Volkswagen Atlas rear seat belt buckles may be damaged

NHTSA campaign 18V380000 · Reported 2018-06-07 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

medium How serious is it? About this label

A seat belt buckle that pops open unexpectedly can leave someone unprotected in a crash; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

What's wrong, in plain English

The owner's manual for certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles left out an important warning: a child seat base wider than 12.6 inches should not be installed in the middle seat of the second row. If a wider base was used there, it can damage the buckle for that middle seat and the buckle for the seat next to it on the left. A damaged buckle may come undone on its own.

What you should do

1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is covered. 2. Call your Volkswagen dealer or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and mention recall 69X1. 3. Have the dealer inspect the middle and left rear buckles and replace them if needed, free, and get the updated child safety manual supplement.

Affected vehicles (1)

2018 Volkswagen Atlas

Who to contact

Volkswagen — official Volkswagen recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-893-5298

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Which Volkswagen seat belt recalls affect child seats and rear belts? · all 5 Volkswagen recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswaen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The owner's manuals provided with the affected vehicles do not inform the customers about the child restraint size limitation/restrictions for the second row center seating position. As a result, the center and adjacent outboard seat belt buckles on the second row can become damaged it a child seat base is installed that is wider than 12.6 inches.
Safety risk: A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seat belt buckles, and replace them if necessary, free of charge. Volkswagen will also provide an owner's manual supplement addressing child safety and child restraints. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X1.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.