Recall 18V824 covers 73,549 2018-2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, Jetta, and Atlas vehicles without a key-in-ignition warning. Volkswagen dealers reprogram the cluster free.
Volkswagen is recalling 73,549 2018-2019 Atlas, Tiguan, and Jetta vehicles without keyless entry because the instrument cluster can fail to sound the required warning when the key is left in the ignition and the door is open. Without that warning, an owner can miss a key left behind, which raises the risk of theft or crash; Volkswagen dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The instrument cluster in the 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, Tiguan, and Jetta is the dashboard display and warning system in front of the driver. On non-keyless-entry vehicles, it is supposed to sound a chime when the door is open and the key is still in the ignition. That reminder helps prevent the key from being left behind in an unlocked vehicle.
On affected vehicles, the wrong production data container was loaded into the control software. The setting that turns on the key-in-ignition acoustic warning was left off, so the cluster does not give the audible reminder when the door opens. No hardware part is broken. The repair changes the coding in the vehicle's body control module, the computer that manages this warning, so the correct data container enables the chime.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is the missing chime itself: when the door is open and the key remains in the ignition, the vehicle stays silent.
Who's affected?
Covers Tiguan, Jetta, and Atlas models across the 2018 and 2019 model years, all tied to the instrument panel.
| 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan | instrument panel |
|---|---|
| 2019 Volkswagen Jetta | instrument panel |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan | instrument panel |
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | instrument panel |
| 2019 Volkswagen Atlas | instrument panel |
| Units affected | 73,549 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 4 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
Without the audible key-in-ignition warning, a driver can leave the key in the ignition after parking. That raises the risk of vehicle theft or a crash if the vehicle is taken or moved without permission. Keep track of the key each time you park and schedule the instrument-cluster reprogramming. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, Jetta, or Atlas is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free instrument-cluster reprogramming that restores the key-in-ignition audible warning.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V824 and Volkswagen recall 90L3 or 90L4 when you call.
- Remove the key whenever you leave the vehicle until the repair is complete, and confirm the key warning sounds when the driver's door is open.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician reprograms the instrument cluster so the vehicle gives the required audible warning when the key is left in the ignition and the driver's door is opened. The software update is free under the recall. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for this campaign, so prior out-of-pocket repairs are not covered through a separate recall reimbursement program.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| November 26, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 13, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 18, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| January 18, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V824?
Recall 18V824 covers 73,549 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles without keyless entry. The instrument cluster fails to give an audible warning when the key is left in the ignition and the door is open, increasing theft or crash risk.
What should I do if my 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas or Tiguan, or 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V824. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the instrument cluster reprogramming. Reference recall 18V824 and Volkswagen campaign numbers 90L3 and 90L4 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Volkswagen dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster free of charge for vehicles included in recall 18V824.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the driver does not hear an audible warning when the key is left in the ignition and the door is open. That missing warning increases the risk of vehicle theft or crash. The dealer repair corrects the instrument cluster programming.
What if I bought the Volkswagen used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Atlas, Tiguan, or Jetta is included, then call a franchised Volkswagen dealer or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V824000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V824 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V824000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →