Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 9,685 Atlas SUVs after discovering that during production, the air conditioning system drain tube may have been twisted and caused water to drain into the air bag control module.
That may cause unintentional deployment of the air bags and increase the risk of injury or crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube. If it is twisted, the drain tube and air bag control module will be replaced, free of charge, the recall said.
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 is expected to begin Oct. 14.
Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recall is the second in about a month for the Chattanooga-made Atlas. Last month, Volkswagen announced the recall of 8,416 Atlas SUVs and Passat sedans because brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently. Volkswagen planned to notify owners of the 2018 Atlas and 2017-18 Passat models.