2018 Volkswagen Atlas Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 100 airbag complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, 22% of all complaints filed for that year. Two crashes and two injuries are tied to this component, with a median failure mileage of 45,000. Four airbag-related recalls have been issued for the 2018 model.
- Airbags complaints
- 100
- 22% of 462
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 45,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 4
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Side curtain and passenger airbags erroneously deployed after low-speed curb strikes or hitting a storm drain, sometimes with the vehicle shutting off afterward.
- Persistent airbag warning lights and error messages appear on the dash, often not clearing after repeated dealer visits or software attempts.
- The passenger-side airbag repeatedly enables and disables itself as a passenger shifts weight in the seat, even though dealers report finding nothing wrong.
- Owners report multiple open recalls stacked on the same vehicle, including airbag software and sensor issues combined with unrelated repairs like sunroof or ignition fixes.
- A twisted A/C condensation drain tube allowed water to pool near the floorboard and raised concern the airbag control module underneath could be damaged.
When 2018 Volkswagen Atlas airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 5, 2018, latest Apr 24, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
- NHTSA 23V215000Mar 29, 2023Airbags143,053 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.
- NHTSA 20V057000Jan 31, 2020Airbags7 vehicles
Air bags
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrectly manufactured air bag sensor, which can delay or disable air bag deployment when necessary.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag crash sensor, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AL.
- NHTSA 18V537000Aug 20, 2018Airbags9,685 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. During production, the air conditioning system drain tube may have been twisted, causing water to drain into the air bag control module.
Risk: The wet air bag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the air bags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube, and if it is twisted, the drain tube and air bag control module will be replaced, free of charge. Some of the affected vehicles have had their drain tube previously replaced but did not receive a new air bag control module; the airbag control module will be replaced in these vehicles. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87F9.
- NHTSA 18V375000Jun 6, 2018Airbags821 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Risk: If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
Airbags complaints by Atlas model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
- NHTSA lists 100 airbag complaints for the 2018 Atlas, which is 22% of the 462 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
- Yes, there are four airbag-related recalls: 23V215000 (PODS sensor mat/wiring), 20V057000 (incorrectly manufactured airbag crash sensor), 18V537000 (twisted A/C drain tube risking airbag module water damage), and 18V375000 (passenger frontal airbag tearing on deployment).
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2018 Atlas?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2018 Atlas is 45,000 miles.
- Have airbag issues on the 2018 Atlas caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data ties 2 crashes and 2 injuries to airbag complaints on the 2018 Atlas; no fires are reported.
- Does the 2018 Atlas have more airbag complaints than other model years?
- The 2018 Atlas has 100 airbag complaints (22% share), while the 2019 Atlas has more at 141 complaints (29% share); other years like 2020 through 2024 report fewer.