The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·19V389000·Announced 2019-05-22

Volkswagen Recalls Passat and Atlas Vehicles for Headlight Adjustment Defect

Volkswagen is recalling 2012-2020 Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles because a missing blocking cap allows headlight aim to be adjusted out of specification, increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where the defect increases the risk of a crash, but no specific injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The recall involves a defect where the blocking cap that disables the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As a result, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification. This condition reduces visibility and increases the risk of a crash. The recall affects a total of 662,185 vehicles.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment free of charge. The recall began on July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, ATLAS
Brand
VOLKSWAGEN
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Lighting
Hazard
Affected units
662,185

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • PASSAT
  • ATLAS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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