Volkswagen is recalling more than 143,000 of its SUVs because the front passenger air bags may be deactivated, and urging people to not let anyone sit in the front passenger seat, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Tuesday.
The recall affects certain Volkswagen Atlas models, according to a NHTSA report.
The passenger occupant detection system on affected models may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied, which can increase the risk of an injury in a crash.
Volkswagen said it became aware of reported issues in August 2019.
What models were recalled?
The Volkswagen vehicles recalled are:
- 2018-2021 Atlas.
- 2020 Atlas Cross Sport.
Number of vehicles affected: 143,053
What should Volkswagen owners do?
Affected owners are expected to begin to be notified by mail on May 26.
Owners may contact Volkswagen’s customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or put their vehicle identification number online to see if their car is affected.
A remedy for the issue is still under development and vehicle owners will be notified once it is ready. In the meantime, owners are advised to not let people sit in the front passenger seat until the issue is resolved.
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