Close to 223,000 Volkswagen SUVs have been recalled due to issues with braking, airbags and more, according to a recent recall report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Vehicles included in the recall are 2021-2023 models of the Volkswagen Atlas FL, the 2020-2023 models of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and 2019-2020 models of the Volkswagen Atlas.
“In special side crash situation, the front side airbag may deploy later than designed. This may be caused by excessive micromovement leading to fretting corrosion of the door wiring harness terminal contacts,” said the report. Other issues impacted by the electrical connection include: inadvertent rolling down windows, inadvertent park brake engagement at low speeds around 1.8 mph and a warning regarding faulty door sensor.
According to the NHTSA, the issue was first identified in 2020 and 222,892 vehicles are involved.
“Due to the nature of the customer complaints, it was handled as a regular quality issue,” said the report. After an analysis, “fretting corrosion” was determined as the cause of the problem in 2021.
During the third and fourth quarters of last year, the number of complaints began to increase as some of the vehicles got older and seasonal cold temperatures impacted equipment. This year, a risk assessment was completed and the topic was escalated to Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee and further analysis was conducted.
Last month, the NHTSA “requested a technical meeting to discuss recent complaints regarding underlying issue,” and the topic was presented at Volkswagen AG Pre-Product Safety Committee. By March 4, the committee decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall “out of an abundance of caution.”
“Volkswagen will offer a reimbursement program under this recall,” said the NHTSA report. A planned customer notification date is set for May 10.
According to the NHTSA website, there was a complaint about 2022 Volkswagen service brakes as recent as March 8 from a customer in Miami Lakes, Fla.
“The parking brake was engaged automatically while driving,” said a complaint summary issued March 15. “The car came to a sudden stop creating a hazard with traffic. There were no warning lamps or bells. At this point the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer.”
That same day, the Associated Press reported that Volkswagen SUV owners had complained to the NHTS about malfunctions with their vehicles.
“It literally feels like the car is possessed,” said Kendall Heiman, a 2021 Atlas Cross Sport owner from Kansas who told the AP her SUV abruptly stopped for no reason. “I’m not feeling like I’m driving my car. My car is driving me.”
Others complained that their cars braked when they were on city streets or driving at speeds from 25 to 70 miles per hour.
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