Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
No recalls on record for this model
No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
101
Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764308 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
173
Most reports here involve software faults.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764148 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Brakes
67
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.
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Brake booster system failed, which results in spongy brake pedal with significant reduction in braking force. Problem has been seen by my entire family and me, a mechanic. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, insurance or police since the issue arose . Brake lamp illuminated and message on dash saying faulty brake booster. Both appeared a few weeks ago.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11709844 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
15
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.
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Vehicle lost total control on the freeway I lost control crashed off the freeway into a ditch no airbags deployed the whole frame was total loss the entire atlas lost control No airbags as I went into a ditch hit a freeway sign and I’m still suffering nerve damage and chronic back pain
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11762777 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
57
Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 4 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.
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2021 Volkswagen Atlas—VIN 1V2AP2CA0MC565982. Vehicle manufactured 02/2021. Airbag warning light illuminated. Volkswagen dealer diagnosed the airbag control module as wet and shorted due to water leaking into the vehicle from the A/C drain. This appears identical to the defect described by Volkswagen Safety Recall 87H4 / NHTSA 21V-892. Recall 87H4 includes certain 2021 Atlas vehicles manufactured during this period; however, Volkswagen states this VIN is not included. I am concerned the affected VIN population may have been defined too narrowly because this vehicle has experienced the same safety-related failure mechanism described in the recall. Please see attached VW dealer diagnosis and build sticker image. Also available is video from tech if needed.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11759827 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
40
Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.
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The hood release cable on my 2021 Volkswagen broke, making it impossible to open the hood using the interior release handle. This type of part should not fail on a relatively new vehicle under normal use. Based on my research, many other Volkswagen owners have reported similar hood release cable failures online, which suggests this may be a widespread issue rather than an isolated failure. This is a safety concern because a broken hood release cable prevents access to the engine compartment when inspection, maintenance, or emergency access may be necessary. Volkswagen should investigate this recurring failure and cover the cost of the repair. I believe NHTSA should investigate whether this defect warrants a safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11760535 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Other systems
18
Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 5 mention an injury.
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There was a failure of the air conditioner condensation drain line, resulting in saturation of the interior carpet and padding. This situation was confirmed by the dealer today. There was a prior recall for this issue in 2022, at which time our car was inspected by the dealer. According to the recall notice, this issue may cause air bags to deploy. Fortunately in our case they did not, but we are concerned about Volkswagon’s ability to adequately inspect and repair the problem. In addition, the interior of our car has experienced significant water damage as a result of the clogged line.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764240 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov