2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Safety ratings, recalls, and consumer complaints from NHTSA
NHTSA Safety Ratings
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV AWD
- Overall
- ★★★★★
- Front Crash
- ★★★★☆
- Side Crash
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD
- Overall
- ★★★★★
- Front Crash
- ★★★★☆
- Side Crash
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
Recalls(14)
WHEELS:RIM
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.
Campaign: 21V132000
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
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.
Campaign: 21V812000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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.
Campaign: 21V892000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
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.
Campaign: 20V702000
STEERING
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.
Campaign: 20V712000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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."
Campaign: 20V716000
STEERING
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.
Campaign: 21V026000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
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.
Campaign: 21V616000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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."
Campaign: 22V086000
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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.
Campaign: 22V152000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
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.
Campaign: 22V245000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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."
Campaign: 22V514000
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Campaign: 22V815000
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
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.
Campaign: 24V464000
Consumer Complaints(165 total, showing 10)
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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 and stated that a cord needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
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 TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
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 again. On approximately XXX while traveling from [XXX] toward [XXX], the problem became much more serious. While driving on the highway, both the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment display suddenly went completely black at the same time. Because the instrument cluster was completely black, I could no longer see my speed or other important driving information. I activated the hazard lights while pulling over, but the visual hazard-light indicators were also not visible because the instrument cluster was black. The vehicle continued moving, but because critical information was no longer available, I pulled over safely and restarted the vehicle. I have also experienced intermittent malfunctions involving the driver assistance systems, including Lane Keeping Assist and Travel Assist warnings. On one occasion, the vehicle applied Automatic Emergency Braking unexpectedly even though there was no apparent hazard in front of the vehicle. These issues occur intermittently, making them difficult to reproduce consistently, but they create a significant safety concern because they happen while driving. I contacted Volkswagen Customer CARE and opened Case Number XXX. Volkswagen also confirmed that my vehicle has an open safety recall (69PZ / NHTSA Recall 24V464). I am submitting this complaint because of the intermittent electrical failures and driver assistance system malfunctions described above. I am requesting that these safety issues be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,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 to be driving one minute and the car just stop on you and go to a slow roll.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Right side daytime running light went out. Confirmed by dealer and headlamp assembly was replaced.
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.
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