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Buying a used 2021 Volkswagen Atlas? Check these 17 recalls first
This is the most recall-heavy Atlas year listed: ten campaigns, five of them critical, including a steering part serious enough to carry a do-not-drive warning, wheels that may come loose or separate, relays that can overheat and cause fire, a water leak that can set off an airbag, and fuel injectors missing filters. Owners filed 470 unverified NHTSA complaints, the highest here, concentrated in electrical system, service brakes and engine, with 9 crashes, 1 fire and 12 injuries reported.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Run the VIN on NHTSA and confirm the do-not-drive steering recall is closed
- Ask for dealer paperwork on the wheel-separation and front wheel bolt repairs
- Test every electrical function and the brakes on a long test drive
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Volkswagen dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
What owners have reported to NHTSA
470 complaints filed for this model year, including 9 mentioning a crash, 1 a fire and 12 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 144 | Yes |
| Brakes | 95 | None found |
| Engine | 83 | None found |
| Driver Assistance | 68 | None found |
| Exterior Lighting | 66 | Yes |
| AIR Bags | 65 | Yes |