Vehicle recall R/2021/404

Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Golf recall: Driver's air bag may not deploy correctly if activated (R/2021/404)

DVSA recall R/2021/404 names the Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Golf. It was launched 11 October 2021. It covers vehicles built 22 May 1998 to 22 December 1999.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/2021/404
Launched: 11 October 2021
Issued by: VW
Manufacturer reference: 69AR
Vehicles: DVSA lists 300 on each model line

What can go wrong

Drivers airbag may not deploy correctly if activated.

The fix

On the affected vehicles the airbag unit for the driver is to be checked and if necessary the gas generator replaced.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. DVSA lists the same vehicle number on each line: 300. It may be a figure per line or for the whole recall.
Model	Built	Vehicles
Volkswagen Golf (GOLF CABRIOLET)	22 May 1998 to 22 December 1999	300
Volkswagen Passat	22 May 1998 to 22 December 1999	300

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/2021/403 Driver's air bag may not deploy correctly if activated 21 October 2021, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Golf
R/2021/320 The bolted connection of the pull rod between the electromechanical brake servo and brake pedal could come loose 10 September 2021, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Arteon, Volkswagen Golf
R/2022/074 Engine compartment covers could come loose from their attachment 22 March 2022, Volkswagen T-Roc, Volkswagen Tiguan, Volkswagen Golf and others
R/2022/086 The fuse in the high-voltage system of plug-in hybrid vehicles was in some cases produced with too little so-called fire sand 7 April 2022, Volkswagen Arteon, Volkswagen Tiguan, Volkswagen Passat and others
R/2021/142 The positive battery cable and the control unit cable may have been mixed up 8 April 2021, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Arteon
R/2021/055 Faulty crash sensors for air bag and restraint systems may have been fitted in the front doors 19 February 2021, Volkswagen Golf

Found one you might buy?

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources