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Volkswagen Atlas steering part may break — do not drive

NHTSA campaign 20V712000 · Reported 2020-11-17 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

critical How serious is it? About this label

Very serious — Volkswagen says DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until it has been inspected and repaired if needed, because losing steering without warning can cause a crash.

⚠ NHTSA advises not driving this vehicle until it is repaired. See all such recalls.

What's wrong, in plain English

The steering knuckle is the metal piece that connects a front wheel to the steering and suspension. On these vehicles, one or both of those pieces may have been damaged when the vehicle was built. A damaged one can break while you are driving, and if it does you lose the ability to steer the vehicle. That can easily cause a crash. The dealer inspects both sides and replaces any damaged part at no cost to you.

What you should do

1. Stop driving the vehicle now, and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm it is included.
2. Call your Volkswagen dealer or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298 (recall 40Q6) and tell them the vehicle cannot be driven — ask how to get it to the shop.
3. Have the dealer inspect and, if needed, replace the steering knuckle; the repair is free.

Affected vehicles (3)

Who to contact

Volkswagen — official Volkswagen recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-893-5298

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
STEERING
Summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.
Safety risk
A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q6. Note: Owners are advised to DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until the vehicle has been inspected and repaired if necessary.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.