Recall 19V218 covers 3 2019-2020 Volkswagen Atlas and Passat vehicles with incorrect side airbags. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
Volkswagen is recalling 3 2019-2020 Atlas and Passat vehicles because the wrong driver or front passenger side impact air bag was installed. In a side impact crash, that air bag can fail to deploy as intended, increasing injury risk; Volkswagen dealers will replace it free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The side impact air bags in the 2019-2020 Volkswagen Atlas and Passat are built into the occupant-protection system for a side crash. Their job is to deploy from the side of the seating area and help cushion the driver or front passenger when the vehicle is struck from the side.
On affected vehicles, the wrong driver or front passenger side impact air bag was installed because parts were handled incorrectly at the supplier. The air bag has to match the vehicle and seating position it is designed for. When the installed part is not the correct one, the restraint system is not using the air bag Volkswagen specified for that crash location.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner is not expected to see a dashboard message, noise, smell, or change in normal driving that identifies the wrong side impact air bag.
Who's affected?
Includes Atlas and Passat vehicles across the 2019 and 2020 model years, both involving the side air bag.
| 2019 Volkswagen Atlas | side air bag |
|---|---|
| 2020 Volkswagen Passat | side air bag |
| Units affected | 3 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a side impact crash, the wrong side airbag can fail to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury. There is no warning sign before a crash, so confirm your VIN and schedule the recall repair soon if your vehicle is included. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Volkswagen Atlas or Passat is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to confirm whether the side air bags were inspected or replaced, and schedule the free repair if it is still open.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V218 when you call.
- Limit driving until the dealer confirms the repair, because the wrong side air bag can fail to deploy as intended in a side impact crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician inspects the driver and front passenger side impact air bags and replaces any incorrect side air bag covered by recall 19V218. The inspection and replacement are free under the recall, and Volkswagen says the recall was completed in April 2019. Volkswagen is not offering a reimbursement program for this campaign, so prior out-of-pocket repair costs are not handled through a separate recall reimbursement process.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| March 20, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 24, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 19, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| May 19, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 19, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V218?
Recall 19V218 covers 3 2019-2020 Volkswagen Atlas and Passat vehicles with an incorrect driver or front passenger side impact air bag installed. In a side impact crash, the wrong side air bag can fail to deploy as intended, raising injury risk. Volkswagen inspected and replaced the side air bags for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Volkswagen Atlas or Passat is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V218. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer and reference recall number 19V218 or Volkswagen recall 69Y8. Volkswagen says the inspection and side-air-bag replacement were completed free of charge in April 2019.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Volkswagen's remedy for recall 19V218 was a free inspection and replacement of the affected side air bags at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is tied to side-impact protection. If the wrong side air bag is installed, it can fail to deploy as intended during a side impact crash. That reduces occupant protection and raises injury risk. The repair path is the Volkswagen dealer inspection and free side-air-bag replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V218000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V218 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V218000 |
Source documents
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 →