2021 Volkswagen Atlas Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 17 NHTSA recalls and 476 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
22/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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17
NHTSA Recalls
17 recalls on record
476
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
9
Crash Reports
1 fire report
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Volkswagen Atlas (17)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Volkswagen dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
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…
🔧 Steering
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…
🔧 Wheels: Rim
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,…
🔧 Wheels: Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
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…
🔧 Visibility: Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
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…
🔧 Seats
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.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Exterior Lighting: Headlights
A headlight aimed incorrectly aimed reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Tires: Sidewall
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…
🔧 Steering
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…
🔧 Electrical System: Wiring: Relays/Solenoids
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…
Showing 10 of 17 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Based on 476 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Volkswagen Atlas — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Volkswagen Atlas VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a Volkswagen VIN — free Volkswagen VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2018, 2019, 2021 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2020, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has 17 recall campaigns and 476 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have?
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has 17 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas are: Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Air Bags, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas safe to buy?
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 17 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Volkswagen Atlas should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Volkswagen Atlas are: 2020, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2018, 2019, 2021.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.