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
For many shops, the standard process for dealing with vehicle recalls is to check their information system, see what customers have cars with recalls and then notify them. However, what’s frequently missed is that recalls could mean the loss of business for the shop if a customer is enticed to keep visiting his or her dealership.
While repair shops might only be the first to notify customers regarding recalls, they can also get ahead of losing customers to competitors. The goal, then, is to ensure you retain those customers.
