The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·24V464000·Announced 2025-08-06

Volkswagen Atlas passenger air bag safety system wiring defect

Certain 2021-2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles may have a wiring fault in the passenger occupant detection system that deactivates the front passenger air bag when occupied, increasing injury risk during a crash.

What this means for you

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: This is a structural safety defect affecting the vehicle's front passenger crash-protection system. Per the severity rubric, risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported warrant a High (3) score. The source does not mention any reported injuries or deaths.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles due to a wiring fault in the passenger occupant detection system (PODS).

The fault in the wiring harness may cause the PODS to malfunction and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied. This increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Approximately 271,330 vehicles are affected, including Atlas model years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and Atlas Cross Sport model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Owners should contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or visit www.nhtsa.gov. Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 30, 2024, with additional notification phases occurring through January 17, 2025.

The recalled product

Product
2022 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS
Brand
VOLKSWAGEN
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag System
Hazard
  • airbag-deactivation
  • crash-injury-risk
Affected units
271,330

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)

  • ATLAS
  • ATLAS CROSS SPORT

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · VOLKSWAGEN

Same category