2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport Problems & Complaints
Real owner complaints and problems reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). View common issues by component.
142
Complaints Reported
Complaints by Component
AIR BAGS
24 complaints
I received notification via carfax, VW app, AND by mail about the passenger air bag faulty PODS system recall in September 2024. I was told by my local dealership there was no active fix for the issue at the time. I then had my 50k mile service completed in December 2024 the week before Christmas and the service department stated they still had not received a fix for the recall code and that it would be rolling out in stages and to wait for a resolution. It is now March 2025 and I do not feel safe driving this vehicle with my family knowing there is a possibility of the airbags not deploying in the event of a car accident. The website even suggests not to drive the vehicle with this recall.
Mar 04, 2025
I own a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport that more recently in June 2024 received a recall on its Passenger Airbags stating that it may not function properly in event of a crash. I want to point out that this is the only vehicle in the family and teenagers do ride in the front seat. I was informed of the recall via my Progressive App in June 2024 and Volkswagen who issued the recall did not inform me until end of August 2024 a 3 month delay. I have been in communication with Volkswagen Corporation to work together to come up with a plan to resolve the issue in a manner that would work for both parties. I was notified by Volkswagen on December 4, 2024 that a repair for my vehicle is available and I should contact my local VW dealership to make an appointment to get this recall repaired. I made an appointment with VW of Olympia for the repair of the recall on December 10, 2024 and at this time they are refusing to make the repair. I am concerned about the safety of my teenagers who ride on the passenger seat. This 2021 VW Atlas Cross Sport is the only vehicle in the family and at this time neither the VW nor the dealership are offering any alternatives nor loaner car disregarding safety of my teenagers who ride in the passenger seat. I am asking NHTSA to be involved to help offer a resolution so that I can get this recall remedied in a timely manner. I appreciate your time. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Dec 10, 2024
I own a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport that more recently in June 2024 received a recall on its Passenger Airbags stating that it may not function properly in event of a crash. I want to point out that this is the only vehicle in the family and teenagers do ride in the front seat. I was informed of the recall via my Progressive App in June 2024 and Volkswagen who issued the recall did not inform me until end of August 2024 a 3 month delay. I have been in communication with Volkswagen Corporation to work together to come up with a plan to resolve the issue in a manner that would work for both parties. I was notified by Volkswagen on December 4, 2024 that a repair for my vehicle is available and I should contact my local VW dealership to make an appointment to get this recall repaired. I went in person to VW of Tacoma, I made contact with one of their representative (not sure if this person even worked there as she had no proper name tag or proper VW uniform). The whole process seemed non transparent as when I asked for her name she would not give her name despite of multiple requests. My experience with this person was very nerve racking as it was unclear if I was being subject of fraud. I specifically asked to speak to the manager whose name was Jerry Podgoski. Despite of the information regarding the availability of the my recall repair part the dealership still refused to provide repair for my vehicle's recall. Jerry Podgoski gave me the false idea that their dealership would be in touch however to date I have not heard back. I later found out the name of the service tech who refused to give her name was Maile Magpoc, she was not a pleasant person to deal with and the whole interaction seemed shady. I would like NHTSA to be involved as the recall from VW involves airbag and from the information I received from VW America repair is available and VW of Tacoma is refusing to provide the repairs on the recall issued by VW of America.
Dec 10, 2024
My car was purchased on Sept 5th, only to be told there was a recall and could not legally be released to me. Its been months and still no answers.
Nov 06, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000(Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Nov 04, 2024
+ 19 more complaints for this component
SERVICE BRAKES
11 complaints
I own a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport with approximately 34,000 miles, purchased as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. The brakes make an extremely loud, metal-on-metal screeching noise when driving slowly, reversing or driving on hills. The sound is harsh and high-pitched, resembling worn-out or defective brake pads or rotors. I brought the issue to a VW dealership, and they confirmed the noise but claimed it is “normal” and offered no repair. The sound is consistent and worsens on incline. This issue raises serious safety concerns, including potential brake system wear/failure or lack of effective stopping power in certain conditions. After researching, I discovered many other VW Atlas and Cross Sport owners are reporting the same problem across model years 2020–2023. Some have resorted to replacing OEM brake parts with aftermarket components to resolve the issue. I believe this may be a design or materials defect affecting a large number of vehicles. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate this issue for potential safety implications and consider whether a recall or technical service bulletin is necessary.
Aug 07, 2025
I purchased this car new in 2021. Shortly after purchase, the brakes start grinding / squealing very badly. This is an intermittent problem. On multiple occasions, it has startled me so badly that I let up on the brake. This almost caused me to hit the vehicle in front of me. Volkswagen has been unresponsive to dealer's request for a solution. When looking online, it apparently the construction of the brake pads that causes the issue. Ceramic brake pads do not have this same issue. However, Volkswagen will not authorize a payment to replace the OEM brake pads with ceramic pads.
Apr 26, 2024
SUV was purchased in May of 2021 at the Chapman VW dealership in Scottsdale, Arizona. Within several days of owning the Atlas, I noticed a grinding, shrieking noise coming from the brakes every time they were applied. I immediately notified the dealer and they said that this was a common occurrence on the Atlas. They were aware of the issue but VW had not come up with a fix at that point in time. I brought the car in and they offered to replace the pads which were done. The problem continued. Most recently, the noise and friction from the brakes has gotten infinitely worse. I contacted VW executives in the US and they once again said that they were aware of the issue but that no reimbursement would be given if I paid for new brakes myself, which I had to do. All participants, including the manager of Chapman VW, agree that this is a problem issue. However, there is no recall as of yet (one person there said one was forthcoming) and that they hear this problem from many Atlas owners. My question is why are they continuing to sell the car with the copper/rotor issue and why are they not fixing it nor reimbursing people like me? Thank you.
Feb 28, 2024
Car has a harsh loud metal grinding sound when brakes are applied. Steering wheel vibration when brakes are applied at medium/high speeds, more notable in declined (down hill) roads. This has been reported to dealership since we got the car brand new and they do nothing about it except to provide a scripted answer stating that the "car is safe" and/or that they cannot reproduce the issue.
Feb 15, 2024
Since I purchased the vehicle the brakes sound like they are bad, yet they are not bad. I was told at Volkswagon that they are aware of the issue in these SUV’s but the only fix will void out my warranty if I choose to do it. If this is a known problem with volswagon cross sports then why is there not a solution to the problem that will not jeopardize our warranty. I’m frustrated, the car sounds ridiculous when the brakes are applied and how is one to know when they are actually bad if they always sound that way.
Jan 29, 2024
+ 6 more complaints for this component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8 complaints
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front passenger's side and rear passenger's side windows opened unintendedly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started experiencing the failure after the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) sensor mat and wiring harness were replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer performed an unknown reset on the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred while his wife was driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,282.
Apr 04, 2025
I never received a notification that my car had an active recall for the software or door wiring harness until I went to get my car appraised. I had the vehicle less than one year and it had 3 recalls and/or issues that needed repair. Further, their practices regarding sales are deceptive. I was told that the services would be free of charge in the first year and they were not. I still had to pay for the first oil change despite the car not being even 1 year old at the time. Please advise if there is someone else with whom I should file a complaint for their deceptive sales tactics. Thank you.
Oct 02, 2022
I WENT TO MY CAR ON MARCH 26, 2022 IN THE MORNING AND ALL FOUR OF MY WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN, THEY WERE ROLLED UP WHEN i LEFT THE CAR THE PREVIOUS DAY. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE IT SAID THAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE RELATED TO A BRAKING ENGAGING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Mar 27, 2022
windows going down on their own, has been sporadically happening for a few months
Mar 24, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the windows started rolling down and up independently. On another occasion while driving approximately 20 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance Emergency Automatic Braking engaged erroneously. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage 3,700.
Mar 21, 2022
+ 3 more complaints for this component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
8 complaints
Received an error message about driver door contact fail as I was driving down the highway. Next thing I knew my car was rolling down the back window and emergency braking. I was doing 65 down a highway. I had no control over my car. My passengers were freaking out. I was finally able to turn it off and back on and regain control. This is unsafe. I could’ve wrecked and been seriously injured today.
Apr 30, 2022
Started with the driver door sensor not unlocking. Happened once before, errors and lights came on. Next day everything was fine. Yesterday, the driver door sensor would not unlock. All other doors unlocked, so I unlocked the driver door from the inside. Error messages started showing up such as, "Error: Start/Stop," "Attention: The engine is running," which i happened to get pictures of. The check engine light and the triangle with exclamation light came on. A door error message and brake message showed up as well. The windows will not go down. When I come to a complete stop at a red light or stop it puts the Park Brake on immediately.
Apr 01, 2022
THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HAS HAD A SERIES OF ELECTRONIC WARNING ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH BOARD. THE WINDOWS BOTH DRIVER AND REAR PASSANGER GO DOWN ON THEIR OWN, HILL ASSIT FAILUER DISPLAYS, ADAPTIVE COLLISION SYSTEM FAILURE, ELECTRONIC PARKING PRAKE FAILURE, AUTO START FAILURE, START STOP FAILURE ALL ALTERNATE WITH ERROR MESSAGES. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO APPLIED THE PARKING PRAKE ON ITS OWN WHILE APPROACHING EITHER A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
Mar 31, 2022
Faulty door harness per VW service department in Valdosta, GA. This has caused over several near missed rear end collisions as the car will automatically activate the emergency brake while driving. Multiple error messages pop up. Windows roll down automatically. Vehicle has been sitting at dealership for 30+ days and dealership will not provide loaner vehicle, rental or hold payments with VW Credit. This has affected my way of life tremendously as I now have no vehicle to get to work and no vehicle to take my kids to school in. Dealership said I could still drive the vehicle, completely disregarding the fact that a car had to completely run off the road to prevent from hitting me after my emergency brake randomly activated while I had my kids in the back. So here’s to making payments for my car to sit at the dealer with no help, no eta on repair, NOTHING!
Mar 29, 2022
While sitting in a drive thru the car completely turned off while in drive as I was waiting to move up in line. Then when I went to start the car the next day, the dashboard lit up and all of the windows started going up and down out of now where. After speaking with a service rep about the issue I was informed that it was a door harness issue which is a huge safety risk because it is tied to the electrical components of the vehicle. My vehicle stayed in the shop a little over 2 months and then the issue was repaired. After completing an update, I keep getting a message to reset my trip each time I start the car and then I received a warning that my front assist is not available. When I read more into this I found that the car can brake unexpectedly thinking that a collision is going to take place when it is not, therefore causing a driving risk. This warning came on 3 separate occasions. My car was just purchased in December 2021 and I am concerned about all of the issues that I am experiencing so early on. Two weeks after purchasing my car it was in the shop starting January 7th until March 12th, this was to repair the door harness, then a week later I am receiving the sensor notification. My sensor notification has come on 3/19, 3/22 and 3/23. I am concerned about the overall safety and reliability on this vehicle. My car was in the shop for over 2 months and now I have a new issue.
Mar 23, 2022
+ 3 more complaints for this component
ENGINE
7 complaints
Car shut off randomly when driving
Nov 25, 2024
-Engine and yes. -Safety put at risk due to car not on when the street light turn green and I'm not aware that the car had turned off. -No -Message appeared on the dashboard stating Engine will shut off automatically to conserve battery.
Sep 08, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The electronic power control (ECP) and check engine warning light was illuminated after driving approximately 20 to 30 minutes at 55 MPH or higher, the vehicle suddenly powered off inadvertently. The contact would restart the vehicle immediately. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the O2 sensor and the pressure pump. The failure persisted; however, the cause of the failure was not found when the vehicle was returned to the dealer to be diagnosed. The failure persisted and recurred almost every 4 days. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
May 22, 2023
The car has auto on/off when idling at a stop. It will often just power down completely and not power back up when idling. Because of this at intersections i have almost been hit twice but it has happened 7 times in 1 year. The car also shows a constant seatbelt not connected symbol and loud warning when the belt is connected and nothing is in the passenger seat. This comes and goes with no prompting. The dash board will occasionally show check engine codes but nothing is wrong. One day after the car had overheated from no coolant after having just bought it a few moths prior no engine lights ever came on. The car just overheated and began to smoke and shut down on the side of the road. Today Travelers insurance was running a scan on the black box after a no fault small impact accident occurred and they used 3 forms of equipment to get a "event code" but the code would not show. The agent was perplexed and said he'd never seen this on any other vehicle but VW before. VW keeps just saying we'll do a software update but will not fix the issue.
May 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with the driver control module failure. However, the driver control module was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. After receiving the vehicle back from the dealer, the driver’s side front window would not roll-up. Additionally, while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle would inadvertently shut off or engage the emergency parking brake. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,344.
