2021 Volkswagen Atlas: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas: 17 recalls, 477 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
17 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #20V504000 · 2020 · 11 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen 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 fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: 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.
Seats Vehicle recall #20V505000 · 2020 · 5,376 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen 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 and backrest adjuster May not have been welded properly.
Why it matters: 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
Tires Vehicle recall #20V702000 · 2020 · 760 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Steering Vehicle recall #20V712000 · 2020 · 776 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #20V716000 · 2020 · 32,048 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
Steering Vehicle recall #21V026000 · 2021 · 10,303 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Wheels, Wheels Vehicle recall #21V132000 · 2021 · 128 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Electrical, Electrical Vehicle recall #21V616000 · 2021 · 33 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Wheels, Suspension Vehicle recall #21V812000 · 2021 · 30 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Airbags, Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #21V892000 · 2021 · 54,429 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #22V086000 · 2022 · 3,648 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #22V152000 · 2022 · 222,892 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #22V245000 · 2022 · 1,382 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Equipment, Backup camera Vehicle recall #22V514000 · 2022 · 43,091 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
Tires Vehicle recall #22V815000 · 2022 · 296,044 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #23V215000 · 2023 · 143,053 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 atlas and 2020 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #24V464000 · 2024 · 271,330 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (148): the most common themes are door / lock issues (59), warning light on (37), electrical failure (33).
- Brakes (93): the most common themes are warning light on (21), noise or vibration (21).
- Engine (85): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (50), warning light on (25).
- Other / unknown (77): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (15), noise or vibration (8).
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has 477 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 9 Atlas model years for complaints (2.1× the average Atlas year). Complaints peaked in 2022 (132 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 15,075 miles. Neighboring years: 2020 (27 complaints, 4 recalls), 2022 (183 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 24 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.
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FAQ
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 17 vehicle recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
Owners have filed 477 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (148), brakes (93), engine (85).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.