Worst 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Brakes
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 134 | — | — | 18,626 mi | |
| Brakes | 93 | 2 | — | 15,127 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 73 | — | — | 10,383 mi | |
| Airbags | 60 | 4 | — | 22,043 mi | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 52 | 2 | — | 10,450 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 42 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 34 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 13 | — | — | 148 mi | |
| Body Structure | 12 | 1 | — | 5,000 mi | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 10 | 1 | — | 50 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 10 | — | — | 198 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | — | — | 3,086 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | — | — | 2,100 mi | |
| Lane Departure: Warning | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
17 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,085,334 vehicles.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
+ 7 more recalls
Other Volkswagen Atlas Years
2021 Volkswagen Atlas — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
What are common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
How safe is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Atlas reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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