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Volkswagen recalls over 140,000 cars, urges no one to sit in front passenger seat

Published Apr 4th, 2023 3:55PM EDT
Image: MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images

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Volkswagen of America announced a recall of more than 143,000 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles on Tuesday due to faulty passenger occupant detection systems.

Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport recall

A press release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that the recall affects 143,053 vehicles. According to the manufacturer, the wiring might be faulty in the passenger occupant detection systems (PODS) of some vehicles. This could result in the front passenger airbag deactivating even when a passenger is in the seat.

“Until the free recall repair is developed and completed, owners should not allow anyone to sit in the front passenger seat,” Volkswagen says. “Volkswagen is currently developing a remedy and will notify affected owners as soon as the repair is available.”

The recall affects certain model year 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. If you want to find out whether or not your vehicle is part of the recall, visit NHTSA.gov/recalls in a browser and enter your 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN). You could also call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

In better news, VW recently announced an affordable electric vehicle for 2025.

Jacob Siegal
Jacob Siegal Associate Editor

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.