One owner reported a clicking noise from the steering wheel that persisted even after the dealership replaced the airbag and clock spring twice.

When 2017 Volkswagen Jetta airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 30, 2017, latest Sep 12, 2025.

2017 Volkswagen Jetta airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2017Jun 2018Jan 2021Sep 2021May 2023Feb 2024Apr 2025
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Sep 2025; peak Mar 2023 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Jetta model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200526 (10%)
  2. 200665 (11%)
  3. 200735 (17%)
  4. 200820 (11%)
  5. 200935 (4%)
  6. 201031 (4%)
  7. 201137 (6%)
  8. 201234 (7%)
  9. 201331 (6%)
  10. 201437 (10%)
  11. 201517 (9%)
  12. 20167 (4%)
  13. 201721 (13%)
  14. 20186 (19%)
  15. 201916 (3%)
  16. 20202 (4%)
  17. 20215 (7%)
  18. 20221 (2%)
  19. 20231 (2%)
  20. 20242 (5%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA lists 21 airbag complaints for the 2017 Jetta, which is 13% of the 159 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2017 Jetta airbags?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the airbag problem area on the 2017 Jetta.
Did the airbag problems cause crashes or injuries?
Yes. Of the 21 airbag complaints, 8 involved a crash and 5 involved injuries, according to NHTSA data.
At what mileage do 2017 Jetta airbag problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure across reported airbag complaints is 27,500 miles.
How does the 2017 Jetta compare to other years for airbag complaints?
The 2017 Jetta's airbag complaints made up 13% of its total complaints, higher than most other model years in this dataset, though the 2018 Jetta showed a higher share at 19%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.