Atlanta, Georgia – Car owners in the United States are facing potential safety concerns with their SUVs as Volkswagen and Toyota issue massive recalls due to airbag problems. Over 271,000 Volkswagen vehicles are being recalled because of a wiring fault that could deactivate the front passenger airbag when the seat is occupied. Meanwhile, more than 145,000 Toyota vehicles are under recall because the driver’s side curtain airbag may deploy out the window, increasing the driver’s injury risk.
The affected Volkswagen models include certain 2021 to 2024 Atlas vehicles and 2020 to 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Owners have been advised to avoid using the front passenger seat until the necessary repairs are made. Volkswagen has stated that an airbag warning light, sound, and error message on the instrument cluster will indicate any potential issues with the airbags, and recall notification letters will be sent out soon.
To address the issue, Volkswagen owners can bring their vehicles to a dealer for replacement of the passenger occupant detection system sensor mat and wiring harness, with the company offering a reimbursement plan for the repairs. This marks the second airbag recall for the 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles, following a previous recall due to engine failure concerns.
On the other hand, Toyota’s recall affects certain 2024 model year Toyota Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid SUVs, and Lexus TX350, TX500 Hybrid, and TX550 Hybrid vehicles. Drivers have been warned to keep the driver’s side window rolled up until the airbag issue is resolved. Notification letters for the recall will be sent to affected drivers in August.
Both companies declined to comment on whether there have been any injury reports related to the recalls. These latest recalls add to a history of airbag problems in vehicles, including previous issues with Takata airbags, which led to one of the largest recalls in U.S. history. Federal auto safety regulators have continued efforts to address airbag issues by recalling millions of faulty inflaters made by various manufacturers.
Concerns over counterfeit airbags have also emerged, with reports of fatalities and injuries caused by malfunctioning counterfeit airbags. Legislation has been passed in numerous states to prohibit counterfeit airbags, but the difficulty in tracing these parts poses a challenge for federal regulators in addressing the problem effectively. The safety of airbags in vehicles remains a critical concern for both car manufacturers and regulators.