Vehicle report

2021 Volkswagen Atlas

Recalls, consumer complaints, safety ratings, fuel cost estimate, and next steps from official public data sources.

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2021 Volkswagen Atlas
17 Total recalls
Jun 20, 2024 Latest recall date
433 Complaint reports
$2,804 Estimated fuel cost
Quick answer: The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has 17 official recalls and 433 consumer complaints in our database. The latest recall date is Jun 20, 2024. The most common complaint categories include exterior lighting, air bags, unknown or other. Estimated annual fuel cost is $2,804 based on the current calculator assumptions.

Buyer interpretation

What this record means before you buy

The useful question is not just whether this page has records. It is what those records should make you verify before money changes hands.

Recall homework

There are 17 official recalls listed for this model year. Before buying, use the VIN to confirm which campaigns are still open and ask for dealer repair records on completed work.

Owner complaint pattern

Owner complaints most often mention exterior lighting, air bags, unknown or other. Scan those categories before the test drive so you know what symptoms, warning lights, or service history to ask about.

Service bulletin signal

383 manufacturer communications are listed. These are not recalls, but they can reveal repair instructions, warranty extensions, software notices, or known service patterns.

Ownership-cost check

The fuel-cost estimate is based on a representative EPA match, not every trim. Confirm the actual engine, drivetrain, and tire setup before comparing this listing with another year or model.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Can you show the current VIN recall status for this 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
  • Do you have dealer invoices or campaign paperwork for the listed recall repairs?
  • Have you noticed any issues related to exterior lighting, air bags, unknown or other?
  • Can I review recent maintenance records before the test drive?
Used-car checklist

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2021 Volkswagen Atlas Regular Gasoline
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Safety ratings

Official safety ratings were found for 2 tested variants of the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.

Overall 5/5 stars
Frontal crash 4/5 stars
Side crash 5/5 stars
Rollover 4/5 stars

Displayed variant: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD ; rollover risk 13.6%

Safety ratings can vary by tested body style, trim, drivetrain, or variant. Do not assume every trim has the same rating unless the official record says so.
Variant Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD Default 5/5 stars 4/5 stars 5/5 stars 4/5 stars
2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD 5/5 stars 4/5 stars 5/5 stars 4/5 stars

How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have?

Verify with official VIN lookup

17 official recalls on record for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. 131 matched quarterly completion reports are available.

Latest recall: June 20, 2024

Recall data is based on official records. This page is not an official VIN recall check. Always confirm open recalls with an official VIN lookup, the manufacturer, or an authorized dealer. Completion reports are campaign-level, delayed, and not VIN-specific.
Campaign Component Summary Consequence Remedy Date Completion
24V464000 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. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. 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. Jun 2024 2026-1
191,705 remedied / 271,330 involved (70.7%)
23V215000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 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. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. 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. Mar 2023 2025-4
91,554 remedied / 143,053 involved (64%)
22V815000 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." An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash. 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. Oct 2022 2024-4
243,054 remedied / 296,044 involved (82.1%)
22V514000 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." A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Jul 2022 2024-2
37,479 remedied / 43,091 involved (87.0%)
22V245000 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. Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. 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. Apr 2022 2024-2
1,240 remedied / 1,382 involved (89.7%)
22V152000 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. A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury. 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. Mar 2022 2024-1
204,501 remedied / 222,892 involved (91.8%)
22V086000 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." Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Feb 2022 2023-4
3,058 remedied / 3,648 involved (83.8%)
21V892000 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. 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. 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. Nov 2021 2023-4
51,643 remedied / 54,429 involved (94.9%)
21V812000 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. The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Oct 2021 2023-3
28 remedied / 30 involved (93.3%)
21V616000 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. A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire. 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. Aug 2021 2023-1
33 remedied / 33 involved (100%)
21V132000 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. An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Mar 2021 2022-3
128 remedied / 128 involved (100%)
21V026000 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. A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Jan 2021 2022-4
9,946 remedied / 10,303 involved (96.5%)
20V716000 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." A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Nov 2020 2022-3
31,709 remedied / 32,048 involved (98.9%)
20V712000 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. A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Nov 2020 2022-3
773 remedied / 776 involved (99.6%)
20V702000 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. 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. 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. Nov 2020 2022-3
746 remedied / 760 involved (98.2%)
20V505000 SEATS 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. 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. 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. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9. Aug 2020 2022-2
5,211 remedied / 5,376 involved (96.9%)
20V504000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 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." A headlight aimed incorrectly aimed reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Aug 2020 2021-3
11 remedied / 11 involved (100%)

Are there federal defect investigations for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

Official records show 2 federal defect investigations matched to the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.

