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Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Atlas› 2021
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Volkswagen · Compact SUV

2021 Volkswagen Atlas

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
45 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 17
Complaints18 crash · 2 fire · 19 injured reported 645
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 22 mpg
2027202620252024202320222021202020192018

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Atlas, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 645 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volkswagen Atlas — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volkswagen Atlas · Photo: JustAnotherCarDesigner · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AtlasGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212422$3,050
Atlas 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202422$3,050
Atlas Cross SportGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212422$3,050
Atlas Cross Sport 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202422$3,050
Atlas Cross SportGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl182320$3,350
AtlasGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl172319$3,550
Atlas Cross Sport 4motionGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl172319$3,550
Atlas 4motionGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl162218$3,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42500, 42555, 43275, 42608, 42813, 42488, 43282, 42489.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Atlas, Atlas 4motion, Atlas Cross Sport, Atlas Cross Sport 4motion3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Atlas, Atlas 4motion, Atlas Cross Sport, Atlas Cross Sport 4motion5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
GVWR classClass 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.6 L

Engine Output

Horsepower276 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity7 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 4Motion SE, 4Motion SE w/ Tech R-Line, 4Motion SE w/ Tech w/ Sunroof Pkg., 4Motion SEL Premium R-Line). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length195.7–198.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)78.0–78.3 in
Height67.7–68.9 in
Wheelbase117.3 in
Track, front67.3–67.7 in
Track, rear67.7 in
Curb weight4,251–9,453 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44 to 57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 4-door SUV 4Motion, 4-door SUV FWD, Cross Sport 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2021 Atlas
Other years The 2027 Atlas Recalls Volkswagen recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (17)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

69PZ
271,330 vehicles 74% reported repaired built Oct 1, 2020 – Jun 17, 2024
Problem 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. Risk A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V464000 reported Jun 20, 2024 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

69FB
143,053 vehicles 64% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V215000 reported Mar 29, 2023 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Tires

AU:45J7,VW:45J6,45J8
296,044 vehicles 84% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V815000 reported Oct 31, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91DV
43,091 vehicles 92% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V514000 reported Jul 20, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

24iD
1,382 vehicles 95% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V245000 reported Apr 13, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

97GF
222,892 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V152000 reported Mar 28, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

09D9
3,648 vehicles 90% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V086000 reported Feb 16, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Visibility

87H4
54,429 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk 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. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87H4.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V892000 reported Nov 17, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

40R7
30 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V812000 reported Oct 15, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

97FR
33 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V616000 reported Aug 6, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Wheels

44Q9
128 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q9.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V132000 reported Mar 3, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Steering

40Q7
10,303 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q7.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V026000 reported Jan 27, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91BB / 91BC
32,048 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V716000 reported Nov 18, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Steering

40Q6
Do not drive 776 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. 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. 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V712000 reported Nov 17, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

44Q5
760 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk 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. 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q5.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V702000 reported Nov 13, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seats

72L1, 72K8, 72K9
5,376 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk 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. 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 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V505000 reported Aug 26, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Exterior Lighting

94N7
11 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk A headlight aimed incorrectly aimed reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V504000 reported Aug 26, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Forward Collision Avoidance — Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking closed

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 limit

Opened Sep 28, 2023 · closed Dec 18, 2024 · action PE23017 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Atlas

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Atlas →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
645complaints filed

18 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 19 injuries · 0 deaths reported

49 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 132,704 Atlas built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 5 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 198 · 2023: 58 · 2024: 119 · 2025: 105 · 2026: 120

Most-cited components

Electrical System → 205
Service Brakes 131
Engine → 123
Forward Collision Avoidance → 111
Unspecified 102
Exterior Lighting → 68

In depth: electrical problems → · engine problems → · automatic emergency braking problems → · airbag problems → · exterior lighting problems → · fuel system problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I purchased my 2021 VM Atlas Cross Sport, new with zero miles back in late August 2021. On, Saturday, February 12th, I noticed that my Remote Start stopped working and took it in for service on Tuesday, February 15th, to the VW of Orland Park, IL. The service technician informed me that the fuel pump is bad and needs to be replaced.
Fuel/Propulsion System Feb 16, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11452210
On 11/15/2021 I was on an access road for a major city highway going approximately 10-15 mph. I was forced to the left lane from right lane by a pickup truck exiting from a restaurant going very fast, there was no contact (Collision) with the pickup.
Air Bags Feb 7, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11450820
While driving, the car shutoff completely. It is from the Auto on/off, this has happened several times and all times while driving
Engine Nov 22, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11441387
I have a 2012 VW Atlas Cross sport with 6400 miles on it. For the last month and a half my driver side door doesn't work, there are four different warning lights on and every time i brake it starts beeping and the parking brake is automatically activated, leaving both driver and passenger windows will come down by themselves.
Service Brakes Mar 18, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11457236
on 2/2/22 Brought vehicle to nearest dealership. Upon inspection they ordered a HARNESS;TECH CHECKED AND FOUND LOST COMMUNICATION WITH DOOR CONTROL MODULE DRIVER SIDE DOOR MODULE FAULTY PART ON ORDER. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request keeping in mind underivable safety issues.
Electrical System Mar 17, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11457085
I leased this vehicle in July 2021 - it currently has less than 5,000 miles on it. -The infotainment system in the vehicle is defective, which includes the rear visibility system. Within a few weeks of leasing the car (if not sooner), I noticed the back up camera was working when I put the vehicle into reverse. The screen is black.
Visibility/Wiper Feb 3, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11450220

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volkswagen itself: 27 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 30 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 20 per 100,000 built. Every Atlas model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 15k

miles, typically

Half the 53 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 7,000 and 38,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 18
10k–20k 13
20k–30k 4
30k–40k 5
40k–50k 6
50k–60k 5
60k–70k 1
70k–80k 1
80k–90k 0
90k–100k 0
100k–150k 0
150k + 0

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Electrical System1611,2820.4×
Air Bags1519,0000.63×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2021-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: electrical system (0.4×), air bags (0.63×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2021 model years the Volkswagen Atlas ranks 19 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.57× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 14,365 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Driver-assist crash reports (1)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
1report filed

1 no injury reported

Mar 2024 to Mar 2024 · 1 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: not named in the filings

Crash partner: Other 1

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Mar 2024Level 2Otherno injury reportedMA—1420-7384

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

The driver/owner of the vehicle called to inquire whether or not they had "Gap" insurance. VWGoA does not have access to customer's insurance details. Additional information gathered during the phone call indicate that the customer was traveling on the highway with adaptive cruise control, then went off road, and hit a side guard.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. report 1420-7384 Mar 2024 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 5 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,175
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1125 service bulletins, 28 others, 18 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Structure.

  • V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Engine
  • Suggested fuel additive
  • 2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
  • VOS-26-52 Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · 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 airbag basic settings programming.
  • V4622022067177_5 Service bulletin
    2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
  • Repair or Replace Information
  • V4015022033347_8 Service bulletin
    2026-08-10 · Power Train
  • Replacement instruction
  • 2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
  • Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
  • V0026012081638_2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • Differences between a leak and seepage
  • V9123042071790_3 Service bulletin
    2026-07-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • MIB3 Recovery Solution

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0087
P0087 on Volkswagen →		Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Suspension · Fuel pump →70 bulletins
P053F
P053F on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Suspension · Struts and shocks →70 bulletins
P0442
P0442 on Volkswagen →		A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Equipment · Gas cap →69 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Volkswagen →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Equipment · Gas cap →54 bulletins
P0463
P0463 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment44 bulletins
P0401
P0401 on Volkswagen →		Not enough exhaust gas is being recirculated.Equipment · EGR valve →40 bulletins
P11A1
P11A1 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment38 bulletins
P11A2
P11A2 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment38 bulletins
P11A3
P11A3 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment38 bulletins
P11A4
P11A4 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment38 bulletins
P11A5
P11A5 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment38 bulletins
P11A6
P11A6 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment38 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas failed the emissions check on 1.4% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 1.4%

failed emissions

4,738 initial inspections of 4,663 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 AtlasEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.4%1.9%4,724
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.5%4,738
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.36%0.19%4,738
Miles driven a year11,91310,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer63,10854,681odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Atlas by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 25 mpg2026 B 2 11 Do not drive2025 C 5 76 23 mpg2024 D 8 276 23 mpg2023 D 6 159 23 mpg2022 F 7 259 23 mpg2021 this page F 17 645 Do not drive2020 F 11 134 Do not drive2019 F 12 483 22 mpg2018 F 17 466 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2021 Atlas

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 17 recall campaigns for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 20V712000, covering Steering. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (45/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, the best EPA combined figure is 22 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

Transport Canada measured it at 195.7–198.4 in long, 78.0–78.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 67.7–68.9 in tall, on a 117.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,251–9,453 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

Owners have filed 645 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, most often about electrical system, service brakes, engine. Of those, 18 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 19 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?

The manufacturer has filed 1175 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas failed the emissions check on 1.4% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations8 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates8 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls17NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints645NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins1175NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports1NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA11 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Atlas The Atlas model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Volkswagen recall on file All campaigns filed against Volkswagen vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Atlas by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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