Volkswagen Announces Major Recall of 307,000 Vehicles Over Airbag Defects

On Wednesday, Volkswagen announced it was recalling more than 307,000 vehicles in the U.S. to address a suspected wiring defect that could disable the front passenger airbags when the seat is occupied.

The recall includes 271,000 Atlas SUVs from model years 2021 to 2024 and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024 in the U.S., along with an additional 36,000 vehicles affected in Canada. The issue relates to a potential fault in the wiring of the passenger occupant detection system (PODS), which could present a safety hazard in the event of a collision. Owners are urged to visit their local dealerships for a complimentary inspection and any necessary repairs to ensure safety compliance.

Volkswagen’s highly sought-after Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models in the U.S. faced a recall in March this year, affecting 143,000 Atlas SUVs due to a similar issue. The latest report issued on Wednesday raises questions about whether this March recall is included in the current announcement.

Volkswagen stated that, as a precautionary measure, they have decided to recall Atlas vehicles equipped with a particular technology. This decision follows an analysis of 1,730 warranty claims linked to replaced PODS parts.

In a statement sent via email to Reuters, the company said it will inform all owners of the affected vehicles by August 16.

Volkswagen said, “Once parts are ready, Volkswagen dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness with improved parts free of charge.”

The NHTSA recommended that owners refrain from using the front passenger seat whenever possible until the recall repairs have been completed.

The NHTSA suggested that owners minimize the use of the front passenger seat until the necessary recall repairs have been conducted to ensure safety.

Owners who are worried about the issue can get in touch with Volkswagen’s customer service at (866) 893-5298, referencing the recall number “69PZ” or they can get in touch with NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at (888) 327-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov for more information on the recall.