It was recently released that 54,537 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUVs would be recalled due to an issue with their seatbelts and car seats. Any child car seats that have a base wider than 12.6 inches could potentially damage the seatbelt buckles in the second row of the SUV. As the owner’s manual never notified customers about the child restraint size limitation, buyers were not aware of the issue until after purchase.
If the seatbelt buckle does become damaged, it could release unexpectedly, which is extremely dangerous for a child if a crash does occur. Volkswagen has said that customers would not know that there is a problem with the seatbelt until they actually fail, so it is important to bring your Atlas in if you could be affected!
Volkswagen dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seatbelt buckles and, if necessary, replace them, at no cost to the customer. There will also be a new owner’s manual supplement which discusses child safety and restraints that you will receive as a part of the recall.
Volkswagen began reaching out to owners on August 3rd, but owners are able to reach out to Volkswagen or call 800-893-5298 for more information if they have not yet been notified. You can also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. The number for this recall is 69X1.