140,000 Atlas recalled due to faulty Volkswagen sensor

Volkswagen is recalling 140,000 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) due to a faulty passenger-side sensor that could cause the airbag to deactivate.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today that they are recalling 143,000 Atlas vehicles due to a faulty sensor that could cause the passenger airbag to fail to deploy in an accident.

According to the agency, the wiring in the system that detects whether the passenger seat is occupied is faulty. If a passenger rides in the passenger seat, the system thinks it is unoccupied and disables the airbag, increasing the fatality rate in an accident. The agency advised consumers who purchased the vehicles to avoid riding in the passenger seat until the fault is fixed.

The vehicles affected by the recall are model year 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the issue, the company said.

Automakers are required to always equip the passenger seat with a weight sensor that detects whether an adult is riding and deactivates the airbag. This is to prevent the airbag from inflating and forcing a small child or short adult into the passenger seat in the event of an accident.

BY HOON SIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]