2021 Volkswagen Atlas Problems

455 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Electrical System · verdict AVOID 10/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Electrical System143
Service Brakes95
Engine82
Unknown Or Other73
Forward Collision Avoidance68
Air Bags63

In the owners’ words

“Upon visual inspection of the car. Noticed driver’s side headlight outter light not working with no warning indicator. Have been pulled over since issue was first discovered by police. I believe it’s called daytime driving light part of the headlight.”NHTSA complaint, 2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner
“Aluminum rear differential corroded, causing Haldex fluid to leak out resulting in Haldex pump, failure and loss of rear-wheel-drive ie.(4 motion) causing catastrophic failure of clutch pack.”NHTSA complaint, 2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner
“Passenger side Daytime Running Light went out. The vehicle had under 60k miles. Seems like a common problem. For now will not replace because of high price tag and not necessary for safety inspection. The problem is that negates the safety feature on the car.”NHTSA complaint, 2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
18/11/2020Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: CameraVolkswagen 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 ignit
27/01/2021Steering SAFETYVolkswagen 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.
03/03/2021Wheels:RimVolkswagen 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 sufficie
15/10/2021Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/StudsVolkswagen 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.
17/11/2021Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac SystemVolkswagen 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
26/08/2020SeatsVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame a
26/08/2020Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Atlas Cross Sports and 2021 Atlas vehicles. The driver's side headlight may have been aimed too low during production. As such, these vehicles fa
13/11/2020Tires:SidewallVolkswagen 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
17/11/2020Steering SAFETYVolkswagen 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.
06/08/2021Electrical System:Wiring:Relays/Solenoids SAFETYVolkswagen 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 activat

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?

On the federal record it scores 10/100: 455 owner complaints (91 per year on the road) and 12 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Electrical System, with 143 of 524 categorised reports.

Share this verdict

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas scored 10/100 on the federal record.

Full 2021 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Atlas yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking