Volkswagen Issues Atlas Recall Over Airbag Housings With Missing Welds

One of the segment’s worst crossovers in terms of quality and reliability, the Atlas has been hit with a safety recall over airbag housings with missing welds. Volkswagen Group of America was tipped off by the supplier – iSi Automotive Holding GmbH of Vienna, Austria – about this blunder on July 28.

From August through September, the German automaker reviewed production records and identified the potentially affected vehicle population. For the US market, Volkswagen is aware of two vehicles equipped with suspect airbag housings. The mid-size crossovers in question were assembled on November 5, 2018 and December 27, 2018 for the 2019 model year, the year Volkswagen Group of America changed its warranty coverage for the worse.

Back in July 2019, the German automaker’s North American division switched from six years to four. Obviously enough, it also changed the bumper-to-bumper warranty from 72,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) to 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers).

Turning our attention back to safety recall number 23V-671, the Wolfsburg-based automaker informed retailers nationwide to replace the driver-side side airbag with a brand-new and properly welded airbag assembly. Back in June 2023, right after discovering its mistake, the supplier improved airbag production with a query of the presence of housing welding data before assigning OK status.

Known as the Teramont in China, the Atlas was originally priced at $30,500 plus $925 for the destination freight charge. Volkswagen wants $37,725 plus $1,360 for the 2024 model, which comes with a turbo four-pot engine exclusively.

Volkswagen refreshed the Atlas and two-row Cross Sport for 2024, and with said facelift, Volkswagen decided to discontinue its long-running VR6 in favor of a more efficient 2.0-liter turbo. However, bear in mind that a smaller engine of the force-fed variety works harder than a larger naturally-aspirated lump. The 2024 model year Atlas has already been recalled over an issue with the EA888 engine, namely conrod bearing contamination.

To make a long story short, contamination during the connecting rod bearing production process causes increased particle occurrence in the engine’s oil circuit. This, in turn, leads to excessive wear and play, thus resulting in damage to the conrod bearings. A grand total of 2,018 vehicles were called back on August 23, split between 1,323 units of the Atlas and 695 units of the five-seat Cross Sport.

At press time, customers interested in the Atlas are presented with no fewer than four trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line. Slightly more affordable than its three-row sibling, the Cross Sport ranges between $36,715 for the SE and $51,445 for the SEL Premium R-Line.