Airbag error - after 90 km (55 miles)

Its probably just the result of some wiring under the driver or passenger seat that may have become disconnected. While it certainly is frustrating to have problems before ever getting the vehicle home, I'm sure all these problems will be easily rectified at the dealership. What are they currently waiting on for a replacement part?

Simeon said:

Its probably just the result of some wiring under the driver or passenger seat that may have become disconnected. While it certainly is frustrating to have problems before ever getting the vehicle home, I'm sure all these problems will be easily rectified at the dealership. What are they currently waiting on for a replacement part?

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Thanks Simeon,


The dealer indicate a "module" that need to be replaced. They said it will come directly from Germany.
I thought just like you that it would be loose wire but it seems that I got a defective part in a brand new car :crying:.
Hopefully, they are right with the diagnosis and the car gets fix after replacing the part.

Airbag issue too

After 3,000 miles, Airbag error too. Just dropped it at the dealership. I will update the forum as soon as I get a diagnostic.

Please keep us posted!

pcspe said:

After 3,000 miles, Airbag error too. Just dropped it at the dealership. I will update the forum as soon as I get a diagnostic.

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Thanks PCSPE,
Please let us know what the dealership tells you ....
Note that I have not received my Atlas yet...OMG, the dealer is still waiting for the part ( almost 1 month).


I hope you don't have to go through this...

Well that's a shame that the repair is a little more involved than what we had hoped. That's a ridiculous amount of downtime, and why on Earth does it need to be ordered directly from Germany? Luckily I don't think there should be much labour involved in replacing a module.

Passenger seat sensor

So, heard back from the dealership. The issue was the passenger seat sensor.
it was replaced, and the issue is gone.

Simeon said:

Well that's a shame that the repair is a little more involved than what we had hoped. That's a ridiculous amount of downtime, and why on Earth does it need to be ordered directly from Germany? Luckily I don't think there should be much labour involved in replacing a module.

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I followed up with the dealership yesterday. They are not telling much details just that the system now indicates JUNE as the expected delivery date. No sure why they cant ship that module from US to Canada? I would assume there might be many of those modules in their Volkswagen Chattanooga plant (Tennessee). I am at the point that would like to get my money back but Canada does not lemon laws.


-Pick up my Atlas on April 9th
-drove it for less than 3 days until I got the "air bag error "
- got the appointment at the dealer on April 16th and since then 38 days has passed and still waiting....


Something does not look right to me.

Pablo Sanchez said:

So, heard back from the dealership. The issue was the passenger seat sensor.
it was replaced, and the issue is gone.

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Good to hear that your issue was fixed Pablo.
My dealer indicated " module replacement", so I guess it is different that the air bag sensor ( no sure). At least the air bag sensor(s) are easy to get in the USA.
thanks for sharing

I had the same issue with my Atlas. I was told by the dealership that if you leave any electronic devices (phones/laptops etc) on the passenger seat it will trigger this Airbag warning. The warning was re-set. Lets see how long it will take to re appear, Sigh…

Got an airbag light yesterday. Checked all the wiring under the seats ant nothing is apparently wrong.
Guess I will take it in to the dealer ASAP. Not a lot of info I can find on it other than this thread....

I have had my atlas for a year now and gotten this light 3 times in the last month. First time they reset it came on a week later they replaced the module and now it just came on again 2 days later! Super frustrated I want to make them accountable but not sure how.... just keep getting it fixed ?

I bought my 2018 Atlas in July 2017 and has had the airbag error all the time during the past three years, had to take it to the dealership well over 10 times, each time it has to be grounded for several weeks and in less than a month it keeps coming back... Apparently this is a widespread problem and one that can not be fixed, there needs to be a class action law suit for this in Canada as well, I know there is one in the US. I contacted VW corporate several times, neither VW not Regency dealership in Coquitlam BC where I purchased the vehicle honored taking the vehicle back or replacing it with a non defective one.

Worst car ownership experience ever, I do not recommend VW for their awful customer service ever, I will never purchase another VW again either, also stay away from Atlas this vehicle is plagued with problems, I've had several other issues as well that had grounded it for several weeks as well, had tank, water leakage, adaptive cruise control error, etc you name it!!!!

ispeed said:

Just got an airbag error message from my 2021 Atlas SE with Tech. Called dealership and they suggested having it towed into dealership, but we live 1.5 hours away. Said he'd never seen this issue with Atlas and they couldn't diagnose anything over the phone. Just have to bring it in to drop off. Lovely. View attachment 1658

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I have same on my vw. It has been in shop for 2 weeks. They said it was a modular and it needed to be replaced. It was replaced than they said their was water build up. They are still researching

Vw123 said:

I have same on my vw. It has been in shop for 2 weeks. They said it was a modular and it needed to be replaced. It was replaced than they said their was water build up. They are still researching

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Just to add my problem is the same as the 2018 recall for airbags. They know how to fix it..

Deegolds said:

I have had my atlas for a year now and gotten this light 3 times in the last month. First time they reset it came on a week later they replaced the module and now it just came on again 2 days later! Super frustrated I want to make them accountable but not sure how.... just keep getting it fixed ?

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Did you ever get it fixed? What year was your atlas?

Got mine to the dealer today. Told me the code they pulled showed the ”fault” in the actual airbag light on the heat/air center console. Next to the Auto off button and hazard lights. They said that the “passenger airbag“ light sent the code. It was reset and they they sent me on my way. The first they asked when I got there, was the iPad under my arm, if I laid any electronic devices on the seat. Told them no, but they did go through the process of telling me about not laying any electronics on the seat. I tried to get it light up again after I left and so far it has not. I’m sure it will ... in time.

Update:

Brought the car in to the dealer. Code was in, but their testing plan still passed.
However, this time, the service advisor ended up advocating to VW that this issue be addressed instead of just testing & returning as "can't reproduce".

Turned into essentially replacing the passenger side seat. Took 2 weeks because the parts they had installed was faulty, so they had to have it shipped & tear apart & install again.
Items replaced were Harness, Heater Element, Padding, Clamp, 03J Contr. Unit

No more airbag lights!

nancjs said:

2018 atlas, 28k miles.

Airbag Error light came on and I took it to the dealer.
Dealer basically said it was throwing code DTC B1225F1 but could not reproduce the issue. Car was returned as is.

Day later the light came back on.

I've made a second appointment for next Wednesday for them to have a look at it again.

I did some research and it looks like there's a TSB out for this code, although it's for Audi's. I suspect we share the same part. It looks like the wire harness has bad shielding, and just needs to be tightened up.
This is the TSB (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10150667-9999.pdf).

I'm planning on walking in on Wednesday with that thing printed out 🤞

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