Volkswagens are sophisticated pieces of machinery, so when a light pops up in these German-engineered vehicles then their owners tend to take notice. With that in mind, what does it mean when your Airbag light is showing up all of the sudden and won’t go away?
Today we’ll explain the most common causes for this to help you get to the bottom of the issue, just keep one thing in mind – Your Volkswagen is definitely trying to tell you something about an important safety feature, so this is not a light that you want to ignore.
What are common causes for your Airbag light to make an appearance?
Quite a lot of scenarios can cause that Airbag light to show up and while some are certainly less worrisome than others, it’s best to get your vehicle checked out right away for any of them.
Airbag module issues
Your Volkswagen’s airbags are controlled by a software-driven Airbag module. If there’s an issue with the software or if the unit becomes damaged, then the Airbag light will come on to let you know that there’s a problem.
Airbag sensors may be damaged or degraded
Airbags require collision-based deployment to ensure that they don’t just pop out at any random time. The sensors that this requires may become compromised by the passing of years or even a bit of corrosion that has set in, requiring replacement of these sensors to ensure the expected operation.
Third-party installs in your Volkswagen
If someone installs an entertainment system or some other 3rd party upgrade and they don’t know Volkswagens very well, then they may inadvertently damage the carefully-engineered array of sensors that work with your Airbag module.
A quick check by a professional can help to track down an issue like this and it’s possibly going to be a minor fix, but it will need to be looked at properly to assess this.
Alternator or battery problems
Your airbags have top-of-the-line modern technology supporting them, but they don’t supply their own power – that’s going to be reliant on your alternator and your battery. When something goes wrong with either one, then you can end up in a scenario where there is not enough power to go around.
As a result, the Airbag light will come on, although it does not offer a granular analysis of the problem – it’s just a light to tell you that your airbag system may be compromised and should be checked right away.
Clock Spring is worn or damaged
Your steering wheel is connected to your vehicle’s electrical system by a small coil called a ‘clock spring’. When that clock spring becomes damaged or simply wears out with the passage of time, then the steering wheel airbags may not function properly and thus you’ll get the Airbag light.
This is the easiest of the reasons to diagnose, as your steering wheel may lock or simply become noticeably stiff and difficult to use when this is the case.
Issues with Passenger Sensor System
Modern Volkswagens have a Passenger Sensor System which can tell if someone is seated in the passenger seat of your vehicle. While it’s uncommon, they can malfunction from time to time, and an Airbag light will pop up to alert you that something is amiss.
As with all of these other scenarios, however, the light cannot provide more granular information to let you know that the passenger seat airbags may not function properly in the case of an accident.
When that Airbag light comes on, it’s best practice to err on the side of caution and get your Volkswagen to a shop that knows these vehicles well. If you happen to live in Grapevine, TX, then you’re in luck – Import Car Center has got you covered!
Import Car Center –Where over 40+ years of Experience is at your Disposal!
Serving Grapevine, TX, as well as the surrounding 
areas of Colleyville, Keller, Southlake, and Westlake, Import Car Center is your one-stop shop for full-service repair and preventative maintenance for your Volkswagen.
We also service other European models, such as Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, Land Rover, and Porsche, and since European vehicles are our bread and butter, we’re definitely going to treat your vehicle right.
Call us or better yet, come in to visit and you can see for yourself the difference that over 4 decades of experience can make. At Import Car Center, we’ll be sure to treat both you and your Volkswagen right!