Volkswagen has issued a recall for approximately 143,000 Atlas SUVs in the United States due to a potential airbag issue. The recall is due to a faulty sensor on the front passenger side that can turn off the airbag system under certain circumstances, leaving the front seat passengers without adequate protection in the event of a crash.
Owners advised as VW finds a solution
While the issue is described as “sporadic,” Volkswagen is advising owners of the recalled Atlas SUVs to avoid letting people ride in the front passenger seat until the issue can be corrected. A warning light inside the vehicle will illuminate if the problem occurs.
Volkswagen has not yet determined how to fix the issue, but once a solution is found, repairs will be conducted free of charge. Owners of the recalled Atlas SUVs will be notified by mail, and concerned owners can call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
Affected Vehicles
The affected vehicles include the model year 2018 through 2021 Atlas and model year 2020 Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. Volkswagen has determined that the problem is occurring in Atlases built during two specific time periods.
The Atlas SUV, designed specifically for the US market, is built at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory. This recall is the latest setback for the German automaker, which has faced a number of legal and regulatory issues in recent years.
Not the first time VW faces an airbag issue
As of now, Volkswagen is not aware of any injuries that may have resulted from the faulty sensor. However, this is not the first time company has faced issues with its airbags. In 2015, the company was found to have installed software in diesel cars that cheated emissions tests.
In the meantime, Volkswagen urges affected customers to exercise caution and to follow the recall instructions until a permanent fix can be implemented.
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