Volkswagen has issued a recall impacting thousands of SUV owners across the United States over concerns of potential engine fires.
The car manufacturer is recalling 177,493 crossover SUVs, including certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles from model years 2024 to 2025, that may possibly have loose engine covers.
The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
Officials warn a loose engine cover could potentially increase the risk of a fire.
Volkswagen dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge, to remedy the issue, the NHTSA said.
The recall comes just one week after the car-making giant warned over a major and potentially dangerous display error impacting some of its electric vehicles.
The recall includes 177,493 crossover SUVs, including certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles from model years 2024 to 2025 (stock image of a 2025 Atlas Cross Sport)
Officials warn engine cover on impacted vehicles may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces. Pictured is a stock photo of a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen’s SUVs were subject of a recall in June last year amid concerns that the front passenger air bag may not inflate in a crash.
The car-maker recalled more than 271,000 sport utility vehicles, including certain Atlas SUVs from the 2021-2024 model years, and some 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport SUVs.
Volkswagen warned that wiring under the front passenger seat can develop a fault. If that happens, it could deactivate the sensor that determines if a passenger is on board, disabling the air-bag and increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The car maker said that this would result in drivers getting a warning sound and an error message on the instrument panel.
At the time, Volkswagen said owners should also avoid the use of the front passenger set if possible until repairs have been made.
The company said that dealers would replace the sensor and wiring harnesses at no cost to owners, who got letters informing them of the issue in August.
Volkswagen said it had 1,730 warranty claims that were possibly related to the problem.
In June, the car manufacturer recalled more than 271,000 SUVs amid concerns that the front passenger air bag may not inflate in a crash
The German car brand issued 60,490 recalls on February 28 this year over concerns that the vehicles fail to display certain gear options, leading the cars to roll away if the emergency parking brake was not engaged.
The recall included 2021-2023 Volkswagen ID.4 cars, as well as 2022-2023 Audi Q4 e-tron vehicles, according to the NHTSA. Q4 e-Tron Sportback vehicles were also impacted by the recall.
The gear indicator issue stems from a software complication, the auto safety regulator said.
Volkswagen – which took full ownership of Audi in 1966 – has urged impacted drivers to ensure that their parking brakes are fully engaged until they can take their car in for service to have the issue fixed.
Drivers were told to contact their local dealers for further information.
Earlier last month, Volkswagen another recall for 30,000 vehicles in the US due to the rearview mirror display not working properly.
The vehicles impacted by that recall included the Audi Q3, as well as some Volkswagen Tiguan and Arteon cars. The specific models affected by the recall were 2022-2024 Tiguan’s, 2023 Arteons and 2024-2025 Audi Q3s.
Due to the issue, a rearview camera image reads ‘not displaying as intended.’
‘A rearview camera image that is not available when reversing may impair the driver’s ability to see areas to the rear of the vehicle,’ the recall said. ‘This can increase the risk of a crash.’
Owners of these vehicles will be sent letters in the mail by April 11 and can get the issue fixed at a dealership, the recall continued.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced last Friday that Volkswagen’s vehicles fail to display certain gear options, leading the cars to roll away if the emergency parking brake was not engaged (Pictured: Volkswagen ID.4)
2022-2023 Audi Q4 e-tron vehicles (pictured) have also been recalled due to the issue
Last year, the car manufacturer had to urgently recall 6,000 Passat, Gold and Arteon model cars in Australia made between 2019 and 2023.
This was due to concerns that they had a manufacturing defect that could cause a ‘vehicle fire that could increase the risk of injury or death.’
The Department of Transport had to issue the recall in January, affecting 5,997 cars registered on Australian roads.
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