2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport problems

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The Volkswagen Atlas is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. Developed mainly for the North American and Chinese market, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. Outside the US, Canadian, and Chilean markets, the vehicle is marketed as the Volkswagen Teramont. It is positioned above the long-wheelbase Tiguan and below the smaller but more upmarket Touareg.

Overview

Marketed as the Atlas in North America, Chile, and Israel, the vehicle is known as the Teramont elsewhere, including the rest of the Middle East Africa, as well as in Mexico, Russia, Colombia and China, where production in Ningbo began in 2017. For markets outside China, the Atlas/Teramont is produced in the Chattanooga plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.

The vehicle features a transverse mounted four-cylinder or Volkswagen's VR6 engine. Up to the introduction of the China-only Viloran, the Atlas was the largest vehicle produced on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport

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Common 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport problems

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has been reported to have several common problems by its owners. One of the most frequently mentioned issues is related to the strut rattle, which can be quite annoying. The owner of a 2021 Cross Sport SE Premium reported that the strut rattle was present in their vehicle, and when they took it to the dealership, they were initially unable to find the problem. However, after persisting and visiting the dealership again, a part of the strut was replaced, which fixed the rattle.

Another significant issue reported by owners is related to the crash avoidance system. The owner of a 2021 Cross Sport SE Premium reported that the crash avoidance system engaged in situations where it was not necessary, which almost caused a collision with a motorcycle cop. The owner had to turn off the collision avoidance system to prevent it from engaging again. However, after turning off the system, it engaged twice in a one-week period, and immediately after the second incidence, the brakes were making a grinding noise. Before the owner could get the car to the shop, the car turned itself completely off at a red light with an error message indicating that the door was open. The owner had to open and shut the doors several times to get the car started again.

The electrical system in the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has also been reported to have issues. The owner of a 2021 Cross Sport SE Premium reported that they had to take the car back to the shop several times due to problems with the door sensor. The last time they took the car to the shop, the wiring harness in the door had to be replaced, which the dealership now thinks was the issue causing the sensor to continue to fail.

In addition to these issues, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has been reported to have problems with the infotainment system, including intermittent issues with the bluetooth not working for radio volume, the backup camera freezing or going black, and the climate control not working. The owner of a 2021 Atlas R Line reported that they had to visit the dealership five times in five months for an issue that remains unresolved, and they were told that the infotainment system seems to be the problem. The owner was also told that this was not a known issue by VW and that their vehicle was the only one with this problem, but they approached two other owners with the same vehicle who had experienced similar problems.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has also been reported to have issues with the brakes, including squeaking, scrubbing, and sounds like they are ready to fall apart. The owner of a 2021 Atlas SE 3.6 reported that they have taken their vehicle in so many times for the vehicle shutting off by itself while driving, and they were told that they couldn't find any issue. The owner was also told that the brakes look brand new under the vehicle, but they are still experiencing issues with the brakes.

Overall, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has been reported to have several common problems, including issues with the strut rattle, crash avoidance system, electrical system, infotainment system, and brakes. While some owners have been able to get their vehicles fixed, others have reported that the dealerships have been unable to resolve the issues, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction with the vehicle.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport engine

What is the engine problem with the VW Atlas Cross Sport?

Volkswagen's 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport Recalled Due to Potential Engine Issues. Who: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Why: The Volkswagen vehicles are recalled due to potentially damaged connecting rods that may lead to an oil leak, resulting in a vehicle fire. When: The recall was issued on August 25, 2023.

How reliable is Volkswagen Atlas 2021?

How Reliable Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas? The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has a predicted reliability score of 70 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

What are the most common problems with Volkswagen Atlas?

Common Volkswagen Atlas Problems

  • Braking system: The automated emergency brake system (AEB) may activate without cause, raising the risk of accidents. ...
  • Transmission: Owners have reported loud noises from the automatic transmission, particularly when accelerating from a stop or at low speeds.

Is VW Atlas Cross Sport expensive to maintain?

A Volkswagen Atlas will cost about $7,856 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. This beats the industry average for popular SUV models by $1,277. There is also a 22.80% chance that an Atlas will require a major repair during that time.

What is the engine problem with the Atlas Cross Sport?

Volkswagen's 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport Recalled Due to Potential Engine Issues. Who: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Why: The Volkswagen vehicles are recalled due to potentially damaged connecting rods that may lead to an oil leak, resulting in a vehicle fire. When: The recall was issued on August 25, 2023.

What is the common problem in the Volkswagen Atlas?

The 2021 Atlas has gained notoriety for one particular issue: a faulty electrical system. Since the electrical system controls many interior tech and safety features, a flawed system can spell a frustrating or even dangerous driving experience.

How reliable is Volkswagen Atlas 2021?

How Reliable Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas? The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has a predicted reliability score of 70 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

What is the transmission problem on the 2021 VW Atlas?

2021 VW Atlas Transmission Problems

Common warning signs that your transmission is having issues are: One of the most routine signs is when your transmission shifts gears but the result of those shifts are delayed. Strange smells are a sign your transmission fluid is burning inside your components.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Atlas cross sport problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Electrical system problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Forward collision avoidance problems
  • Engine problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Latest 25 complaints 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport

The NHTSA has received 112 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport vehicles.

2024-10-24

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-19
  • VIN: 1V2GC2CA6MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: The recall has been an ongoing issue; since I am from a smaller valley, Imperial Valley, my dealership has not been able to provide the parts for the repair, this is a major recall seeing as the passenger seat airbag may not deploy. I see no urgency to repair and no customer care. I personally have had to call the dealership asking for updates multiple times and no one is able to assist with the repair due to not having parts. I use my vehicle to rent on the TURO app and this has held up part of my income due to not being able to list the vehicle due to the safety concern. A prompt response or repair would greatly be appreciated from the dealer if they truly car about the safety of their customers.
2024-09-24

AIR BAGS,TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-29
  • VIN: 1V2JE2CA5MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS,TIRES
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light illuminated and turned on and off. The contact inflated the tires. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2024-09-08

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-09-08
  • VIN: 1V2FE2CA7MC
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: -Engine and yes. -Safety put at risk due to car not on when the street light turn green and I'm not aware that the car had turned off. -No -Message appeared on the dashboard stating Engine will shut off automatically to conserve battery.
2024-09-04

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-09-04
  • VIN: 1V2KC2CA9MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Passenger airbag system error light has been on for at least 14 months and avoided repair in June of 2023 at Orem, UT dealership. Air bag may not deploy in the event of accident. My pregnant wife is primary passenger. It’s a known issue that has a recall but no fix. The recall numbers are 24V464 (nhtsa) and 69PZ (Volkswagen). This recall was issued June 2024. Dealership instructed me to wait for fix and not allow anyone to sit in passenger seat. This instruction is impractical.
2024-09-03

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-09-03
  • VIN: 1V2GC2CA9MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: We have been told by our dealership and manufacturer that there is no timeline on when this part is going to be available to be fixed. We have to operate our business in compliance with the NHTSA, and not having a timeline or any compensation for this recall is a big hindrance to our business.
2024-08-21

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-08-01
  • VIN: 1V2AC2CA0MC
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the fuel door failed to open. The contact physically broke open the fuel door to refuel the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.
2024-08-06

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-08-06
  • VIN: 1V2PE2CA5MC
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: The Atlas has stalled twice since purchase. Both times I was coming into and out of a parking spot. The second time I was almost rear ended by another car. The car asked me to start manually. Both times Auto start/stop was disabled.
2024-07-30

EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-01
  • VIN: 1V2JE2CA8MC
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
  • Summary: Hello, I am filing a complaint regarding a safety issue with my vehicle. The daytime running light has ceased functioning. It began dimming last week and is now completely out. The vehicle is available for inspection. Daytime running lights are essential for visibility during the day, contributing to overall safety and accident prevention. This problem appears to be common among VW Atlas owners after approximately 50,000 miles. The assembly has been examined, and since it cannot be disassembled, the issue is attributed to a faulty manufacturer component. The cost for a new part is approximately $1,200, not including labor. There were no warning lights or messages to indicate this malfunction, only the gradual dimming of the light before it failed entirely. Many users on online forums have reported experiencing the same issue. Please contact me if you need further details or have any questions about this safety hazard.
2024-07-17

