Volkswagen has issued a recall for more than 271,000 SUVs in the United States due to concerns that the front passenger air bag may fail to inflate during a crash.
The recall affects specific models of Atlas SUVs spanning from the 2021 through 2024 model years, as well as certain 2020 through 2024 Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. According to documents released by U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday, Volkswagen identified a potential fault in the wiring under the front passenger seat. This fault can lead to the deactivation of the sensor responsible for detecting whether a passenger is seated, thereby disabling the air bag and increasing the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
Drivers will be alerted to the fault through a warning sound and an error message on the vehicle’s instrument panel. Volkswagen advises owners to avoid using the front passenger seat if possible until the necessary recall repairs have been completed.
Under the recall, authorized dealerships will replace the sensor mat and wiring harness at no cost to the vehicle owners. Notification letters will be sent to affected owners starting from August 16.
Volkswagen indicated that approximately 1,730 warranty claims could potentially be linked to this issue.
This recall underscores Volkswagen’s commitment to addressing safety concerns promptly and ensuring the reliability of its vehicles on the road.