SUV, gasoline, AWD/All-Wheel Drive, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from May 12, 2021 to Sep 9, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V-464 | Jun 20, 2024 | Passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied | Airbags | 271,330 | Part replacement |
| 22V-815 | Oct 31, 2022 | Tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously | Tires | 296,044 | Software update |
| 22V-514 | Jul 20, 2022 | Manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display | Back-over prevention | 43,091 | Software update |
| 22V-245 | Apr 13, 2022 | Long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters | Fuel system | 1,382 | Part replacement |
| 22V-152 | Mar 28, 2022 | Door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger… | Airbags | 222,892 | Part replacement |
| 22V-086 | Feb 16, 2022 | Reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed | Equipment | 3,648 | Repair or modification |
| 21V-892 | Nov 17, 2021 | Air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module | Airbags | 54,429 | Part replacement |
| 21V-812 | Oct 15, 2021 | Front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened | Suspension | 30 | Part replacement |
| 21V-616 | Aug 6, 2021 | Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter | Electrical system | 33 | Part replacement |
| 21V-132 | Mar 3, 2021 | Lug bolt holes on the wheels may have been machined incorrectly, preventing the wheel bolt from sufficiently attaching to the wheel bearing hub | Wheels | 128 | Part replacement |
| 21V-026 | Jan 27, 2021 | Front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting | Steering | 10,303 | Part replacement |
| 20V-716 | Nov 18, 2020 | Rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze | Back-over prevention | 32,048 | Software update |
| 20V-712 | Nov 17, 2020 | One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during productionDo not drive | Steering | 776 | Part replacement |
| 20V-702 | Nov 13, 2020 | Tires may have been over cured | Tires | 760 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
165 complaints on file, page 1 of 9.
The Passenger DRL strip light went out. My car has approximately 75,000 miles on it. I bought it used. No warranty for this. I understand this is a common issue with this model.
NHTSA complaint 11762990The right daytime running lights have failed. It creates a safety hazard for driving. The only remedy is to replace the entire headlight which is costly. This is due to poor manufacturing that lets in water to damage the led.
NHTSA complaint 11762392The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for an oil change, and it was discovered that the hood latch cable had either disconnected or snapped off. While attempting to open the hood, the interior hood release handle was inoperable, and the hood could not be opened. The dealer was contacted and stated that a cord needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint 11758610Got an airbag alert light on driver console. Took it to VW dealer in [XXX]. They said the driver side airbag has a short to ground. And it’s not covered under the warranty. And it’s $2000 to fix. There has been a lot of problems with the wire harness from the manufacturer. And I feel like they should repair it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11755031My 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has experienced intermittent electrical failures while driving, including at highway speeds. The infotainment system first began shutting off intermittently around April 2026. At times, I had to pull over, place the vehicle in Park, turn it off, and restart it multiple times before the system would function again. On approximately XXX while traveling from [XXX] toward [XXX], the problem became much more serious. While driving on the highway, both the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment display suddenly went completely black at the same time. Because the instrument cluster was completely black, I could no longer see my speed or other important driving information. I activated the hazard lights while pulling over, but the visual hazard-light indicators were also not visible because the instrument cluster was black. The vehicle continued moving, but because critical information was no longer available, I pulled over safely and restarted the vehicle. I have also experienced intermittent malfunctions involving the driver assistance systems, including Lane Keeping Assist and Travel Assist warnings. On one occasion, the vehicle applied Automatic Emergency Braking unexpectedly even though there was no apparent hazard in front of the vehicle. These issues occur intermittently, making them difficult to reproduce consistently, but they create a significant safety concern because they happen while driving. I contacted Volkswagen Customer CARE and opened Case Number XXX. Volkswagen also confirmed that my vehicle has an open safety recall (69PZ / NHTSA Recall 24V464). I am submitting this complaint because of the intermittent electrical failures and driver assistance system malfunctions described above. I am requesting that these safety issues be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11753839This has happened to me a total of three times now And I have had the car one month. It stopped on me again in the middle of traffic Just driving without warning without any indicating lights on on June 25th. It stopped on me prior on July 21st and I just got it out of the shop July 24th. This is very dangerous and a dangerous situation especially to be driving one minute and the car just stop on you and go to a slow roll.
NHTSA complaint 11753164When I am driving the vehicle the brakes are always squeaking. When I took it to the dealership they stated that there was nothing wrong with the brakes. When I Google this this seems to be a common issue with the Volkswagen Atlas. But one thing also just the other day when I stopped on the brakes it felt like someone was slamming behind me.
NHTSA complaint 11751936I have not the slightest idea what is going on with the vehicle that I just bought on June 25th 2026. I have a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas crossover and the car stopped on me three times today. And when I arrived in my garage it said that the engine was hot. I will be taking it to the dealership tomorrow.
NHTSA complaint 11751935Right side daytime running light went out. Confirmed by dealer and headlamp assembly was replaced.
NHTSA complaint 11750701The daylight LED lights have gone out. There is no replacement aside from replacing the whole headlight. LED’s shouldn’t go out and the cost of the replacement is high.
NHTSA complaint 11746801The vehicle SOS communication/warning system began malfunctioning in February 2026. I am receiving an alert stating there is an SOS Malfunction and to service the vehicle immediately. On February 18, 2026, the VW dealership conducted extensive testing on the vehicle and determined that the J949 SOS module required replacement as it could not be reset or remedied. Diagnosis - internal electrical failure. The dealership advised that this is a known issue to VW and that there are several other customers with the same issue and waiting for the modules, which are on backorder with VW. There is no communication between the vehicle and VW as a result, and the infotainment system is unable to update. The service tech advised that there are a number or potential issues that will arise because this is a vehicle communication failure. I was forced to prepay for the module and labor, which was ordered on 2/18 (in excess of $500). On 5/26/26 the VW dealership service manager confirmed that the module still has not arrived from VW and that there may be a recall issued because this is such a widespread problem, but that they have no estimated delivery time for the part. The vehicle has had no problems prior to this. If the car is in an accident, there will be no SOS function. The infotainment system, which controls CarNet and the ability to communicate using CarPlay will also be compromised, which may result in the inability to call for assistance in event of an incident. VW Customer Service states they have no ability to track service orders or provide information on the ongoing issue, and stated that the dealership has the only ability to track the part. The dealership cannot check the status beyond acknowledging that the part is on backorder. This is a widely reported problem online in multiple forums and with multiple VW models. We are paying for a part and waiting multiple months to obtain it, and the vehicle is compromised due to the failure of VW.
NHTSA complaint 11744876One of the day time running lights have burned out. The car just turned 5 years old with about 70,000 miles. In reviewing some posts online a lot of owners have complained about the same thing. Also you cannot replace the bulb, you have to replace the entire unit.
NHTSA complaint 11744410The vehicle has ghost braking issues and on top of all the screens go black periodically for no reason at all(they aren’t being touched).
NHTSA complaint 11743802At 76000 miles, the daytime running light on the passenger side went out. I took the vehicle into the dealership for repair and I was told that because there is an internal open circuit, the entire headlight assembly will need to be replaced. I was quoted $1600 for the part, not including labor. This is a safety issue due to one daytime running light being a distraction for other drivers as well as myself.
NHTSA complaint 11738630Daytime running lights are non replaceable and a hazard left unfixed. The dealer refuses to acknowledge this or do anything but charge me 1600 dollars to replace. We don't have that kind of money just sitting around these days and they refuse to do anything. DRLs are critical for visibility. We had an extended warranty and they replaced 1 side last year instead of both. Now that the warranty is up they are telling us we are out of luck with this hazard driving around the street.
NHTSA complaint 11738490Subject: Formal Safety Complaint – Structural Manufacturing Defect – 2021 VW Atlas Cross Sport (VIN: [XXX] ) To the NHTSA and Volkswagen Customer CARE: I am formally reporting a significant safety hazard regarding my 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Incident Details: Incident Date: 05/07/2026 Current Mileage: 76,305 miles VIN: [XXX] Supporting Documentation: See attached files image.png and image_2.png. Description of the Problem (Per Certified Technician): As documented in the attached invoice from Vacaville Volkswagen (image.png), the vehicle was brought in for a "steering concern" involving clunking noises and swaying at freeway speeds. After a test drive and inspection, the technician found: The left front control arm front bolt was loose. Three other bolts were not tightened to specification. The noise and instability were caused by the resulting movement of the control arm. The Issue: While the dealership identified the improperly secured hardware and torqued all bolts and nuts to specification, they declined to cover the repair under warranty or recall, resulting in a labor charge of $230.00. Loose and under-torqued structural bolts on a control arm are not maintenance or "wear and tear" items; they represent a critical manufacturing and assembly failure. This component is vital to the vehicle's steering and suspension geometry. Evidence of a Systematic Issue: This defect directly mirrors several existing Volkswagen safety recalls for the Atlas line involving improperly torqued chassis and suspension hardware, such as Recall 42HX and Recall 40R7. It is clear that my 2021 model was impacted by the same production lapses identified in these adjacent recalls. Requested Action: For the NHTSA: I request that this incident be documented to investigate whether the scope of current suspension recalls should be expanded to include the 2021 model year. For Volkswagen USA: I am requesting a goodwill reimbursement of $230.00. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5
NHTSA complaint 11737483The Hood latch is broke and I am unable to get into the hood without tremendous effort.
NHTSA complaint 11736576Defective sway bar links
NHTSA complaint 11734837Over course of ownership, I have taken 2021 Atlas Cross Sport in for routine service, to include grinding brakes during normal driving conditions. The brakes will squeak when first beginning the drive for the day. The brake issue becomes more pronounced when braking from various speeds such as 65MPH to a gradual stop. There is a loud and progressively grinding noise during this time. The dealership was made aware of this within a week’s time and they specifically looked into this matter and advised once again, “normal.”
NHTSA complaint 11733702Exactly at 50,000 miles, both Daytime Running Lights stopped working This is a very well known issue in the owners community and seems very o purpose, since to fix it, instead of just having to replace a bulb or small part, dealer requires to replace the whole headlight assembly
NHTSA complaint 11717947Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.