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-04
  • VIN: 1V2FE2CA4MC
  • Components: STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
  • Summary: Driving under 10mphs (in slow moving traffic or parking lot, etc.), the vehicle engine turns off and power steering also shuts down. I reported this issue to VW Service and they were able to reproduce the issue but are unable to find a fix for it. When the issue appeared AUTO START/STOP error flashed on the dash board. I avoided an accident this week when the vehicle turned off in rolling traffic. Vehicles behind me swerved to avoid crashing into me since my car engine and power steering turned off. The dealership said the vehicle is safe to drive which is not the case and are unable to provide me a loaner.
2024-07-11

EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-01
  • VIN: 1V2DC2CA1MC
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
  • Summary: One of my daytime running lights is out at 50k miles, thinking it was a simple solution I reached out to dealership and have been informed that the entire headlight needs to be replaced at a cost of $2k. Sound unreasonable considering this car is not old, and the way it has been built in makes it impossible to DIY. More than anything from research online it sounds like it is a common issue in Atlas 2021 and newer- Having to replace this every 50k miles is very unreasonable - and In my opinion beats the purpose of LED lights which are supposed to have a very long life. Please advise
2024-06-27

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-27
  • VIN: 1V2FE2CA4MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Air bag error message comes on and off while driving
2024-06-11

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-11
  • VIN: 1V2KE2CA4MC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: My Wife has been driving our kids in our certified Preowned Atlas and this is the 3rd time she has stated then when slowing down or coming to a complete stop the vehicle shuts off completely and it's not due to the auto stop feature we have it switched off whenever we drive. On many forums I've researched when going into more in depth I found multiple people clamming it's a occurring thing for a lot of 21 atlas owners some even saying mid drive the vehicle shuts off and it's extremely dangerous because if your on the freeway or on a busy street this is very concerning and could cause fatal accidents and I will be taking it in for further investigation to the dealer. Hoping they can fix it but many people are saying VW doesn't have a answer, Some have stated that one dealership replaced a bad charcoal canister and also replace a N80 valve that was full of soot and causing engine problems I will also be bringing this up when I go and get the vehicle serviced.
2024-05-23

AIR BAGS,SEATS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-05-16
  • VIN: 1V2SE2CA3MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS
  • Summary: Air bag error displayed on dashboard Dealer diagnostic done 5/20 Dealer stated airbag mat and wiring issue in seat
2024-04-26

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-04-21
  • VIN: 1V2ME2CA7MC
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: I purchased this car new in 2021. Shortly after purchase, the brakes start grinding / squealing very badly. This is an intermittent problem. On multiple occasions, it has startled me so badly that I let up on the brake. This almost caused me to hit the vehicle in front of me. Volkswagen has been unresponsive to dealer's request for a solution. When looking online, it apparently the construction of the brake pads that causes the issue. Ceramic brake pads do not have this same issue. However, Volkswagen will not authorize a payment to replace the OEM brake pads with ceramic pads.
2024-04-15

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-04-14
  • VIN: 1V2CE2CA6MC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
  • Summary: Vehicle is turning off while driving or when getting to a stop sign or red light. It turns off completely. no warnings lights or messages when shutting off. * after vehicle shuts off message on Dashboard says YOU MUST STAR CAR MANUALLY. * unable to move steering wheel do to car being shut off * unable to accelerate to move to safety * Afraid of people behind the car, not having enough time to break due to vehicle deceleration because car shut off ** vehicle check and supposedly fix issue came back
2024-03-04

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-01-19
  • VIN: 1V2RE2CA3MC
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
  • Summary: Engine light keeps popping on due to supposedly the evaporative canister and valve are faulty. While driving my car acts as if the start/stop function is turned on (I turn it off because I don’t like it) and starts to turn off my engine while I am creeping in traffic (major traffic). This was June 2023. February 2024 same issue occurred and canister and valve needed replaced (not even a year later). A few days later the start/stop error popped up again and my car is starting to turn off while driving or creeping in traffic, with that function being turned off.
2024-02-28

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-06-02
  • VIN: 1V2WC2CA4MC
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: SUV was purchased in May of 2021 at the Chapman VW dealership in Scottsdale, Arizona. Within several days of owning the Atlas, I noticed a grinding, shrieking noise coming from the brakes every time they were applied. I immediately notified the dealer and they said that this was a common occurrence on the Atlas. They were aware of the issue but VW had not come up with a fix at that point in time. I brought the car in and they offered to replace the pads which were done. The problem continued. Most recently, the noise and friction from the brakes has gotten infinitely worse. I contacted VW executives in the US and they once again said that they were aware of the issue but that no reimbursement would be given if I paid for new brakes myself, which I had to do. All participants, including the manager of Chapman VW, agree that this is a problem issue. However, there is no recall as of yet (one person there said one was forthcoming) and that they hear this problem from many Atlas owners. My question is why are they continuing to sell the car with the copper/rotor issue and why are they not fixing it nor reimbursing people like me? Thank you.
2024-02-17

