Volkswagen announced Friday a recall for hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Canada and the U.S. because of a slight delay in the deployment of the side airbags caused by faulty wiring harnesses, which can also make the SUVs brake unexpectedly.
Dozens of people had reported the problem to U.S. safety regulators, saying the braking problem would sometimes happen while in traffic. Many said that warning lights and alarms would go off and that the driver's side windows would roll down as the car suddenly braked.
A Volkswagen spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement that the recall is for the airbag problem but a side effect is unexpected braking.
The recall is for Atlas SUVs from 2019 through 2023, as well as the Atlas Cross Sport from 2020 through 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Approximately 222,892 SUVs are being recalled.
The NHTSA's safety recall report said electrical contacts on a wiring harness may corrode in the front doors, which can disrupt the electrical connection. The problem can cause the side airbags to deploy late in a crash, increasing the risk of injury, and also roll down the windows and send warning messages regarding a faulty door sensor. Additionally, cars traveling at speeds slower than 1.8 mph can unexpectedly brake.
"The parking brake was engaged automatically while driving. 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," the NHTSA said about the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas recall.
However, many people who complained to the NHTSA said the unexpected braking happened while they were traveling at much faster speeds on city streets. A driver from Ohio wrote in a complaint that the braking occurred numerous times between speeds of 25 to 70 miles per hour, faster than what Volkswagen's documents suggested, according to the Associated Press.
Another driver complained that her 2021 Atlas Cross Sport tried to stop multiple times while she was driving, the AP reported. This would often happen as the vehicle was decelerating. The driver said she was nearly rear-ended by another vehicle while entering a roundabout, and she also said the SUV braked while exiting a highway.
"The remedy is currently under development," the spokesperson said. "Volkswagen expects owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk to be mailed by May 10, 2022. A notice will be sent once the remedy becomes available."
Meanwhile, in February Tesla recalled 578,607 vehicles, affecting four models, because they posed a potential danger to pedestrians. The company also recalled another 53,822 vehicles in the same month because the self-driving cars may disregard stop signs.
Also in February, Kia recalled more than 10,000 cars in the U.S. for safety concerns over faulty airbags. Circuit damage may deactivate the airbags, causing them to not deploy in a crash.
Update 03/18/22, 4 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a statement from Volkswagen as well as additional background and information.
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