The Used Car Index

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport problems

NHTSA lists 165 complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, 9 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 7 complaints mention an injury, with 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-10.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT.

At a glance

Complaints
165
With crash
9
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
7
Injuries
7
Deaths
0
Recalls
14
Do not drive recalls
1
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
296,044
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
567

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5432.7%
AIR BAGS3722.4%
SERVICE BRAKES3621.8%
ENGINE3320.0%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2817.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2515.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1810.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM169.7%
LANE DEPARTURE42.4%
STEERING42.4%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING25
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL3
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEWARNINGS3
LANE DEPARTUREASSIST3
BACK OVER PREVENTIONREARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING2
BACK OVER PREVENTIONWARNINGS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWIRING1
LANE DEPARTUREBLIND SPOT DETECTION1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESHOOD1
TIRESPRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
electrical electronic5030.3%0.84
loss of control3118.8%0.88
restraint or airbag2817.0%0.86
visibility or lighting1710.3%0.98
mechanical failure159.1%0.79
noise or comfort127.3%0.79
fire or overheating42.4%0.75
fluid or fuel leak42.4%0.87
unclear31.8%0.99
structural or corrosion10.6%0.32
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate11066.7%0.87
low4225.5%0.74
high137.9%0.92

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 165 tagged complaints of 165 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

14 recalls. Showing the latest 10 of 14.

24V464000

Date: 2024-06-20. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V815000

Date: 2022-10-31. Systems: TIRES.

Defect: 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 o (excerpt)

Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: 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 AudiA s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V514000

Date: 2022-07-20. Systems: BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT.

Defect: 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 requirem (excerpt)

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: 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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V245000

Date: 2022-04-13. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V152000

Date: 2022-03-28. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V086000

Date: 2022-02-16. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: 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 (excerpt)

Consequence: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: 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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V892000

Date: 2021-11-17. Systems: AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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 customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87H4.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V812000

Date: 2021-10-15. Systems: SUSPENSION, WHEELS.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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 Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V616000

Date: 2021-08-06. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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 for this recall is 97FR.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V132000

Date: 2021-03-03. Systems: WHEELS.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q9.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

567 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT178
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM124
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING121
ENGINE62
UNKNOWN OR OTHER56
STRUCTURE48
SUSPENSION32
POWER TRAIN30

11038146

Date: 2026-09-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Suggested fuel additive

11038143

Date: 2026-09-09. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.

11036878

Date: 2026-08-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

Repair or Replace Information

11036874

Date: 2026-08-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Replacement instruction

11036868

Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order

11036870

Date: 2026-08-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Differences between a leak and seepage

11035763

Date: 2026-07-20. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

MIB3 Recovery Solution

11035772

Date: 2026-07-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

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 the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) a No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.

11035765

Date: 2026-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Over-the-Air Software Update Dealer Recovery Process

11035762

Date: 2026-07-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
ATLAS CROSS SPORT165

Same model, other years

All model years | All Volkswagen models

Other Volkswagen models, 2021

Sources

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