Hi all. My husband and I bought a 2018 VW Atlas S 4Motion for Mother’s Day. I have been unable to drive the vehicle since July 5th due to a recall involving second row seat buckles and an issue with child car seats. Parts are not available yet and there is no ETA on when they will be. So now, I get to wait around for my vehicle to be returned to me ?
New owner, unable to drive 😞
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Yes they did provide a loaner vehicle. At first they gave us a Passat to drive around, but that wasn’t feasible with our 2 kids...especially our car seat. We were able to get approved for another Atlas as a rental, so we’ve been driving that around now.
It’s just frustrating to know that our brand new vehicle is sitting there and I have not been given any updates on it until today when I took my father to pick up his vehicle from service.
We got the Kurkuma Yellow, so it’s a super noticeable vehicle on their lot lol.
It’s just frustrating to know that our brand new vehicle is sitting there and I have not been given any updates on it until today when I took my father to pick up his vehicle from service.
We got the Kurkuma Yellow, so it’s a super noticeable vehicle on their lot lol.
It was dropped off for a service and another Atlas from Enterprise was brought in for a recall at the same time, so I asked if mine had a recall too. They said they would check the VIN and call me. When I got the phone call they told me that the buckles “failed the recall inspection”. Our car seat has been in the middle seat but didn’t notice any damage.
I’m assuming the “failed recall inspection” means there was some kind of damage, they didn’t tell me. All I know is there is no ETA for the parts. We received the recall notice a few days after dropping the vehicle off. The supplemental user manual info lists child restraints that work in the middle seat, but ours is not listed.
Even though we have a rental vehicle in the mean time, it’s just really frustrating to have a brand new vehicle that we are unable to drive. We had the vehicle for 46 days and we are going on 30 days without it.
I’m assuming the “failed recall inspection” means there was some kind of damage, they didn’t tell me. All I know is there is no ETA for the parts. We received the recall notice a few days after dropping the vehicle off. The supplemental user manual info lists child restraints that work in the middle seat, but ours is not listed.
Even though we have a rental vehicle in the mean time, it’s just really frustrating to have a brand new vehicle that we are unable to drive. We had the vehicle for 46 days and we are going on 30 days without it.
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Ok, makes sense now that you say you were using a car seat. Can't you just say "thanks but I'll keep my vehicle while the parts are ordered"? Seems odd that you can't just go get it...it's your vehicle! I don't think they will stop you if you come there and take it. Just move the car seat to another position...but wait, this actually doesn't impact the safety while using the car seat is what I recall from reading the recall notice, only that the seat belt itself may not be ok to use if it has been damaged by the car seat..correct? Your car seat is installed with the latch restraints right?
We aren’t allowed to drive the vehicle for “safety liability reasons.” There may be damage to 2 out of the 3 buckles if the car seat was pressing on them, but like I said they didn’t give me a straight answer as to what qualified the inspection failure. The car seat does use the latch system, but I guess their fear is future use of the buckles if the car seat were to be taken out. Any damage could render them unsafe and faulty.
I would love to go and get my vehicle while they wait for parts. The ETA I was quoted the other day was September, but that was an ETA on another Atlas that has been grounded in their lot. My Atlas still shows no ETA...so I have no clue what the heck is going on at that dealership...
I would love to go and get my vehicle while they wait for parts. The ETA I was quoted the other day was September, but that was an ETA on another Atlas that has been grounded in their lot. My Atlas still shows no ETA...so I have no clue what the heck is going on at that dealership...
If the child seat base it too wide it can actually crack the plastic seat belt buckle next to it. It happened at my local dealership where someone brought their car seat in to try in the vehicle in the showroom while shopping for a new car and when they tightened down the car seat it cracked the buckle. You don't just want your vehicle back as it will be unsafe for someone riding back there suing those seat belts. It will damage to the center and outboard seat belt buckles if the base of a child seat is wider than 12.6 inches so what they are inspecting I guess is if there are any scratches or cracks to the buckles that indicate you used such a child seat and the other part of the recall is to put into your owners manual about child restraint size limitations and restrictions for the second-row center seating positions. VW says occupants likely won't even know there is a problem with the seat belt buckles until they fail.
On the other side of the problem you can buy a Chevrolet seat belt buckle off of e bay that does not have this problem and get your car going again so the dealer needs to get off their behinds.
On the other side of the problem you can buy a Chevrolet seat belt buckle off of e bay that does not have this problem and get your car going again so the dealer needs to get off their behinds.
I actually just had a consultation with an attorney about Lemon Law. Unfortunately, here in CA it requires 60 days. Our situation also does not fall under Lemon Law because it’s not a matter of a problem needing fixing multiple times, it’s a matter of no available parts. Basically was told to be patient and the company did everything right by giving a loaner vehicle.
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Understood. I would just go take my extra key and get it off the dealer's lot but I understand you have a loaner so all good I suppose. Good luck on this!
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