On Wednesday, the U.S. auto safety regulator announced that Volkswagen recalled over 271,000 vehicles due to a wiring fault that could deactivate front passenger airbags when occupied.
According to Reuters, the recall impacts select 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport models, among Volkswagen’s top sellers in the U.S. The fault lies in the passenger occupant detection system (PODS), which may malfunction and affect airbag functionality.
Volkswagen plans to notify owners by August 16. The company confirmed that once parts are available, dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness at no cost. Until these repairs are made, the regulator recommends avoiding the front passenger seat if possible.
Additionally, this issue extends to about 36,000 vehicles in Canada, according to a Volkswagen memo linked to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s notice. Earlier in the year, Volkswagen recalled over 261,000 U.S. vehicles due to a different issue involving a jet pump seal inside the fuel tank.
