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Volkswagen tire recalls: overcured Continental tires and delayed pressure warnings
All three point at supplier problems rather than the cars themselves, and two are the same defect twice. Continental tires cured too long during production were recalled on 2018-2019 Atlas models in March 2021, and on 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport models fitted with Cross Contact LX Sport 255/50 R 20 105 T tires in November 2020 — overcured rubber that can lose air or shed tread and break at the sidewall. The Atlas is the common thread across both. The third is different in kind: a tire pressure monitoring software fault on 2019 and 2019-2020 Volkswagen models plus 2019 Audi A3 and Q3 cars, where the low-pressure warning can be delayed.
Warning signs to watch for
- A tire that loses air faster than the others
- Tread separating or coming off a tire
- Damage or a break at a tire's sidewall
- A tire that fails suddenly at speed — both Continental recalls warn this can happen with little buildup
- A low tire pressure warning that arrives later than it should
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall in this group carries a stop-driving order or a park-outside instruction. Both Continental tire recalls are still urgent: a tire can let go suddenly at speed and cause a crash, so have the tires inspected as soon as you can rather than waiting for a convenient appointment. The tire pressure monitoring software recall is low risk day to day, and Volkswagen does not restrict driving; check your tire pressures with a gauge every month until the update is installed.
What the free repair involves
All three repairs are free of charge. For the two Continental recalls, dealers inspect the DOT date code and mold number on the vehicle's tires to see whether they are affected, replacing only those that are; tires that pass inspection stay on the car. The TPMS recall is a dealer-installed software update, not an over-the-air one.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| low | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-31 | VW and Audi tire pressure warning may be delayed | low |
| 2021-03-05 | Volkswagen Atlas tires may break at the sidewall | high |
| 2020-11-13 | Volkswagen Atlas tires may lose air or shed tread | high |
Common questions
Will the dealer replace all four tires?
Only the affected ones. Dealers inspect the DOT date code and mold number on the vehicle's tires and replace the tires that fall inside the recall, free of charge. Tires that are not affected stay on your Atlas.
Does the tire recall cover every Atlas?
No. The November 2020 recall covers 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles with Continental Cross Contact LX Sport 255/50 R 20 105 T tires; the March 2021 recall covers 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles with Continental tires.
What does the tire pressure recall actually change?
The tire pressure monitoring system can be slow to warn you about low pressure. Dealers update the TPMS software free of charge; until then, check your pressures monthly with a gauge instead of relying on the dashboard warning.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.