Preliminary Evaluation · Closed

PASSENGER SIR DOOR MOUNTING STUD FAILURE

Action number

PE03021

Opened

May 23, 2003

Closed

Oct 7, 2003

Outcome

Closed without recall

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

What NHTSA is examining

Odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-021) based on two reports of failed bolt studs that attach the passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) door cover to the instrument panel (ip) on the volkswagen (vw) passat (model years 2000, 2002).vw has indicated to odi that it has no additional reports.vw implemented a process change on march 1, 2002.this process change consisted of changing the bolt application that fastens the psir door to the ip from a weld on application to a press on application.vw also changed the material of the bolt.vw stated that the changes were made to ease production by eliminating a welding process.odi has upgraded its investigation to engineering analysis (ea03-020).

Vehicles under investigation

1998 Volkswagen Passat 1999 Volkswagen Passat 2000 Volkswagen Passat 2001 Volkswagen Passat 2002 Volkswagen Passat

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation records, updated daily. An investigation is not a determination that a defect exists; many probes close without a recall.