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A Volkswagen Group of America recall of over 143,000 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is underway, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Tuesday.
The consumer alert issued by NHTSA says the occupant detection systems in the SUVs subject to the recall “could disable the passenger airbag even if the seat is occupied.” Such a deactivation could occur if certain cables connected to the system “have a contact failure,” according to a recall report posted on the NHTSA website.
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That could increase the risk of injury to anyone sitting in the seat, since a deactivated airbag “won’t deploy” in a wreck, according to NHTSA.
The Volkswagen emblem is seen on the car in Krakow, Poland, on November 10, 2022. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The recall report states that over 143,000 2018-2021 Atlas models and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport models may be affected by the issue. The recall took place at the end of March.
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According to the report, the front passenger seat should not be used by people until the problem is resolved.
Email notification of the recall will begin for owners in May, with another planned “once the cure becomes available,” according to the notice on the NHTSA website. It is currently being developed.
A view of the Volkswagen booth during the first China International Import Expo (CIIE 2018) in Shanghai, China, 8 November 2018. (Oriental image via Portal Connect / Portal Photos)
The company “will offer a reimbursement plan as part of this recall,” the recall report said.
On the production front, the manufacturer introduced a “new cable with spiral shielding” in October, according to the recall report.
FOX Business has reached out to Volkswagen Group of America, part of Volkswagen AG, for comment.
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