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-02-16
  • VIN: 1V2JE2CA5MC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
  • Summary: its been about 3 occasions , one being yesterday 2/16/24, as i was on the freeway my vehicle began to stall and it displayed , Error : stop/start, display said to manually start, got off the freeway and had to put my car into park then restart again. I almost got hit and forsure bad accidents could have happened. the other occasion was about a week ago exactly, i was on a turning lane, as i was in the middle of turning, the car stopped while in motion and it displayed the same message. I almost got hit by a vehicle. i've called my nearest dealership and they were not that helpful, they tried to force it on me that it was just the vehicle feature that come with the car. i've tried to tell them the error message but they disregarded my concern. the car has been very dangerous to drive and extremely worried and concerned
2024-02-15

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-10-04
  • VIN: 1V2LC2CA2MC
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: Car has a harsh loud metal grinding sound when brakes are applied. Steering wheel vibration when brakes are applied at medium/high speeds, more notable in declined (down hill) roads. This has been reported to dealership since we got the car brand new and they do nothing about it except to provide a scripted answer stating that the "car is safe" and/or that they cannot reproduce the issue.
2024-02-02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-11-01
  • VIN: 1V2PE2CA8MC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
  • Summary: The failing component is the passenger side daytime running light. This light no longer illuminates. After searching for a fix for the problem, this appears to be a very common problem for the VW Atlas Cross Sport. The vehicle is available for inspection. The daytime running light has not been working since the vehicle hit about 55,000 miles. No warning of the daytime running light being out.
2024-01-29

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-01-29
  • VIN: 1V2KE2CA0MC
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: Since I purchased the vehicle the brakes sound like they are bad, yet they are not bad. I was told at Volkswagon that they are aware of the issue in these SUV’s but the only fix will void out my warranty if I choose to do it. If this is a known problem with volswagon cross sports then why is there not a solution to the problem that will not jeopardize our warranty. I’m frustrated, the car sounds ridiculous when the brakes are applied and how is one to know when they are actually bad if they always sound that way.
2024-01-15

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-01-13
  • VIN: 1V2TE2CAXMC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Airbags deployed for no reason. There is a known issue with this year make and model with the same issue. For some reason my car was not included in the recall. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-12-13

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-12-09
  • VIN: 1V2JE2CA5MC
  • Components: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: -The engine shut off while I was driving the vehicle and gave me a message to please start the engine manually by putting the car in park. This happened 6 times in 2 days including twice in traffic on the highway. The dealer said the issue was due to the evap canister being saturated and debris in the n80 valve. - This put me at risk of being in a serious accident as my car had no power. I had to put my car in park and manually restart it coming to a complete stop when Me and other drivers did not expect it. - the problem has been confirmed by the dealer - The vehicle component has not been inspected other than by the dealer to my knowledge - This happened a few times with no error message or warning sign, however after the first few times my car showed a message that would say error:start/stop at startup which I believed to refer to the auto start/stop system.
2023-11-14

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-11-14
  • VIN: 1V2TE2CA5MC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Airbags deployed randomly while driving. Nothing hit the car.
2023-10-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-06
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 1V2LC2CA2MC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
  • Summary: The back up camera does not signal or brake when something is too close. Back into another car because I had no warning. VW denies this is a problem with Atlas Cross sport. I looked it up and it is a major problem

2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 14 recalls for different components of the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport.

2024-06-20
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
  • Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024, October 18, 2024, and December 31, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
2022-10-31
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
  • Summary: 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."
  • Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2022-07-20
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
  • Summary: 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."
  • Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2022-04-13
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
  • Remedy: 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.
2022-03-28
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
  • Remedy: 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.
2022-02-16
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
  • Summary: 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."
  • Consequence: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2021-11-17
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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.
  • Remedy: 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.
2021-10-15
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2021-08-06
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
  • Remedy: 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.
2021-03-03
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: WHEELS:RIM
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2021-01-27
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2020-11-18
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
  • Summary: 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."
  • Consequence: A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2020-11-17
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Park It: 1
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: 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.
2020-11-13
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: TIRES:SIDEWALL
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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.
  • Remedy: 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.

