Volkswagen recalls 1,43,000 Atlas SUVs in US over defective airbag sensor; Here's what happened

Volkswagen will recall 143,000 of its large Atlas SUVs in the US due to a defective sensor located on the front passenger side that can deactivate the airbag system in specific circumstances, as per a CNN report.

Until the issue is resolved, VW recommends that owners refrain from allowing individuals to occupy the affected seat.

VW has reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which manages vehicle recalls, that the issue is "sporadic" according to the documents filed by the company.


As per a report, weight sensors in the front seat are common in modern passenger vehicles to detect whether someone, such as a child, is occupying the seat. The sensors can identify the weight of the passenger and, if they detect that the person is small, they will deactivate the airbag to avoid injury, as airbags deploy with significant force in the event of a crash.

Defective sensors in certain Atlas SUVs may result in the "passenger occupant detection system" malfunctioning and deactivating the airbag, leaving front-seat passengers without airbag protection in case of a crash.

Volkswagen investigators have identified two specific time periods, says the report, during which the issue is occurring, although the cause of the problem is still unknown. The recall affects all 2018-2021 model year Atlas SUVs and 2020 model year Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. VW spokesman Mark Gillies stated that the company is not aware of any injuries resulting from the issue.

If the problem occurs, an alert will be displayed inside the vehicle. VW has not yet determined how to address the problem, but once a solution has been found, repairs will be provided at no cost, according to documents filed by the company with the NHTSA. CNN Business reported that affected Atlas SUV owners will be notified of the recall by mail.

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