2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
5 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Transmission / drivetrain
What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
What could happen: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38CX.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2025 ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 25V081000 (manufacturer code 38CX).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Consequence: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38CX.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
2. Engine
What's wrong, in plain English: Engine problems range from stalling to fire. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
What could happen: A loose engine cover that contacts hot surfaces in the engine compartment can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10X5.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2025 ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 25V100000 (manufacturer code 10X5).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ENGINE
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
Consequence: A loose engine cover that contacts hot surfaces in the engine compartment can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10X5.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.
3. Backup camera
What's wrong, in plain English: The rear camera may not show an image when reversing. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
What could happen: A distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91SB.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2025 ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 25V334000 (manufacturer code 91SB).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91SB.
Notes:
4. Brakes
What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
What could happen: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2025 ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 25V434000 (manufacturer code 42HX).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-253-2834.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SERVICE BRAKES
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Consequence: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
Notes:
5. Backup camera
What's wrong, in plain English: The rear camera may not show an image when reversing. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.
What could happen: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTS…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2025 ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V473000 (manufacturer code 91TV).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.
Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 28, 2026.
Notes:
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (12), Unknown Or Other (8), Transmission / drivetrain (7), Engine (5), Fuel system (3).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
10/03/2026 · Unknown Or Other
1. Warning lights come on intermittently when no engine problem exists. After turning the engine on and off a few times, they go away. 2. Windshield wipers randomly turn on without being activated and not raining. 3. Screen glitches: Random screens pop up and scroll without being activated by a human.
09/24/2026 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
Hi, I have been an owner of 2025 Atlas Cross Sport Premium R line for over 8 months now. Since June 2026 I have 2 incidents of cracked front windshield. All VW manufactured glass for Atlas CS are made paper thin and prone to sudden damage upon small impact my road debris or rocks. I have owned cars in the past and never had this issue before. The quality of…
09/19/2026 · Electrical system
I keep having issues with the entertainment screen where it stops working. When this happens there are multiple issues: I can not control the temperature and my gps shows I’m in a different town causing my heads up speed limit telling me the speed limit is 50mph in my 25mph neighborhood. Bill jacobs Volkswagen does not care as I have brought it in on multip…
09/18/2026 · Transmission / drivetrain
I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle repeatedly experienced shaking, hesitation, warning lights, loss of power, and engine shutdowns. On approximately XXX, the engine shut off while the vehicle was idling in Drive at approximately 48,582 miles. On approximately XXX, multiple warnin…
09/11/2026 · Lights
The rear taillight lens on my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport cracked without an impact or collision. Water has entered the taillight assembly through the crack, creating condensation/water inside the lamp and a potential risk of lighting or electrical failure. The vehicle is still within its new-vehicle warranty, but Volkswagen/the dealer declined to rep…
08/31/2026 · Transmission / drivetrain
On August 31, 2026, while driving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport on the highway, multiple warning lights illuminated and the vehicle stopped operating while I was in traffic. The sudden loss of vehicle operation created a serious risk of a collision and placed me and other motorists in danger. This vehicle has experienced repeated problems including…
08/31/2026 · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the autonomous braking system was negatively affected by roadway passing underneath the highway. The system mistakenly determined that the vehicle was on the lower roadway, causing the brakes to apply erroneously. The contact stated that the failure was cause…
08/17/2026 · Electrical system
Car has been to [XXX] in [XXX] many times as the screen will go blank and freeze. Unable to change radio or temperature. Can not see when I go in reverse. I have to turn off the car for 30 mins to have the screen to work again. Volkswagen has been not helpful. Car gps and compass shows I’m in a different city. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM…