2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (30) · Air Bags (26) · Exterior Lighting (16)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (14)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2024-06-20 · campaign 24V464000 · 271,330 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. 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.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
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 service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 2022-10-31 · campaign 22V815000 · 296,044 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. 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 requirem
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
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 Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Equipment:electrical:infotainment:software 2022-07-20 · campaign 22V514000 · 43,091 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. 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."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors 2022-04-13 · campaign 22V245000 · 1,382 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters.
Risk: Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Air Bags:side/Window 2022-03-28 · campaign 22V152000 · 222,892 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. 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.
Risk: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Equipment:other:labels 2022-02-16 · campaign 22V086000 · 3,648 vehicles
Defect: 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 Rims."
Risk: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2021-11-17 · campaign 21V892000 · 54,429 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module.
Risk: 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.
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.
Wheels:lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 2021-10-15 · campaign 21V812000 · 30 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.
Risk: The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Electrical System:wiring:relays/Solenoids 2021-08-06 · campaign 21V616000 · 33 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.
Risk: A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
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.
Wheels:lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 2021-03-03 · campaign 21V132000 · 128 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The lug bolt holes on the wheels may have been machined incorrectly, preventing the wheel bolt from sufficiently attaching to the wheel bearing hub.
Risk: An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Steering 2021-01-27 · campaign 21V026000 · 10,303 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting.
Risk: A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2020-11-18 · campaign 20V716000 · 32,048 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. 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."
Risk: A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Steering 2020-11-17 · campaign 20V712000 · 776 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.
Risk: A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
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 vehicle until the vehicle has been inspected and repaired if necessary.
Tires:sidewall 2020-11-13 · campaign 20V702000 · 760 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
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 recall is 44Q5.
Service bulletins (567)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Service Brakes 2026-08-27 · V4622022067177_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
repair or replace information
Power Train 2026-08-10 · V4015022033347_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replacement instruction
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Showing the 6 most recent of 567 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-09 · Exterior Lighting“the passenger drl strip light went out. my car has approximately 75,000 miles on it. i bought it used. no warranty for this. i understand this is a common issue with this model.…”
2026-09-05 · Visibility/Wiper“the right daytime running lights have failed. it creates a safety hazard for driving. the only remedy is to replace the entire headlight which is costly. this is due to poor manufacturing that lets in water to damage the led. …”
2026-08-21 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch · 60,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 volkswagen atlas cross sport. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken for an oil change, and it was discovered that the hood latch cable had either disconnected or snapped off. while attempting to open the hood, the interior hood release handle was inoperable, and the hood could not be opened. the dealer was contacted …”
2026-08-05 · Air Bags“got an airbag alert light on driver console. took it to vw dealer in [xxx]. they said the driver side airbag has a short to ground. and it’s not covered under the warranty. and it’s $2000 to fix. there has been a lot of problems with the wire harness from the manufacturer. and i feel like they should repair it. information redacted pursuant…”
2026-07-30 · Lane Departure: Assist“my 2021 volkswagen atlas cross sport has experienced intermittent electrical failures while driving, including at highway speeds. the infotainment system first began shutting off intermittently around april 2026. at times, i had to pull over, place the vehicle in park, turn it off, and restart it multiple times before the system would function aga…”
2026-07-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System“this has happened to me a total of three times now and i have had the car one month. it stopped on me again in the middle of traffic just driving without warning without any indicating lights on on june 25th. it stopped on me prior on july 21st and i just got it out of the shop july 24th. this is very dangerous and a dangerous situation especially …”
2026-07-21 · Service Brakes“when i am driving the vehicle the brakes are always squeaking. when i took it to the dealership they stated that there was nothing wrong with the brakes. when i google this this seems to be a common issue with the volkswagen atlas. but one thing also just the other day when i stopped on the brakes it felt like someone was slamming behind me. …”
2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other“i have not the slightest idea what is going on with the vehicle that i just bought on june 25th 2026. i have a 2021 volkswagen atlas crossover and the car stopped on me three times today. and when i arrived in my garage it said that the engine was hot. i will be taking it to the dealership tomorrow.…”
2026-07-15 · Exterior Lighting“right side daytime running light went out. confirmed by dealer and headlamp assembly was replaced. …”
2026-06-26 · Exterior Lighting“the daylight led lights have gone out. there is no replacement aside from replacing the whole headlight. led’s shouldn’t go out and the cost of the replacement is high. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.