Does anybody have an idea as to why an airbag light and airbag fault message have appeared even though the airbag has never been deployed. The car is a 1999 model and the light and message came on straight after it was started. I dread to think what VW would charge to plug it into a diagnostic machine, let alone a replacement airbag part. Any suggestions/ ideas would be a great help.

Hi Mr Joshua:
When the airbag light comes on, it is indicative of a fault in the system. They do not reset by unplugging the battery or by multiple key cycles. The system is monitored constantly by the SRS control unit and the light will only go out when the fault is corrected. You can find out the problem with a simple scan by the dealer or anyone else with an airbag scanner (not a check engine scan tool like Auto Zone has). Once you know the codes and cause, you can decide if you want to fix it. As long as the light is on, the system is down and will not deploy even if you are in an accident.