The Seat Ateca is affected by several safety recalls in which both the seat frame and the airbag can be defective. For models from 2017 up to and including 2019, recalls are in place because of cracks in the front seat frame and airbags that may deploy too slowly in a collision. As an owner, you are entitled to a free inspection and repair if your car is affected. Find out exactly what these recalls mean and which steps you should take.
Why are Seat Ateca front seat frames being recalled?
On the left front seat of Ateca models from 2019, cracks have been found in the mounting of the seat frame. This problem is caused by a manufacturing fault in the assembly. Because of the cracks, the mounting can weaken, meaning the seat offers insufficient protection in a frontal or side impact. This increases the risk of serious injury for the driver.
The manufacturer has called on owners of Seat Ateca models from this period to attend a free inspection at an official dealer. During the inspection the seat frame is checked for cracks. If necessary, the mounting is reinforced or replaced. This repair usually takes less than an hour and is free of charge, even if the warranty has already expired.
In addition to the front seat, there has also been a recall for the rear bench head restraints of 2018 models. In these cars the locking pin of the central head restraint may be missing. As a result, the head restraint can come loose in a crash, which means inadequate neck protection for rear-seat passengers.
What is the issue with the driver’s airbag?
The Ateca is involved in the worldwide Takata airbag recall, one of the largest recalls in automotive history. This recall concerns defective gas generators in the airbags. Due to ageing as a result of heat and humidity, these gas generators can explode when the airbag deploys. Metal fragments can then be released and propelled towards the occupants.
For the Seat Ateca, the following specific airbag problems have been reported:
- In models produced between June 2015 and April 2016, the housing of the gas generator may explode during deployment
- The driver’s airbag may deploy too slowly, so that it does not provide protection in time in a collision
- This problem also affects wider series of 2017 models
- More than 300,000 Seat vehicles worldwide are affected, including the Ateca, Leon and Ibiza
The chemical propellant in the airbag inflator can degrade. This degradation accelerates in warm and humid conditions. Although the Netherlands does not have an extremely hot climate, fluctuations in temperature and humidity can still cause problems. When the airbag deploys, the aged gas generator can fire off fragments instead of just inflating the airbag.
For which model years does the recall apply?
The recalls focus on specific production periods. The seat frame issue mainly affects Ateca models from 2019. The airbag recalls have a broader scope and primarily concern cars from the period 2015 to 2018, with a focus on 2017 models.
Seat advises all owners of an Ateca from the period 2015 up to and including 2019 to carry out a check using the vehicle identification number (VIN). With the chassis number you can check whether your car is part of a recall. You can perform this check via the official Seat website or at an authorised dealer.
The recall lists are updated regularly. Even if your car is not yet on the list, this may change later. It is therefore sensible to check every year whether new recalls have been published for your model and year of manufacture.
How do you check whether your Seat Ateca needs to be recalled?
The chassis number is the quickest way to find out whether your Ateca is affected. This VIN number is shown on the registration certificate and is also visible behind the windscreen on the driver’s side. With this number you can take the following steps:
- Go to the official Seat website and look for the recall checker
- Enter your VIN number and check whether there are any outstanding recalls
- Use the RDW website to look up recalls applicable in the Netherlands
- Call or email an authorised Seat dealer with your VIN number for a check
Some owners wait for a letter from the importer. However, this does not always reach everyone. Checking proactively prevents you from continuing to drive an unsafe car. Dealers treat recall repairs as a priority and often schedule an appointment within a few weeks.
‘ All recall repairs are completely free of charge, regardless of the mileage or age of the car. ’
What happens during the repair?
Which repair is needed depends on the specific problem. In the case of the seat frame recall, the mechanic inspects the frame for cracks. If necessary, the mounting is reinforced with extra material or completely replaced. This work takes around an hour. You can wait while the repair is carried out or request a courtesy car.
For the airbag recall, the mechanic replaces the defective gas generator with a safe version. This applies to both the driver’s airbag and, where necessary, the passenger airbag. The mechanic removes the steering wheel or dashboard section, installs the new airbag module and tests the system. This repair also takes roughly an hour.
All recall repairs are completely free of charge, regardless of the mileage or age of the car. Even if you bought the car second-hand or the factory warranty has expired, you pay nothing. This applies to both parts and labour.
Are there any other known issues with the Seat Ateca?
Owners also report some other technical problems. A common issue is failure of the LED indicators because the electronic module is not sensitive enough. There are also reports of a defective brake pedal plate that can come loose while driving.
These issues are not covered by an official recall. However, you can report them to the dealer. Whether the dealer offers a solution depends on the warranty status and the seriousness of the problem. It is sensible to document these points and have them checked during servicing.
What do owners say about their experiences?
Owners who have had a recall repair carried out on their Ateca generally report positive experiences. The repairs are carried out quickly and the car functions normally afterwards. Some owners indicate that they do not notice any difference in driving behaviour. This confirms that the repair is purely preventive.
There are complaints about waiting times at dealers, though. The large numbers of affected vehicles meant that waiting times in some cases rose to two months. It pays to call several dealers and ask for the earliest available date. Dealers in less densely populated areas sometimes have shorter waiting times.
After the recall repairs, Ateca models perform reliably. There are no reports of recurring problems with the repairs. Models from 2020 onwards have significantly fewer technical problems and recalls.
What steps should you take as an owner?
If you own a Seat Ateca from the period 2015 to 2019, it is sensible to take the following actions:
- Carry out a VIN check straight away via the Seat website or RDW
- Schedule an appointment at an authorised dealer if your car is on the recall list
- Regularly check the airbag warning light on the dashboard
- Test the sturdiness of the front seat by moving it back and forth
- Keep documentation of recall repairs that have been carried out
Driving a car that is on the recall list is not illegal. However, it does increase the safety risk. At an MOT (APK) inspection, technical defects in seats or airbags can lead to a fail. It is therefore sensible to have recall repairs carried out before the MOT date.
Do not ignore the airbag warning light. If this light stays on, the system is not functioning correctly. Have this checked by a dealer immediately. Sometimes this is a signal that the recall repair is necessary.
Are newer Ateca models safer?
Models from the 2020 model year onwards have significantly fewer recalls and technical problems. Seat has tightened up its production processes and uses different suppliers for safety components. The Takata airbags have been completely removed from the production line and replaced by modern systems.
The seat frame design has also been modified. Newer models use reinforced mounting points and improved welds. This significantly reduces the risk of cracking. Owners of Ateca models from 2020 or newer need worry less about these specific recalls.
Nevertheless, it remains sensible to check the recall status regularly, even for newer models. Technical problems sometimes only come to light after years of use, which can lead to later recalls.
On the Carnews website you will find extensive information on many more car problems, maintenance tips and recalls for different makes and models. Find out which other technical points of attention apply to your car and stay up to date with the latest developments in the automotive sector.
Frequently asked questions
You can check this by entering the VIN (chassis number) of your Seat Ateca on the official Seat website under the ‘recall’ or ‘service campaign’ section. In the Netherlands you can also check on the RDW website whether there are any outstanding recalls for your car. If in doubt, contact an official Seat dealer; using your registration number or VIN they can immediately see whether the seat frame or airbag recall applies to your car.
A defective seat frame can give way in a collision, causing the seat to come loose or move and the seat belt to no longer restrain your body properly, with a higher risk of serious injury. In addition, a weakened frame can reduce energy absorption in an accident and thus increase the forces on your spine and neck. A non-functioning airbag may fail to deploy at all in a crash, leaving you protected only by the belt and meaning your head and chest may hit the steering column, windscreen or dashboard much harder. If it is a Takata-type airbag, there is also a risk that the gas generator will explode when it deploys and metal fragments will injure the occupants.
You contact an official Seat dealer, have them check via your registration number or VIN whether there is an outstanding recall, and then book a (free) appointment. The dealer then carries out the prescribed factory repair and records the recall as completed in the system. The inspection and any reinforcement or replacement of the seat frame usually take less than an hour. Replacing an airbag inflator or module generally takes around an hour, sometimes a little longer if there is a wait in the workshop.
In the case of an official recall, there are no costs for the owner for repair of a seat frame or airbag. This work is always fully paid for by the manufacturer, regardless of whether the factory warranty has already expired. The costs therefore do not fall under the regular factory warranty, but under a separate recall organised by the manufacturer. You do not have to pay anything for this at the dealer.
An official recall for the seat frame or airbag normally has little to no negative impact on the residual value, especially if the repair has been carried out properly and documented. It is often actually positive for the value that known issues have been resolved professionally and free of charge. As far as your car insurance is concerned, a recall in itself does not change the validity of the policy. However, it can become an issue if you deliberately fail to have a mandatory safety repair carried out and that makes an accident worse; an insurer may then be more difficult about settling the claim.