June 20, 2018—Volkswagen is recalling 54,537 of its 2018 Atlas SUVs because wide child car-seat bases may interfere with and damage seat-belt buckles in the second row. This could cause the belts to release unexpectedly, according to Consumer Reports.
If a car seat with a base wider than 12.6 inches is installed in the second-row center seating position, it may damage the center and adjacent outboard seat-belt buckles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This limitation is not noted in owner’s manuals.
NHTSA says that VW dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seat-belt buckles and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The automaker will also provide an owner's manual supplement that addresses child safety and child restraints.
Taking Advantage of Recalls
CCC Information Services recently made a push to alert collision repair shops of how advantageous it can be to alert customers to recalls. By informing drivers of important repairs that can be fixed at the dealership for free, Jim Kinsherf, vice president for CCC's OEM division, says body shops can retain more customers for future work.
