I have an 2004 VW Passat Turbo with 51,000 miles on the clock that is showing an Airbag Fault sign. My local VW dealer's inspection at a cost of £72 identified that there was a failure of a seal in the plenum that is causing an ingress of rainwater under the front passenger seat that has penetrated the vital parts of the airbag sensor system under the seat area. Despite full VW annual servicing including the cambelt replacement (last serviced February 09) I have been advised that there is no goodwill available for vehicles over 5 years old. Would you agree that this is a design element that should have been recognised by VW and needing regular inspection on each service? I maintain that safety is a key requirement in modern car design and this facility should not be vulnerable to the ingress of water whatever the age of a vehicle. There is no mention in the handbook that the airbag system is regularly inspected, this only appears top be triggered when a fault occurs. The cost of repair will be close to £600 inc. VAT. I'd be interested to hear your view on this matter.