Volkswagen is recalling more than 271,000 vehicles in the United States because of a potential wiring fault that may deactivate the front passenger air bags when the seat is occupied, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Wednesday.
This recall affects certain models of the 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles, which are among Volkswagen’s best-sellers in the U.S. The issue arises from a fault in the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) wiring, which could impair the functionality of the air bags.
Volkswagen dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness free of charge for affected customers. Until the repair is completed, the NHTSA advises vehicle owners to avoid using the front passenger seat. The recall also impacts nearly 36,000 vehicles in Canada, as noted in a memo sent by Volkswagen to its dealers and included in the NHTSA’s recall notice. Volkswagen has not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters.
This recall follows a previous one issued earlier this year by Volkswagen for more than 261,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a problem with a jet pump seal inside the fuel tank.
Source: Reuters