Volkswagen has announced a recall of over 271,000 SUVs in the United States due to a potential issue with the front passenger airbag, which may fail to inflate during a crash.
The recall specifically affects certain Atlas SUVs from model years 2021 to 2024, as well as some Atlas Cross Sport SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024, according to a recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The German automaker discovered that wiring located beneath the front passenger seat can develop a safety issue. Over time, the wiring could deactivate the sensor that detects whether a passenger is present, disabling the airbag and heightening the risk of injury in a collision.
Though the airbag problem presents a safety issue for front seat passengers, the recall announcement didn’t mention any injuries as a result of the problem.
If the defect is present in the vehicle’s wiring, drivers should receive an alert through a warning sound and an error message on the instrument panel. Volkswagen advises that owners avoid using the front passenger seat until the necessary recall repairs are completed.
To address the issue, dealers will replace the sensor mat and wiring harness at no charge to the owners. Notification letters are expected to be sent out beginning August 16. Volkswagen has reported 1,730 warranty claims that may be connected to the problem.
For more information, owners may contact Volkswagen’s customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
