CarRecallWatchThe 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has 14 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA, including 9 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (54 reports).
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport recalls
Front Passenger Airbag May Switch Off When Seat Is Occupied
The passenger occupant detection system, which decides whether the front passenger airbag should be active, may develop a wiring fault.
Tire Pressure Warning May Miss All-Tire Air Loss, Raising Crash Risk
Some vehicles may not detect a sudden loss of air pressure when all four tires deflate at the same time.
Rearview Camera May Not Display Image, Raising Crash Risk
The rearview camera image may fail to appear on the infotainment screen because of a manufacturing issue with the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system.
Fuel Injectors May Leak Fuel, Raising Fire Risk
Some fuel injectors in these vehicles may have been assembled without filters.
Side Air Bag May Deploy Late in a Crash
Corrosion can develop on the electrical contacts in the front door wiring harness.
Missing Weight Label Can Lead to Overloading and Crash Risk
Certain Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs from model years 2018 to 2021 were equipped with accessory side steps, but the label showing the reduced gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), which accounts for the added weight of the side steps, was not installed.
Water Leak Can Trigger Unexpected Airbag Deployment
Certain vehicles may have an air conditioning system drain tube that can become blocked, allowing water to leak inside the vehicle near the airbag control module.
Loose Front Wheel Bolts Can Cause Loss of Control
Front wheel bearing bolts may have been tightened incorrectly during assembly.
Relays may activate horn or starter, risking fire
Certain 2021 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles may have damaged relays installed in the engine compartment fuse box.
Wheels May Separate From Vehicle, Raising Crash Risk
Some wheels may have had their lug bolt holes machined incorrectly.
Front Steering Knuckle May Crack, Risking Loss of Control
Certain 2020-2021 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles have a front steering knuckle that may fracture in the area where the strut mounts.
Rear camera may go black or freeze, raising crash risk when reversing
The rear view camera can malfunction during an ignition cycle, causing a black screen or a frozen infotainment system.
Steering knuckle may fail, causing loss of steering
Some of these Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs may have had one or both steering knuckles damaged during production.
Tires May Blow Out or Lose Tread, Raising Crash Risk
Certain tires fitted to these vehicles, Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tires in size 255/50 R20 105T, may have been over cured during manufacturing.
Most common 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport problems
Problem areas named in the 165 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 54 |
| Air Bags | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 36 |
| Engine | 33 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 31 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
What owners report
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.
The 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.
The 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.
Got 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 itâs not covered under the warranty. And itâs $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)
My 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 importa
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport questions
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: Front Passenger Airbag May Switch Off When Seat Is Occupied; Tire Pressure Warning May Miss All-Tire Air Loss, Raising Crash Risk; Rearview Camera May Not Display Image, Raising Crash Risk; Fuel Injectors May Leak Fuel, Raising Fire Risk; Side Air Bag May Deploy Late in a Crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport?
Based on 165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (54), Air Bags (37), Service Brakes (36).
How do I check if a recall on my 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.