0 open 2 closed
Investigations are not recalls. They show official defect reviews and may close without a recall, or may reference a related campaign when one exists.
Action Status Component Subject Opened Related recall
PE23017 Closed FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limitations.  However, many consumer complaints alleged that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or Volkswagen dealerships informed the consumers that this braking is considered normal Front Assist operation. ODI's analysis shows that MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles have the highest rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation when compared to their Volkswagen peers.The rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation in MY 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles was comparable to their Volkswagen peers. To date, ODI has received a total of 69 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of Front Assist in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.  In total, ODI reviewed 264 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include eight reports of incidents involving an alleged injury and two reports involving a crash. PE23017 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. 		Sep 2023
Closed Dec 2024 		None
PE23017 Closed FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limitations.  However, many consumer complaints alleged that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or Volkswagen dealerships informed the consumers that this braking is considered normal Front Assist operation. ODI's analysis shows that MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles have the highest rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation when compared to their Volkswagen peers.The rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation in MY 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles was comparable to their Volkswagen peers. To date, ODI has received a total of 69 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of Front Assist in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.  In total, ODI reviewed 264 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include eight reports of incidents involving an alleged injury and two reports involving a crash. PE23017 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. 		Sep 2023
Closed Dec 2024 		None

Are there manufacturer notices for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

Official records show 383 manufacturer communications on record for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.

8 warranty 0 service campaigns 0 software/OTA

Common components: EQUIPMENT (98), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (84), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (73), ENGINE (61), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (45)

Manufacturer communications are not recalls. They can include service bulletins, repair instructions, warranty extensions, software updates, service campaigns, and other notices.
Date Type Component Summary ID / document
Apr 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions EXTERIOR LIGHTING Condition is normal due to cold fresh air and humidity 11032219
V9422012066639_6
Apr 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions AIR BAGS This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue with Airbag - J706 - Seat Occupant Detection System Control Module Basic Setting error message ODS5001E & ODS5003E. 11032221
VOS-26-23
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions EXTERIOR LIGHTING Moisture Accumulation 11030845
V9419012011521_21
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions ENGINE This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, SVM updates for any control module(s) etc. 11030847
VOS-26-21
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions UNKNOWN OR OTHER Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting 11030841
V0018092053065_6
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING customer reports that the vehicle performed an unwarranted Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). 11030842
V4521012062957_7
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions UNKNOWN OR OTHER Damage Inspection of Park assist sensors 11030838
V9422022066761_4
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions ELECTRICAL SYSTEM This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct multiple test plans: All basic settings test for the following components - Fill and bleed cooling system issue, N493, J338, Camshaft, V465 etc. Use this test for all the basic setting. You will need to select the component you need to run the basic settings. But there are also stand-alone tests for each of those components. 11030829
VOS-26-15
Mar 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions UNKNOWN OR OTHER Paint color and/or finish of the engine compartment may not match the exterior paint color 11030828
V5515032021354_9
Mar 2026 Other AIR BAGS The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used vehicles. 11030826
DC_VW_CF_Airbag

What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Atlas complaints?

433 total complaints on record

How much does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cost in fuel?

Estimated annual cost $2,804 $234/month at 12,000 miles/year
Effective efficiency 19.3 MPG
Energy used 623 gal/yr
Price assumption $4.50 $/gal

Assumptions: 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG · Regular Gasoline · efficiency ratings from official public data when available · fuel price default: official public data (U.S. average, Jun 3, 2026)

461 g/mi CO2Fuel score 3/10Smog 5/10

Model-year comparison

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022