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46 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
Some 2024-2026 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles can have a brief drop in electrical power that upsets the dashboard display screens. When that happens, the backup camera picture may not come up when you shift into reverse. Without that picture you cannot see a small child, a pet, or an object sitting right behind the vehicle. A dealer will update the rearview camera software at no cost to the owner.
Some bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened properly at the factory. The bolts hold major parts underneath the car together, including pieces of the suspension, the frame crossmember, an engine mount, and a rear brake bracket. If a bolt that is too loose works its way out, the part it holds can shift or come apart, and the driver could lose control of the vehicle. A dealer will check and replace the affected bolts at no cost.
Some 2024-2025 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs have a software error in the backup camera. When you shift into reverse, the picture on the dashboard screen can come out distorted instead of showing a clear view behind you. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet the federal rear-visibility rule. A garbled image makes it harder to see people, pets or objects behind the SUV while backing up, which raises the chance of hitting something.
The plastic cover over the engine may have been put back on incorrectly after a service visit. If it was not fastened down properly, it can come loose, touch hot parts of the engine, melt, and start a fire. This only affects vehicles that were serviced, and from the driver's seat there is no easy way to tell whether the cover is sitting correctly. Volkswagen dealers will simply remove the engine cover.
The transmission is the part that sends engine power to the wheels. On some 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles it was not built correctly, and it can suddenly stop delivering power. If that happens while you are driving, the vehicle can lose speed with no warning, which is dangerous in traffic or on a highway. This is not something a simple adjustment fixes, so dealers will install a whole new transmission at no charge.
The brake master cylinder is the part that pushes brake fluid to the brakes when you press the pedal. On these 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles, the wrong internal retainer piece may have been fitted inside it, and that piece can block the port the brake fluid flows through. With that passage blocked, the brakes can stop working. Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder at no charge to the owner.
When you shift into reverse, the picture from the backup camera may come up late or not at all. That means the screen may not show you what is directly behind the car while you are backing up. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet the federal rule for rear visibility. The fix is a software update to the infotainment system, which is the screen system in the dash. Dealers do this free.
A sensor mat in the front passenger seat tells the car whether someone is sitting there. Wiring for that sensor can fault, and the car may then turn off the front passenger airbag even when an adult is in the seat. If a crash happens, that airbag would not inflate and the passenger could be hurt more badly. The dealer will replace the sensor mat and the wiring at no charge. Owner letters went out in stages between September 2024 and January 2025.
Some 2019 Atlas vehicles may have a driver's side airbag that is missing a weld where the airbag housing is joined together. Without that weld, the airbag could open the wrong way in a crash, or the unit could come loose entirely. Either one means it may not cushion the driver the way it is meant to, and could increase the risk of injury. A dealer will replace the driver's side airbag free of charge.
Certain 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles may have damaged connecting rod bearings inside the engine. These bearings let the moving parts of the engine spin smoothly, and if they wear out the engine can break down completely. That can make the engine quit while you are driving, and a broken engine can also leak oil, which can catch fire. Dealers will inspect the engine and replace it if needed, free of charge.
Your Atlas has a sensor mat in the front passenger seat that tells the car whether someone is sitting there. A wiring fault in that system can make the car think the seat is empty and shut off the front passenger airbag even when a person is in the seat. If you crash, that airbag would not inflate to protect them. Dealers will replace the sensor mat and its wiring at no cost to you.
The tire pressure warning system may be slow to catch a problem in one situation: when all four tires are losing air at the same time. The system compares the tires to each other, so if they all go down together it may not warn you quickly enough. Driving on badly underinflated tires raises the chance of a crash. Dealers will update the system's software for free.
Bolts that hold a key piece of the rear suspension — the driver-side rear trailing arm — may not have been tightened enough at the factory. Over time they can work loose and fall out. If that happens, the trailing arm can break, and you could suddenly lose control of the vehicle. This covers certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models. A dealer will replace those driver-side rear bolts for free.
Inside the engine, the bearings that let the connecting rods spin smoothly can become damaged. When that happens the engine can fail and the vehicle can stall while you are driving. If the damage also causes engine oil to leak, the leaking oil can start a fire. Dealers will inspect the engine on affected Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback, Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge.
The brake lines carry fluid from the pedal to the brakes at each wheel. On these vehicles, fluid can seep out at the threaded connections where the lines screw together. Losing fluid weakens the brakes, so the vehicle takes longer to stop than you expect — and the problem gets worse the more fluid escapes. The dealer replaces the affected brake lines with new ones, at no cost to you.
The bolts holding the trailer hitch onto the vehicle may not have been tightened enough at the factory. Over time a loose bolt can fall out, which puts extra strain on the bolts that are left until they break. If that happens, the hitch and whatever you are towing can come away from the vehicle and into traffic. A dealer will check and tighten the hitch bolts for free on affected 2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles.
A memory chip inside your Volkswagen's infotainment screen was made incorrectly, and because of that the backup camera picture may not come up when you shift into reverse. Instead of seeing what's behind you, the screen can stay blank. Federal safety rules require a working rear view, so these vehicles don't meet the standard. A dealer can fix it by updating the infotainment software — no new parts needed, and it doesn't cost you anything.
Some 2021-2022 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs left the factory with long fuel injectors that are missing their filters. The injectors are the parts that spray gasoline into the engine. Without the filter, an injector can leak fuel. Leaking gasoline near a hot engine can catch fire. Volkswagen mailed letters to owners in July 2022, and dealers replace the injectors.
On these Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models, the electrical contacts in the front door wiring can corrode. That bad connection can delay the side airbag in the driver or front passenger door from going off during a side-impact crash. An airbag that fires late does not protect you as well, so injuries could be worse. Dealers will secure the front door wiring harnesses and replace any that show a fault, free of charge.
These Atlas models were fitted with accessory side steps, which add weight to the vehicle. When that happens, a new label showing the lower safe loading weight is supposed to be put on the vehicle, and it was left off. Without it, you could load the vehicle with more people and cargo than it should carry, which can make it hard to control. Dealers will install the correct label for free.
The drain tube for the air conditioner can get blocked. Instead of dripping outside the vehicle, water backs up and leaks inside the car near the airbag control box — the computer that decides when the airbags fire. Water can damage that computer, and a damaged computer can set off an airbag when there is no crash. An airbag going off unexpectedly can injure the people in the car and can cause the driver to crash.
The bolts that hold the front wheel bearings may not have been tightened correctly when these vehicles were built. If those bolts work loose, the front wheel can move out of position and you could lose control of the vehicle while driving. A dealer will check how tight the bolts are on the front wheels and install new bolts wherever they find a problem. The inspection and any parts needed are done at no cost to you.
Some of these SUVs left the factory with damaged electrical relays in the fuse box under the hood. A relay is simply a switch that turns something on and off. A damaged one can stick, making the horn sound or the engine starter keep running by itself, even when nobody is touching anything. A horn or starter that stays switched on for a long stretch gets very hot, and that heat can start a fire under the hood.
These were Volkswagen's own internal-use vehicles that were later sold to the public. Volkswagen never confirmed they were built to all the federal safety rules that apply, and they may have been changed or modified before they were sold. Because of that, Volkswagen cannot say these vehicles meet the standards every new vehicle has to meet. Rather than fixing anything, Volkswagen is buying the vehicles back from their owners.
Some 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas SUVs left the factory with Continental tires that were heated too long while being made. Tires cooked too long can crack or split in the sidewall, the part you see from the side. That can cause a sudden loss of air or let the tread peel off the tire. Either one can make the vehicle hard to control. A dealer inspects the tires and replaces any bad ones.
The holes in the wheels that the lug bolts pass through may have been cut wrong at the factory. Because of that, the bolts may not grip the hub the way they should, so a wheel can work loose as you drive and, in the worst case, come off the vehicle entirely. A wheel separating at speed can make the vehicle impossible to control. Dealers inspect all four wheels and replace wheels, bolts, and wheel bearings as needed, free of charge.
The steering knuckle is the part that connects a front wheel to the steering and suspension. On certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models, this part may crack and break where the strut bolts to it. If it breaks, you can lose control of the vehicle. A dealer will inspect both front steering knuckles and replace one or both if needed, at no cost. Repairs for this recall started in February 2021.
When you start one of these Volkswagens, the backup camera may not work right. The screen can go black, or the whole infotainment display can freeze, so you see nothing behind you when you shift into reverse. Federal rules require a working rear view image, and these vehicles do not meet them. The fix is a software update for the infotainment system, and the dealer does it at no cost.
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.
⚠ NHTSA advises: do not drive this vehicle until repaired.
Some of these SUVs left the factory with Continental tires, size 255/50 R 20, that were heated too long when they were made. Tires made that way can split open at the side wall and lose air all at once, or the tread, the part that touches the road, can peel off the tire. Either one can happen while you are driving. A dealer will check the date and mold codes stamped on your tires and replace any bad ones.
A small number of Volkswagens that the company had been using internally were sold to customers without confirming they were built to all federal safety rules, and they may have been changed in some way before being sold. Because nobody verified them, Volkswagen cannot say they meet the safety standards every new car must meet. Rather than repair them, Volkswagen is buying these vehicles back from the people who own them.
The headlight on the driver's side was aimed too low when these vehicles were built, so it does not meet the federal rule for how headlights must shine. Pointing down too far means the beam lights up less of the road ahead of you at night, especially at a distance. You may not see a pedestrian, an animal, or an obstacle as early as you should. Nothing is broken — the light just needs to be re-aimed.
Welds holding part of the front seat frame and the backrest adjuster together may not have been done correctly at the factory. During normal driving you would not notice anything different about the seat. But if another vehicle hits you from behind, the bad weld could break and the seat back could give way, so the seat would not hold the person in it as well as it should. Dealers inspect the front seats and replace the seat back frames if necessary.
Certain 2018 Atlas SUVs have a faulty airbag crash sensor. This is the part that tells the airbags when a crash is happening. Because it was made incorrectly, the front airbags could inflate late — or not inflate at all — in a crash that should set them off. That means less protection for the people in the front seats. Volkswagen dealers will replace the crash sensor with a correctly made one.
On some Volkswagen Atlas vehicles, a part inside the fuel tank may have been welded in the wrong spot at the factory. Because it sits incorrectly, gasoline can leak out. The same problem can also spread fuel unevenly inside the tank, which can make the engine shut off while you're driving. Leaking gasoline near anything hot or sparking can catch fire, and an engine that quits unexpectedly can leave you stranded in traffic. Dealers will replace the entire fuel tank.
A small cap that locks the headlight's side-to-side aim may be missing on these cars. With the cap in place, the aim cannot be knocked or adjusted out of position. Without it, the headlights can end up pointed the wrong way, so less of the road ahead is lit and you may not see as far at night. This covers certain 2012-2020 Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. Dealers will inspect and block the adjustment for free.
The wrong side airbag may have been installed on the driver's side, the front passenger's side, or both. These are the airbags that are supposed to cushion you if another vehicle hits the side of yours. An airbag built for a different application may not inflate the way it should in that kind of crash, so you would get less protection. Volkswagen says it already inspected these vehicles and replaced the incorrect airbags, finishing the work in April 2019.
The coil springs in the rear suspension — the large metal coils that hold the car up and soak up bumps — can crack and break earlier than they should. If a spring breaks while you are driving, a piece of it can cut into a rear tire. A tire that goes flat at speed can make the car hard to control. Dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs on affected cars at no cost.
These Volkswagens use a regular key rather than keyless entry. Normally the car beeps to remind you the key is still in the ignition when you open the door. On these vehicles the dashboard may not make that sound, so you could walk away leaving the key in. That makes the car easier to steal and raises the risk of a crash. It also breaks a federal theft-protection rule. A dealer reprograms the instrument cluster free of charge.
On some 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUVs, the drain tube for the air conditioner may have been twisted during assembly. Instead of draining outside the vehicle, water can run into the control box that operates the airbags. A wet control box can set the airbags off when there has been no crash. Dealers will check the drain tube and replace the tube and the airbag control box as needed, free of charge.
On certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles, the bolts that hold the brake caliper bracket to the wheel may not have been tightened enough at the factory. The caliper is the part that squeezes the brake pads against the wheel to slow you down. If those bolts are loose, the caliper can shift around instead of staying put, which can weaken your braking or make the car hard to control.
The owner's manual for certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles left out an important warning: a child seat base wider than 12.6 inches should not be installed in the middle seat of the second row. If a wider base was used there, it can damage the buckle for that middle seat and the buckle for the seat next to it on the left. A damaged buckle may come undone on its own.
In a crash, the front passenger airbag in these vehicles may tear or fail to open the way it should. An airbag that rips or unfolds incorrectly does not cushion the passenger properly, so someone sitting in the front passenger seat could be hurt more badly in a collision than they otherwise would be. Dealers will replace the front passenger airbag at no charge.
The brake calipers — the parts that squeeze the brake pads against the wheels — were built with pistons that did not get enough protective coating. Over time that can make the brakes work less well than they should, so the car may not slow down or stop the way you expect. Volkswagen and Audi say owners should not drive these vehicles until the brake system has been checked. Dealers bleed the brake lines to fix it.
⚠ NHTSA advises: do not drive this vehicle until repaired.
Because of a mistake during manufacturing, the fuel tank on certain Volkswagen Atlas vehicles may leak gasoline. The tank doesn't meet the federal standard for fuel system integrity. Leaking fuel near anything hot or sparking can catch fire. Volkswagen dealers will replace the fuel tank entirely, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of an earlier one, so some vehicles not covered before are included now. Owners were notified starting in June 2018.
The fuel tank on some 2018 Atlas SUVs may have been built with walls that are too thin. A tank that thin can develop a leak, letting gasoline escape from the vehicle. Leaking fuel near anything hot or anything that sparks can catch fire. Because of the thin walls, these vehicles also fail to meet the federal safety rule for fuel systems. Dealers will replace the whole fuel tank at no cost to you.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Atlas. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 461 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
| 2019 | 473 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| 2020 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 470 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| 2022 | 181 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 2024 | 168 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 2025 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: