2021 Volkswagen Atlas recalls & complaints

1. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.

What could happen: A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q6. Note: Owners are advised to DO NOT DRIVE the v…

What to do

1. Do not drive this vehicle until the recall repair is done. The manufacturer has told owners to park it.
2. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
3. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V712000 (manufacturer code 40Q6).
4. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
5. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
6. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

2. Backup camera

What's wrong, in plain English: The rear camera may not show an image when reversing. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

What could happen: A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V716000 (manufacturer code 91BB/91BC).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

3. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting.

What could happen: A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace one or both steering knuckles, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q7.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V026000 (manufacturer code 40Q7).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

4. Wheels / tires

What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. The lug bolt holes on the wheels may have been machined incorrectly, preventing the wheel bolt from sufficiently attaching to the wheel bearing hub.

What could happen: An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four wheels, and as necessary, replace the wheels, lug bolts ,and wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q9.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V132000 (manufacturer code 44Q9).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

5. Wheels / tires

What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.

What could happen: The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V812000 (manufacturer code 40R7).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

6. Visibility (wipers / glass)

What's wrong, in plain English: You may not be able to see the road clearly. The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module.

What could happen: A water leak may damage the air bag control module, causing an inadvertent air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

The fix: Dealers will repair the drain tube and replace the air bag control module, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87H4.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V892000 (manufacturer code 87H4).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

7. Seats

What's wrong, in plain English: Seat frames, adjusters or child-seat anchors. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.

What could happen: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Vol…

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V505000 (manufacturer code 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-888-241-2289.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

8. Lights

What's wrong, in plain English: Headlights, tail lights or turn signals may not work, making the car hard to see. The driver's side headlight may have been aimed too low during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

What could happen: A headlight aimed incorrectly aimed reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will adjust the driver's side headlight, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94N7.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V504000 (manufacturer code 94N7).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

9. Wheels / tires

What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport and 2021 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tires, size 255/50 R 20 105 T. The tires may have been over cured.

What could happen: Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air pressure or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect DOT date code and mold number on the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this re…

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V702000 (manufacturer code 44Q5).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

10. Electrical system

What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.

What could happen: A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and as necessary, replace the relays, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97FR.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V616000 (manufacturer code 97FR).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

11. Equipment

What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and…

What could happen: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V086000 (manufacturer code 09D9).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

12. Fuel system

What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk. The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters.

What could happen: Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will replace the long fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24iD.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V245000 (manufacturer code 24iD).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

13. Backup camera

What's wrong, in plain English: The rear camera may not show an image when reversing. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

What could happen: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V514000 (manufacturer code 91DV).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

14. Wheels / tires

What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

What could happen: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V815000 (manufacturer code (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

15. Airbags

What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

What could happen: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 23V215000 (manufacturer code 69FB).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

16. Airbags

What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

What could happen: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer ser…

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 24V464000 (manufacturer code 69PZ).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

17. Airbags

What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.

What could happen: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2021 ATLAS.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V152000 (manufacturer code 97GF).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (148), Brakes (98), Engine (87), Unknown Or Other (77), Lights (68).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.