2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport airbags problems

Related recalls

• Recall 24V464000Jun 20, 2024271,330 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

  Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.

• Recall 23V215000Mar 29, 2023143,053 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

  Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.

• Recall 22V152000Mar 28, 2022222,892 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.

  Risk: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.

• Recall 21V892000Nov 17, 202154,429 vehicles
  AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE · VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module.

  Risk: A water leak may damage the air bag control module, causing an inadvertent air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will repair the drain tube and replace the air bag control module, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87H4.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 11, 2026MIAirbags

   Air Bag error-seat occupant classification module-passenger side occupant detection sensor is defective. Air bag may not deploy upon impact. Confirmed that airbag sensor is defective at dealership. Airbag error first appeared one week ago at 75k miles. VW will not cover cost to repair defective air bag sensor.

   NHTSA complaint #11763668 · source
2. Filed Aug 27, 2026LAAirbags

   Air bag error light lit up with barely over 60k miles. Dealer diagnosis identifies the issue as a faulty Driver Head Curtain Airbag Igniter. Correction is to replace the driver side head curtain airbag assembly at a cost of ~$1,200. The vehicle has never been in an accident nor had the airbags deployed. This seems to be a common issue based on previous comments therefore Volkswagon should step up and include this model/make/year in a safety recall to correct the issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11759919 · source
3. Filed Aug 6, 2026134,000 miWAAirbagsVisibility & Wipers

   The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag, cruise control, electronic parking brake, and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the HVAC drain tube had leaked onto the air bag control module and the air bag control module and the drain tube needed to be replaced. The contact researched…

   NHTSA complaint #11755338 · source
4. Filed Jul 30, 2026WAAirbagsElectrical System

   HVAC water tubing has leaked on to the airbag control module causing airbag errors and many other electrical faults. This is a known safety problem under recall 87H4, NHTSA campaign 21V892. However, Volkswagen stated my VIN is not eligible for this recall. Note: this diagnostic was not performed at a dealership but at an independent German car repair shop.

   NHTSA complaint #11753798 · source
5. Filed Jun 1, 202653,200 miCAAirbags

   The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the airbag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an error code associated with the airbag. The vehicle was repaired at the consumer expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,200.

   NHTSA complaint #11741261 · source
6. Filed Apr 10, 2026ILAirbags

   On 4/6 - My car alert system flashed the following; Still present, Called VW Dealership. Customer Care & Checked for recalls via VIN number. Airbag Error ( message on dashboard) Passenger Airbag (Message /light -automatically turned off airbags) Passanger airbag sensor flashes then turns solid. Safety recall for VW Atlas, certain vin numbers. No active recall for mine. (confirmed via VIA VW website, dealership & VW Customer Care) This puts my family at risk of airbags not…

   NHTSA complaint #11730349 · source
7. Filed Dec 30, 2025INAirbags

   The warning light came on signaling an airbag problem. The dealer checked all the wires and connections and determined there must be a problem with vehemently airbag itself and they said it should be replaced.

   NHTSA complaint #11707747 · source
8. Filed Feb 27, 2025WIAirbags

   I am having the same airbag sensor problem that everyone else is. My vehicle is not part of the recall but should be. This is a known safety hazard.

   NHTSA complaint #11645232 · source
9. Filed Nov 22, 2024CAAirbags

   Vehicles “Airbag Error” light has turned on. From what I’m reading this is a known faulty sensor that may prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying in a crash. This could increase the risk of injury to the front passenger. I contacted the Volkswagen dealer, there is currently no recall submitted for this because Volkswagen is not able to trace the issue. I am filing a claim because I am concerned for my safety and the safety of my passengers. I am not sure who I can…

   NHTSA complaint #11626753 · source
10. Filed Sep 24, 202463,000 miSCAirbags

    The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

    NHTSA complaint #11616197 · source
11. Filed Sep 21, 2024NJAirbags

    Airbag front passenger side has defect will not deploy. The dashboard light alert is on, as per dealership review stated airbag defect will not deploy and needs to be replaced. Car has never used airbag. Other same vehicles have been recalled but this batch of atlas cross sport suvs were not included.

    NHTSA complaint #11615736 · source
12. Filed Sep 6, 2024DEAirbags

    Air bag light illuminated. VIN number not associated with current air bag recall even though it is exhibiting the very identical problem. Dealer will not acknowledge the recall since the VIN doesn’t show on the recall site.

    NHTSA complaint #11613024 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology