The remedy may be as simple as replacing the aforementioned cable, or a bit more expensive if Volkswagen decides to replace the PODS altogether. Said wire may experience a contact fault, causing the system to deactivate the front passenger airbag and illuminate a warning light and a warning message in the instrument panel of the vehicle. The PODS is neatly integrated into the seat heating, which is connected to the PODS control unit under the front passenger seat by a wire.

The Wolfsburg-based automaker was fully aware of the issue back then, but refused to recall affected vehicles when the redesigned PODS became available. What’s even more worrying about Volkswagen’s reluctance to fix the aforementioned problem is that Volkswagen introduced a new cable with a spiral shield in Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport production in October 2020. The German marque couldn’t weasel its way out of these discussions, which led to the issue being elevated to a full-on recall. The federal watchdog requested a meeting with the safety boffins, in which they were ordered to detail the field performance of the passenger occupant detection system. That’s when the concern was presented to the Product Safety Committee, which – once again – demanded more data.Ĭome February 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had had enough of Volkswagen’s beating around the bush. These chaps demanded further analysis of the issue, which continued until January 2021. Volkswagen investigated the issue and monitored the field through May 2020, when the concern was presented to the Pre-Product Safety Committee. The German automaker from Wolfsburg first became aware of this problem in August 2019, following an increase in claims alleging deactivated front passenger airbags. Interim notifications will be mailed no later than May 26th, with owners to receive another envelope once the fix becomes available at dealerships. The remedy in question is currently under development.

Volkswagen Group of America urges affected owners not to use the front passenger seat in their Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles until the remedy has been completed.

Recall on volkswagen atlas