Negative 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport car reviews

  1. Nick Sauer 2024-09-29

    The car's performance is commendable, however, the frequency of issues experienced within a short period of time is concerning. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this car for purchase or use.

  2. Jessy Cummerata 2024-09-25

    I purchased this car back in April 2021 and unfortunately, I experienced some issues. The collision feature engaged when there was nothing in front of me, which was concerning. Additionally, the car shut down on me at a red light, and the windows were coming down by themselves. There was also a loud beeping sound every time I was at a complete stop. The driver contact switch indicator light and the electronic parking brake sensor kept coming on, which made me feel unsafe in the vehicle. Although the sales department was amazing, the servicing department was not up to par. I have yet to receive an initiated phone call from them. It's disappointing that when I wanted to purchase the vehicle, I couldn't get them to stop calling me or emailing me, but now it's crickets when I need service. Unfortunately, this experience has confirmed why I would not buy a Volkswagen again. I took it in for service on October 1st, and it is now November 2nd, and my car is still not ready due to a part that is not yet available. The loaner car they gave me, the Tiguan, is not my favorite. It feels like a toy, and it cut off on me too. Additionally, the sensor they have on the car makes it difficult to change lanes gracefully without feeling some type of resistance. It's a feature they have to make sure you stay within the traffic lines.

  3. Duncan Schuster 2024-06-21

    I leased the 4-cylinder turbo SE with tech package, but unfortunately it does not come with a memory seat option. After less than a year and only about 9000 miles, I noticed that the brakes started making a grinding noise with any level of moisture on the pad. When I brought it to the dealership, they said there was nothing to be done because the pads were still new. The ride quality is also a bit jerky, which can be disturbing when going over any irregular surface. However, the vehicle does provide a safe feeling from inside due to its size and thick sheet metal. The only downside is that I cannot wait to turn it in at the end of the lease. Lastly, I noticed that the passenger side wiper arm angle is wrong, which causes even a brand new wiper blade to stutter when going up. Although the dealership said the angle was fine, I hope they can fix it soon.

  4. Ike Langosh 2024-04-18

    That car has been in the garage many times. Four times for a board in the door that they did not find at first, and then a piston that took two days in the garage. When I was on my way to Florida, I did not receive any reimbursement for expensive hotels/meals. The car runs nicely above 30 miles speed, but below that, shifting is weird. I will never buy a VW again. The service was terrible, but riding it is okay, not great.

Positive 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cross sport car reviews

  1. Jacques Muller 2024-10-28

    Beautiful design. The Atlas Cross Sport is surprisingly nimble and quick, despite not being a race car or off-road vehicle. As an SUV designed for the street, it's one of my favourite vehicles I've ever owned. Volkswagen really hit it out of the park with this one!

  2. Frederick Farrell 2024-10-21

    The car handles very smoothly and is super comfortable. I highly recommend it!

  3. Cortez Littel 2024-09-13

    The Cross Sport SE R-line/Tech is incredibly spacious and perfect for taller or larger individuals, comfortably seating up to 5 adults with ample room in the back for passengers. The style and design are impressive, although it does consume a fair amount of fuel. One minor issue is that the windshield could have been made a bit larger. As someone who is 5'10'' (1.75m), I do find that my head hits the roof when getting into the car. It would be great if they made an off-road model. After driving over 10,000 miles, I have not experienced any major issues, except for a seat belt in the back that was promptly replaced. Updating as of 9/24/22, I have driven over 20,000 miles and have not had any engine problems. I have had several recalls, but they did not affect me much. It would have been nice if they added armrests for long drives.

  4. Markus Kub 2024-09-11

    I really like the car! I got it in white with the black interior. It's a beautiful vehicle that feels commanding on the road and has plenty of interior space. Although the interior is a bit of a letdown with cheap plastic everywhere and a smallish screen for the size of the dash, the whole car feels very solid. It also drives like a tank, huge and slow, but confident. As I mentioned earlier, 80% of my love for the car comes from the way it looks, especially in R-Line trim.

  5. Nikolas Barrows 2024-09-03

    Completely satisfied! I love the stylish interior. The 4 CYL Turbo is very responsive.

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