Nov 05, 2021
+ 2 more complaints for this component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
6 complaints
The passenger day time running light quit working randomly. This also is part of the lamp that provides cornering light. Without this, it decreases visibility early morning or evening driving. The issue has been confirmed with a mechanic and is a huge impact for this vehicle model. There were no warning lights or alerts about an issue prior to the failure of the part.
Dec 12, 2025
One of the daytime running lights has gone out with only 45,000 miles on my vehicle. Dealership says they need to replace the entire headlight assembly, instead of the bulb, at a cost of $1,500. No prior warning as to this issue. There are a number of cases with this same problem at low vehicle mileage.
Jul 24, 2025
The daytime running lights are already out on a vehicle with less than 50k miles. It is a commonly reported problems with these vehicles and an expensive fix.
Jul 13, 2025
Driver side headlight stopped working after a little over 4 years but less than 50,000 miles. On coming drivers from other side of road are distracted by only one light working and tend to serve toward my car. No warning signs or messages appear in the car. Unfortunately, outside of warranty and the entire light console needs to be replaced. Appears to be a common problem on the Atlas Cross Sport 21' and per dealer parts on back order.
Jul 02, 2025
Hello, I am filing a complaint regarding a safety issue with my vehicle. The daytime running light has ceased functioning. It began dimming last week and is now completely out. The vehicle is available for inspection. Daytime running lights are essential for visibility during the day, contributing to overall safety and accident prevention. This problem appears to be common among VW Atlas owners after approximately 50,000 miles. The assembly has been examined, and since it cannot be disassembled, the issue is attributed to a faulty manufacturer component. The cost for a new part is approximately $1,200, not including labor. There were no warning lights or messages to indicate this malfunction, only the gradual dimming of the light before it failed entirely. Many users on online forums have reported experiencing the same issue. Please contact me if you need further details or have any questions about this safety hazard.
Jul 30, 2024
+ 1 more complaint for this component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
5 complaints
White smoke coming from under the hood. Tire sensor has been replaced service several. One tire at a time
May 12, 2025
My vehicle turned off/stalled while driving. I had to throw on my hazards, stomp on the very hard break and turn the car on and off again. Very dangerous for me and other drivers. I see a lot of other customers with the same exact problem for the same model of vehicle. Definitely some type of recall that needs to be addressed.
Mar 29, 2025
Engine light keeps popping on due to supposedly the evaporative canister and valve are faulty. While driving my car acts as if the start/stop function is turned on (I turn it off because I don’t like it) and starts to turn off my engine while I am creeping in traffic (major traffic). This was June 2023. February 2024 same issue occurred and canister and valve needed replaced (not even a year later). A few days later the start/stop error popped up again and my car is starting to turn off while driving or creeping in traffic, with that function being turned off.
Mar 04, 2024
Start/stop error occurred on dashboard and a day later the check engine came on. I took it in to get diagnosed & was told the software was recalled and needed updated. A few days later the start/stop error came back on, engine light came on, car was jerking and my engine would shut off as I am driving and would tell me to start my engine manually. I was then told the evap purge valve and evap canister needed replaced. These 2 items were the first 2 line items on the diagnosis they first ran & did not check.
Jul 06, 2023
We have had this Atlas Cross Sport R-line for 2 years. Over these two years, the car will intermittently stall when I come to a stop sign or stop light. Many times it has nearly caused an accident. I consistently turn the auto on-off OFF as it is not a feature I like, the problem happens with that feature disabled. Since I am the main driver, and my husband rarely is in the car, I thought that it was a normal feature. In the past several weeks it has continued to stop and nearly killed me at a major intersection in my area. I took the atlas into one dealership two weeks ago and they said nothing was wrong and they couldn't replicate it or provide a code. I have it in another dealership now and they are saying that they have no clue what to do about this and they cannot replicate it either. It is very dangerous and Volkswagen is doing nothing to assist us in fixing the matter. The most frustrating part is I love the car! It never happens at a convenient time to take pictures or videos, it is always in a traffic situation. The other electrical items still work when the engine turns off. I justwant VW to fix it so we can continue to enjoy the car but they "have never had this happen" (according to BOTH dealerships)
May 03, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5 complaints
Hood Release Cable. The hood release cable, which runs from the release lever inside the car to the latch under the hood, broke. I can't open my car hood. I've been looking online and it seems that this is a common issue and very expensive to repair and Volkswagen is the only onewiths the proper tools to fix the problem.
Mar 13, 2025
Hello, My car has a musty smell inside the cabin. I have tried all the recommendations, such as changing the cabin filter, running the AC, and using disinfectant sprays, and the odor does not disappear. I have allergies, and when I drive my car, it feels like I can't breathe. I do not have the means at the moment to change cars.
Mar 13, 2025
I was pulling into a parking spot, my foot on the brake pedal, hand ready to shift car into park. At that time the rev counter went up to 7000, the car jumped the curb, I stepped hard on the brake but the car kept going. The car stopped when it slammed into a parked car so hard that it pushed the parked car into the street. No warning lights and the airbag did not deploy. Unsure of what malfunctioned. Anyone can inspect it. VW has been uncooperative and has told me several different stories about getting it looked at by a VW rep. The car had over $10k worth of damage which has been fixed first at the request of VW corporate.
Jul 25, 2022
Car stalled at red light before getting on the highway. As I was merging on the ramp to 295, the car started stuttering, and steering wheel was vibrating severely. EPC and Engine light popped on. Had to pull over and was almost hit by a truck. Turned on ok. A minute into the drive the EPC and Engine light popped on again and car started stuttering again. Was on major highway so had to pull off at next exit and pulled into a parking lot. Customer Care sent a tow truck, and the SUV was towed to Salem County VW in Monroeville, NJ. Called Salem County VW to let them know the SUV was in tow. Stated they would try to look at it, but to make a formal request online. Made a formal request online for an appointment at 8:45 a.m. on 9/13. Car was in shop for 10 days with a bad fuel injector.
Apr 21, 2022
Where do I start? There has been a number of issues within a week of purchase with warning lights coming on for no reason, the display panel saying ACC deactivated and not displaying the MPH which I prefer, not accelerating more then 20 mph, charger pad not charging, all of a sudden the doors don't open for keyless entry, the motion for the trunk doesn't work, the direction on the mirror will say East for instance, when I'm going in a totally different direction, coolant light came on at 9k miles and people told me this shouldn't happen until at least 30k, radio and speakers are iffy...the sound was much better in my Jetta, the tire pressure light is on yet again, but the air isn't low, parking brake coming on while driving (could've had an accident), windows going down by themselves, error driver door contact switch, attention, engine is running while I'm driving, error start/stop switch, car net doesn't work properly. I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting something else. I've looked online and soooo many people are experiencing the same issues, even people I know personally that has the same truck. I've taken the car back now about 4 times I believe, and still no resolution. They always say they found nothing wrong. Then i just took it back on January 8th and now they still have it as of today, February 1st, saying the parts are on backorder until March. I've been in contact with VW corporate trying to get released from the vehicle but wanted to report this before someone dies then they finally do a recall because someone was hurt or dead. I was told that I couldn't give it back under the lemon law until things happened 3 times and I had to give them a chance to fix it. I bought this car brand new and this just shouldn't be happening. It's apparent there's some kind of glitch with this car and I hate that I'm stuck with it.
Feb 01, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
5 complaints
While driving 70mph down the highway, warning lights on the dash flashed but I’m not sure which ones, windows automatically rolled down and the emergency brake tried to engage. This could have absolutely caused an accident if traffic weren’t light. This same morning when getting ready to leave the exact same thing happened, prior to the highway incident. After googling this issue I see it has been reported prior yet nothing has been done to ensure safety of VW Atlas drivers. Thankfully the car is under warranty but if it were not how fair would it be for expenses to come out of my pocket because VW has not been forced to confront this reoccurring issue!? I contacted my dealership and they’re setting up an appointment to check things out but it is YOUR responsibility to ensure VW does something to protect its customers and drivers. They will not make a change unless ordered, greedy pigs.
Jun 12, 2023
While driving at approx. 65 mph in heavy rain the rear passenger window suddenly went down and smoke came from the door and at same time all electrical systems went out. the vehicle quickly decelerated to the point the vehicle was not able to be pulled out of the highway standing the vehicle in harms way. Vehicle is completely unresponsive and will not start. This has been 12 day ago and the vehicle is still at the dealership and has not yet been looked at. service manager did mention the door harness recall and said it is likely related, however the issues we experienced seem much more severe than is communicated in the recall.
May 26, 2022
It started with just the check engine light on but was driving fine. I alerted VW and an appointment was made for over a month out. Said it was safe to drive unless it was blinking or not acting right. After a few days, the light went off. About a week later, the check engine light came back on. Anytime I got below 2 mph it would turn on all my alerts about engine running, no lane assist, no cruise and after a complete stop it would act like the emergency parking brake was on. Sometimes when restarting the car the parking brake light was actually activated without pushing it. The driver's side windows would also randomly roll down. I immediately called the dealership and they fit me in prior to my previously scheduled appt. I was told it was the door wiring harness and it would be several months before a fix. It has been in the dealership since 04/13/2022. I do have a rental through the dealership. However, the dealership is not communicating with me even though I've left messages.
May 11, 2022
My cars windows started rolling down by themselves, the emergency break warning and igniting, a warning about the engine still running while in park, the red light on my door flashing, warnings about my lighting system, doors locked and wouldn’t let me in the car. Emergency break warning for engaging while driving down the freeway. Volkswagen has given me a rental but nothing as far as completing the recall and no end in site, no notification of any issues with my car.
Apr 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that since owning the vehicle, various electrical failure had occurred with the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently brake without incident as the check engine warning light would appear on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the front driver’s side door failed to unlock while his wife was outside the vehicle with the engine running. The contact's wife was forced to enter the vehicle threw the front passenger’s side door. In addition, the contact also mentioned that both the front and rear driver’s side windows would independently roll down without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed and remained in the dealer's possession. The contact was given a rental vehicle for the same model vehicle and the independent brake failure occurred with that vehicle also. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.
Mar 21, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
3 complaints
I was driving on the freeway and the car slowed down on me, almost to a stop! This could have been fatal! I am glad I had the time to move the the right lane for emergency. This needs to be reported and don't let other VW owners deal with this issue! it's a BIG safety issue!
Oct 14, 2025
I am writing to inquire about the carbon canister in my 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport which was purchased from Schumacher VW 3720 Northlake Blv, Lake Park FL 33403. I understand that Volkswagen has a known issue with the carbon canisters in certain models, and I am seeking clarification on whether my vehicle qualifies for this coverage. My vehicle has experienced recurring issues, including stalling in traffic and when coming to a stop, which raises significant safety concerns. These stalling events pose potential hazards not only for myself but also for other motorists, particularly in high-traffic conditions. I believe these issues may be related to the carbon canister or another component of the emissions system. It is worth mentioning that other recalls have supposedly been corrected on my vehicle by Schumacher VW, yet these stalling issues persist. Given these circumstances, I am requesting information on the warranty status and any available options for addressing these concerns. Please provide details regarding the warranty coverage, eligibility criteria, and any steps I need to take to initiate this process. Your attention to this matter and assistance in ensuring the safety and reliability of my vehicle would be greatly appreciated.
Nov 07, 2024
its been about 3 occasions , one being yesterday 2/16/24, as i was on the freeway my vehicle began to stall and it displayed , Error : stop/start, display said to manually start, got off the freeway and had to put my car into park then restart again. I almost got hit and forsure bad accidents could have happened. the other occasion was about a week ago exactly, i was on a turning lane, as i was in the middle of turning, the car stopped while in motion and it displayed the same message. I almost got hit by a vehicle. i've called my nearest dealership and they were not that helpful, they tried to force it on me that it was just the vehicle feature that come with the car. i've tried to tell them the error message but they disregarded my concern. the car has been very dangerous to drive and extremely worried and concerned
Feb 17, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3 complaints
The Car has Stalled at Stoplights 3 different times. There was a message on the dashboard that told me to "manually restart the engine". I put the car in park and restarted the engine. Note: I don't use the "Eco Stop Start" mode. I'm not sure what caused this problem but in reviewing some forums it may be an N80 Valve and/or a Carbon Canister. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. Obviously, a stalled car could be a safety risk for the driver and others. I will be taking it to a dealer but they seemed to think it may be the battery. I don't think so, because the car started immediately once I pressed the Start Button. No Warning Signs or messages prior to Stall. Message to Manually restart after Stall.
Aug 20, 2025
I purchased my 2021 VM Atlas Cross Sport, new with zero miles back in late August 2021. On, Saturday, February 12th, I noticed that my Remote Start stopped working and took it in for service on Tuesday, February 15th, to the VW of Orland Park, IL. The service technician informed me that the fuel pump is bad and needs to be replaced. He went on to say that the replacement part is on back order, about 3 weeks, but that I can pick up the vehicle and continue to drive it while we wait for the replacement part. This is very concerning and unsettling for me given the amount of time it will take to get the replacement part and the fact that no one can predict when and where a fuel pump will stop pumping fuel to the vehicle. Clearly VW does not share my same concern and in my opinion this is very much a safety issue that needs to be reported.
Feb 16, 2022
Within my vehicle, fuel injectors are leaking fuel near engine compartment components that operate at high temperatures. A fuel leak, fuel odor and multiple illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) alerted me to the condition described above. Additionally, fuel was spewing from the engine component. All of the above incidents occurred on 2 separate occasions with new vehicle (2.5 months old) with 2300 miles on it, and vehicle is currently inoperable due to the above. This is the 2nd time the vehicle has been checked in for service to repair this issue, with the Service Department initially returning the vehicle to me claiming the issue was fixed. Within 24 hours of receiving vehicle in possession, vehicle had to be towed to Dealership due to strong fuel odor, fuel leak, illuminated MIL alerts, and because the vehicle would no longer start. Fuel leaking in the engine compartment has a higher potential risk of fire as the components are operating at higher temperatures compared to other areas of the vehicle. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk due to the risk of fire occurring, and because the vehicle stopped operating normally without any warning (MIL alert) that the issue was occurring while driving on a busy street. The illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) alerts did not proactively identify this problem prior to it occurring. MIL's occurred after the problem almost caused multiple accidents. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer's Service Department, and they are awaiting parts to try and fix the issue for a 2nd time. There is currently a preliminary evaluation open by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) for safety-related-issues of fuel leaks for 2018-2020 Volkswagen Atlas. Investigation: PE 21-008, opened on 03/29/2021. Specific ODI report identification numbers: 11382958, 11218819, 11218780. Issues experienced on 2021 Volkswagen Atlas mirror prior identified ODI reports referenced above.
Oct 27, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3 complaints
The daytime running lights have gone out.
Jul 05, 2025
The Daytime running LED lights are commonly known to go out in this years 2021 VW atlas cross sports. The car gives a check light for these lights and each light had to have the entire headlight replaced. 1500 a peice. This causes issues with being able to get inspection stickers. I can’t even get a headlight bc this part is on back order bc this is such a common problem with this car. These parts need to be recalled
Jan 13, 2025
The failing component is the passenger side daytime running light. This light no longer illuminates. After searching for a fix for the problem, this appears to be a very common problem for the VW Atlas Cross Sport. The vehicle is available for inspection. The daytime running light has not been working since the vehicle hit about 55,000 miles. No warning of the daytime running light being out.
Feb 02, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3 complaints
The windshield on this vehicle is unsafe. VW either has a design issue with the angle of the windshield or an issue with the type of material the windshield is made out of. Since owning the vehicle I have had to have 2 windshield repairs in the last 3 months, both of which were covered by insurance “free” of charge (or so I thought) however the charges were reflected on my insurance as claims, which, in return raised my insurance $150 on my next 6 month renewal. My vehicle is my daily driver and I’m worried that one day my windshield is going to come in contact with debris and shatter while I’m driving with my children in the vehicle. I’ve lived in Wisconsin my whole life and I’ve owned several vehicles and never in my life have I experienced having so many cracked windshield incidents as I do with my VW. Not only has the windshield chipped on more than one occasion, but the ENTIRE windshield is covered in small nicks. This issue in itself is enough of a reason to make me never consider buying another VW. The vehicle has been looked at and repaired by Safelite twice. I have not discussed the issue with the dealership, however, after seeing 7+ additional nicks in the windshield, I will be asking the dealership about the issue. No warning lamps were present when the incident occurred. Clearly this issue is going to continue happening and I will end up having to replace my windshield over and over again until I get a new vehicle. I am open to having it inspected.
Jan 29, 2025
Second replacement for windshield in less than 12-months for small impact that spreads immediately to a large irreparable crack in the windshield. The windshield was replaced with a factory new replacement. It appears to the repair shop that there are issues with the integrity of the glass. This should not occur from such low impact, regardless of the foreign object (small rock).
Jun 19, 2023
-I leased this vehicle in July 2021 - it currently has less than 5,000 miles on it. -The infotainment system in the vehicle is defective, which includes the rear visibility system. Within a few weeks of leasing the car (if not sooner), I noticed the back up camera was working when I put the vehicle into reverse. The screen is black. The infotainment system also has a tendency to repeatedly reset, which causes any Bluetooth devices to disconnect (including in the middle of calls). -The vehicle is not in compliance with the safety standards outlined in 49 CFR 571.111. This poses a safety risk to others when backing up. The intermittent resetting of the system also impairs my ability to use hands-free devices while driving, and reroutes in-progress calls to a device that is often in a briefcase or purse. -In December 2021, the dealer indicated that VW techline said the issue was "under investigation by engineering and a repair is not available at this time." On February 2, 2022, we were informed an update was performed and the issue was resolved. On February 3, 2022, the backup camera again failed to respond when the vehicle was put into reverse. -No warnings or messages are displayed. The screen above the steering wheel says "Navigation not available' -We have been in communication with VW since early December about this issue, and we have requested a buyback as a result of the concerns. -It appears there was a recall of this same model in December 2020 for a similar issue - my vehicle was not included in that recall.
Feb 03, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3 complaints
My Wife has been driving our kids in our certified Preowned Atlas and this is the 3rd time she has stated then when slowing down or coming to a complete stop the vehicle shuts off completely and it's not due to the auto stop feature we have it switched off whenever we drive. On many forums I've researched when going into more in depth I found multiple people clamming it's a occurring thing for a lot of 21 atlas owners some even saying mid drive the vehicle shuts off and it's extremely dangerous because if your on the freeway or on a busy street this is very concerning and could cause fatal accidents and I will be taking it in for further investigation to the dealer. Hoping they can fix it but many people are saying VW doesn't have a answer, Some have stated that one dealership replaced a bad charcoal canister and also replace a N80 valve that was full of soot and causing engine problems I will also be bringing this up when I go and get the vehicle serviced.
Jun 11, 2024
The remote start will not work related to fuel system issues, which concerns me and has an affect on the car stoping during driving.
Dec 21, 2022
I purchased a New 2021 VW cross sport in 02/21. I have had multiple safety-related issues 1. Car randomly stopped; check engine light illuminated. visited dealer was told the fuel injectors were faulty. Dealership replaced. When I drove the vehicle home, there was an intense smell of gasoline. Went back to dealer was told there was a fuel leak. This is a safety risk as the vehicle could catch fire. 2. Car randomly stopped loud squeaking’s sound can be heard. Visited the dealership was told the main engine gasket seal was leaking. Again a huge safety issue 3. Windows, and sunroof roof randomly opening. was told by dealership unable to duplicate the issue. 4. Squeaking from rear suspension after long trips. was told by dealership unable to duplicate the issue. These are all major safety issues. When i purchased this new vehicle for myself and newborn son I did not realize this car would be a safety hazard. I am afraid to drive it.
Mar 29, 2022
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3 complaints
-The engine shut off while I was driving the vehicle and gave me a message to please start the engine manually by putting the car in park. This happened 6 times in 2 days including twice in traffic on the highway. The dealer said the issue was due to the evap canister being saturated and debris in the n80 valve. - This put me at risk of being in a serious accident as my car had no power. I had to put my car in park and manually restart it coming to a complete stop when Me and other drivers did not expect it. - the problem has been confirmed by the dealer - The vehicle component has not been inspected other than by the dealer to my knowledge - This happened a few times with no error message or warning sign, however after the first few times my car showed a message that would say error:start/stop at startup which I believed to refer to the auto start/stop system.
Dec 13, 2023
I was driving the car and it stalled on me. I had to start the car again. The car has not reproduced the incident again. I brought the car to two different service departments but they found nothing. One service department said to change my gasoline.
Jul 11, 2022
On May 14, 2021, driving at approximately 65 mph, the check engine warning light appeared flashing for the first time since purchase (purchase date April 30, 2021 - two weeks from vehicle purchase date), vehicle lost acceleration and shook aggressively on a major interstate highway. Owner pulled vehicle over to a safe location after driving approximately .25 miles after vehicle's check engine light initially illuminated. Owner had towing company transport the vehicle to the Volkswagen dealer in northern California where service indicated a faulty fuel injector. To-date, the vehicle remains in the possession of the dealership for 1 week awaiting parts. Failure mileage was approximately 1,000. Dealer has confirmed the issue of a faulty fuel injector - dealer has not confirmed whether any other issues at the moment. Vehicle has not been inspected by police insurance representatives. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
May 21, 2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
3 complaints
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light illuminated, and the vehicle unintendedly came to a stop. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,819.
Aug 14, 2023
My Atlas Crossport without warning or any vehicle in front of me engaged emergency braking and the forward collision warning lights and alarms came on. I was traveling roughly 40mph and the vehicle suddenly slowed to just below 10mph before I was able to continue driving. Had a vehicle been behind me, most certainly it would have caused a collision. The problem has been reported to my local VW dealership who acknowledged complaints but communicated there is no fix yet. This incident has only happened once. I was advised each time I drive to manually disengage the front assist feature.
Jun 15, 2022
My brand new 2021 cross sport (12,600 miles) suddenly started displaying multiple (5) error messages while I was driving. One of the errors was “driver door contact switch”. The check engine light came on and WHILE driving my car spontaneously began activating emergency braking maneuvers even though there was no potential for a collision. This happened numerous times and I was nearly rear ended with my son in the car. The car-net app indicated I need to take the car in for service but did NOT indicate the red “stop driving” icon. I took the car in as soon as possible (the dealership was non-urgent despite my description of the problem. They initially offered me an appt 4 days into the future. Upon my instance about the safety concern they begrudgingly agreed to look at it the next day. They diagnosed a wire harness failure. The manager of the repair dept indicated this is a problem these cars have been having a described that his own VW had the same problem and shared an anecdote about his own dangerous encounter with spontaneous emergency braking resulting. I contacted VW directly. They also did not seem concerned about this known problem. They turned my case over to the regional manager and that person also did not make this a priority or validate the extremely dangerous nature of the problem. It is shocking to me that this is a known problem (that I discovered only after googling the specific diagnosis) and VW sent no safety warnings to consumers AND their app suggested that my car was basically safe to drive my omitting the “stop driving immediately” icon/alert in response to the error messages.
Jan 12, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 complaints
Start stop error on 7/15/25. Engine light on 7/16/25. Drove the car to AutoZone and the diagnostic code was P0496 EVAP System High Purge Flow. VW dealership said it was okay to drive vehicle with engine on until my appointment on 7/24/25. Filled up the car with gas on 7/18/25, but the fuel gauge only went up to 7/8 of a tank and 365 miles to empty. After driving 51 miles, the fuel gauge was full and 430 miles to empty. After driving 116 miles, the fuel gauge dropped back down to 7/8 of a tank and 365 miles to empty. The car stalled today while going through the busy Burlington Road roundabout. There was a popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank after I shut it off when I got home. There was also a hissing sound coming from the fuel tank. The EVAP purge solenoid was replaced on 5/30/25, the evap system failed again on 6/19/25 at which point the vehicle was sent to VW for a software update. The engine light is on again for the same EVAP issue and now the fuel system appears to be failing because of it. I’m leaving the vehicle parked until my appointment. This vehicle is not safe to drive considering it stalls unexpectedly in stop and go traffic.
Jul 18, 2025
My 21 VW atlas cross sport now will not remote start. As well, it CONTINUES with the sputter and stall at low speeds. In and out of parking spots, backing in and out of driveway, the most important scenario being complete stall out crossing a median and multiple lanes of oncoming traffic…
Nov 08, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
2 complaints
Car is stalling at slow speeds during heavy traffic, pulling into a parking spot, slowing down to cross a two lane highway, or moving slowly in a drive-through. This vehicle stalled unexpectedly on the tollway during the morning rush hour to Chicago. It also stalled at a four-way stop with limited visibility for drivers behind me on 6/18/2025. I had to call 911 because I was stalled at a busy intersection and the car would not restart. The engine light will come on and I’ll get a “start/stop” error even when I shut off that feature. The diagnostic code is related to the emissions system. I’ve had the car in the shop three times for this issue. The purge valve was changed, and the software was updated. I picked up my car two days ago after a three week stint at the dealership, and the car stalled already in the drive-thru. This vehicle isn’t safe to drive due to it stalling and sputtering unexpectedly in traffic.
Jul 12, 2025
Vehicle is turning off while driving or when getting to a stop sign or red light. It turns off completely. no warnings lights or messages when shutting off. * after vehicle shuts off message on Dashboard says YOU MUST STAR CAR MANUALLY. * unable to move steering wheel do to car being shut off * unable to accelerate to move to safety * Afraid of people behind the car, not having enough time to break due to vehicle deceleration because car shut off ** vehicle check and supposedly fix issue came back
Apr 15, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaints
While driving and coming to a stop or slowing down the cars engine will shut off. This is extremely dangerous when in traffic and you have to come to a complete stop and put it in park to manually restart the car. The dealer cannot seem to reproduce the issue but the same day I picked it up from having it looked at it died on me twice in the same day. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than the dealership as far as I know as we are the second owner. There was no warning when this started happening. It gives no warning when it will or will not die. However, a week after it started the check engine light came on and that’s when I took it into the dealership. They were able to replace the sensor but did not find a reason for the car to spontaneously die.
Feb 27, 2025
on 2/2/22 Brought vehicle to nearest dealership.Upon inspection they ordered a HARNESS;TECH CHECKED AND FOUND LOST COMMUNICATION WITH DOOR CONTROL MODULE DRIVER SIDE DOOR MODULE FAULTY PART ON ORDER. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request keeping in mind underivable safety issues. on 2/02/2022 to start with ,drove into dealership because of windows on drivers side opening, dash board lights all lit up.on 2/14/2022 while driving on highway and thru streets emergency brake would go on and give a hard brake stop. lights on and beeping. to get vehicle moving we had to turn off car, get out while on highway open and close doors to try to reset only for it to happen over and over while in traffic on the highway and then in city streets.The vehicle has been parked in my driveway since 2/14/22
Mar 17, 2022
AIR BAGS,SEATS
2 complaints
Car dealership attempted to fix recall related to Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS). Dealership technicians experienced issues completing the repair and contacted the vehicle manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer claims that the issues experienced during repair are due to damage and are refusing the pay for any fix to the recall. I am not aware of any damage the system would have experienced, other than being known to be defective and under recall. The manufacturer's proposal is that I pay approximately $1,300 to replace the system, which is known to be defective and under recall, or accept my vehicle back with a faulty PODS. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to replace this system, which is known to be defective and under recall. The nature of the problem is extremely serious and could involve injury or loss of life to my family. Therefore, I am not willing to accept the vehicle back with a defective PODS.
Feb 26, 2025
Air bag error displayed on dashboard Dealer diagnostic done 5/20 Dealer stated airbag mat and wiring issue in seat
May 23, 2024
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2 complaints
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The vehicle was taken to the vehicle, where coolant was added to the vehicle; however, the low coolant warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the cooling system was replaced. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact noticed an abnormal coolant odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the front passenger's side air bag was replaced. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that coolant was leaking onto the top of the engine. The dealer replaced the cylinder head, the filters, the cooling system, the motor mount. Additionally, the dealer installed a new head gasket and new bolts, and the dealer rebuilt a new cylinder head. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated and the vehicle nearly stalled. The contact exited the highway and pulled to the side of the road. The contact called the dealer and scheduled an appointment for the following day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine was taken apart for diagnostic testing. The dealer replaced the engine with a used engine; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the dealer had taken the dashboard apart to allow a Volkswagen engineer located in Germany to monitor the failure remotely. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Dec 04, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burning odor detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer four times, who stated that it was normal. The manager informed her the cabin wall was thin. A pressure test was performed but there was no indication of a leak or burning odor. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The contact stated that the vehicle was causing her breathing problems and medical attention was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 0.
May 03, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION
2 complaints
Electric problem / water likings inside the passenger floor. This has affected the rear cámara and touch screen of my vehicle. It suddenly stoped working when backing out. I almost ran over someone. Screen when black. I notice water in passenger side floor and Momentum Volkswagen on Richmond here in houston wants to change me too much money just to inspect the car when they clearly know these cars have that problem. They refused to fix the problem. Now the water on the floor caused my rear cámara and touch screen not to work. Having electrical problem. Electricity and water could cause tones of problems. Please help we all need a recall on water leaking inside the Atlas cross sport 2021
Apr 12, 2023
After getting a car wash the screen blacked out for around 24 hours. During that the backup camera did not work, the charging ports in the middle did not work, and I was unable to listen to the radio. Also, fluid keeps leaking in moderate puddles even when the air is not on.
Sep 21, 2021
AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaints
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, the vehicle in front of him swerved into another lane and he noticed there was a vehicle stopped in the middle of the highway 40 feet away from his vehicle. However, the automatic emergency braking system failed to engage. The contact depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle crashed into the rear end of the other vehicle due to the short distance. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained soreness to the lower back, hips, and shoulder. The contact sought medical assistance. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop where it was repaired. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving 25 MPH, another vehicle pulled in front of his vehicle unexpectedly and the contact crashed into the driver's side of the other vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was then towed to an auto body shop where it was repaired. However, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt harness and the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system had failed. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer Boston Volkswagen (43 N Beacon St, Watertown, MA 02472) where the seat belt harness and the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system were repaired. However, the contact stated upon pulling out of an empty parking lot, the 360-degree forward collision chime engaged and an image indicating that the vehicle was entirely surrounded by objects was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact parked the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at 65-70 MPH, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system engaged and the vehicle started slowing down. The contact veered to the side of the road for a moment. The contact continued driving at slower speeds. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while there were no objects or vehicle nearby. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
Aug 18, 2022
My adaptive cruise control AND airbags FAILED when traffic ahead of me suddenly stopped. (There was NO airbag deployment.) I crashed into the person in front of me who then hit the person in front of them. The vehicle is available for inspection. I told the dealership at my 10k scheduled maintenance it was not braking or recognizing vehicles in front until it was so late I had to manually brake. I had a bunch of stuff in the front seat to where the passenger airbag light was on. It also DID not deploy. If someone had been there without a seatbelt there would have been severe injuries. Also I already had a "fuel sensor" that was bad that caused my vehicle to quit upon certain accelerations. My vechicle "quit" suddenly on multiple occasions almost causing a crash on the freeway and several other times on the highway. The EPA light always appeared when this happened and once the engine block light also came on. I could have been killed. I told them at my 10k service and that is when they said it was a fuel sensor and they would call me when it was available to be replaced. It was NOT replaced at the time of the crash.
Jan 25, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaints
driving at low speed in parking lot, alarms sounded, engine and hazard lights came on and then driver's side windows rolled down partially. a few seconds later, the emergency brake automatically engaged, stopping the vehicle. i was able to disengage the emergency brake and continue driving, but dashboard lights remained on. very scary.
Mar 27, 2022
My car’s door harness defect was a terrible safety issue!! I was merging onto a major 3-lane highway in New Jersey with my 3 children in the car, when my vehicle suddenly shut off, and the emergency brake came on! I could have easily been seriously rear-ended with my family in the backseat. A huge accident would have been the result. This frightening experience plays over in my mind every time I drive my car. It has given me nightmares ever since; I presently have no confidence in this vehicle, & rightly so. In addition to the emergency brake going on, the car windows rolled down on their own, and the dashboard system was beeping incessantly & flashing about 10 different error codes, one after the other. This same scenario happened 4 more times before I could reach my own home. Then, I had to drive my vehicle to the VW dealership the next day to drop it off for repair, and the scary situation happened 3 more times on the way. Unacceptable. I was without my vehicle for 2.5 months because the part was on extended backorder. I am told that even though the door harness was replaced, the defect could happen again, because the part has not been fully redesigned. Therefore, I am driving in fear, every time I get into my car!
Mar 18, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaints
car came to an abrupt stop
Mar 24, 2022
My vehicle is having issues with the drivers door contact switch. The emergency break will come on spontaneously while driving the vehicle.
Feb 11, 2022
STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
My vehicuel vibrate at low speed or hight speed, speed does not descrimita, the steering wheel vibrate in a very strange way, when the car hit a bump, at any speed, it vibrate like a motor, for a short period of time, and them it goes back to normal, until agiang I hit a bump
Oct 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
1 complaint
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The throttle and engine. Car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle will lose ability to accelerate when crossing busy intersections or traveling on highways, resulting in the car slowing down significantly and not allowing me to accelerate out of the way of vehicles. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, I have given the dealership purchased from and the VW dealership many attempts to repair the problem, the car will work for 1-2 months before the problem occurs again, and it is back in the shop. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, only by VW service department. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, the EPC light comes on nonce I lose throttle is not warning prior to this occurring. Car has been in the shop multiple times since purchase in 2023 for the same issue, the car has been repaired multiple times for the same issue, and it continues to break. While driving the vehicle the EPC light comes on and I lose throttle control, the car will not allow me to accelerate the car will start shaking and I will be unable to accelerate, I will then need to put the car in park and shut the vehicle off and turn it back on to clear the EPC light. I have reported my concerns to the dealership I purchased the car from who has tried to repair in 3 times or more and the issues continue, the car is now currently in VW service department with the same EPC issues occurring again. I truly believe the car is a lemon I need this car to be replaced or recalled before a fatal accident occurs involving myself and my son. I have more service invoices I am waiting to receive from VW.
Aug 25, 2025
AIR BAGS,TIRES
1 complaint
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light illuminated and turned on and off. The contact inflated the tires. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Sep 24, 2024
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1 complaint
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the fuel door failed to open. The contact physically broke open the fuel door to refuel the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.
Aug 21, 2024
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
The Atlas has stalled twice since purchase. Both times I was coming into and out of a parking spot. The second time I was almost rear ended by another car. The car asked me to start manually. Both times Auto start/stop was disabled.
Aug 06, 2024
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
1 complaint
Driving under 10mphs (in slow moving traffic or parking lot, etc.), the vehicle engine turns off and power steering also shuts down. I reported this issue to VW Service and they were able to reproduce the issue but are unable to find a fix for it. When the issue appeared AUTO START/STOP error flashed on the dash board. I avoided an accident this week when the vehicle turned off in rolling traffic. Vehicles behind me swerved to avoid crashing into me since my car engine and power steering turned off. The dealership said the vehicle is safe to drive which is not the case and are unable to provide me a loaner.
Jul 17, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
1 complaint
The back up camera does not signal or brake when something is too close. Back into another car because I had no warning. VW denies this is a problem with Atlas Cross sport. I looked it up and it is a major problem
Oct 26, 2023
VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS
1 complaint
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while self-inspecting the vehicle, she noticed an excessive amount of water inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the water was coming from the HVAC system. Additionally, the contact stated that the display screen failed to operate as designed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V892000 (Visibility, Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that HVAC drain tube might be clogged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
Aug 14, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
Brakes are extremely loud and not as good as they should be for such a behemoth of an suv. Leads to a lot of uncertainty especially in wet weather. Any attempt to rectify this issue at the dealer leads to me being without a vehicle for HOURA for them to simply state no issue produced. (Also sound of advice of slamming on my breaks in drive and revers to get rid of the screech) which doesn’t help unfortunately I gave in and tried it. The TPS system in the ACS is DANGEROUS. Multiple flat tires with not one sign of lost air or change in pressure. Once even on the freeway with my partner and toddler in the car. Reverse camera and screen black outs, infotainment system is frustrating and not dependable.
Jan 07, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
Windows open on their own. Emergency Brake engages at low speed, left me in the middle of oncoming traffic as I was about to slowly turn. At times continuously has the alarm bell own. Has Keyless entry, however often times Car Alarm goes off. Eliminating AC lights very dim hard to see. Radio screen sometimes is just blacked out.
Aug 30, 2022
AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint
This is a well known issue but their has now been several incidents where my forward braking should have activated and did not and now stela’s on 4 different occasions 2 of which were on the highway where the emergency brake was triggered and i have lost control of the vehicle , yet in completely empty parking lots now two separate times i have been able to catch on video that it told me i was within 12 inches of something and there is nothing. I’ve had this issue starting 10/21 and happened as recently as 8/7 and it’s almost gotten me killed, never,one the known recall for airbags not being deployed during two pretty significant accidents . PLEASE HELP ME AS VW IS AWARE OF THIS AND WILL DO NOTHING IM IN A 50,000$ death trap. Pre knowing it was my car ( former finance director at quirk vw ) They told my body shop to not let me drive the car as my car is effected by this deadly issue , then after the fact reaching out myself i was not only denied service but threatened by the gym and vw executive is acting like it is not a big deal , this is horrible and after 1 yr ago 5 months having been given a coupon for 20% off any morphine due to not buying back a vehicle that should have been bought back and the cpa , told me they do that to bribe people so they do not / HAVE 100S OF UPLOADS ON MY LAPTOP WONT LET ME LOAD FROM THIS IPAD
Aug 18, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
1 complaint
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that the front and rear passenger’s side windows activated and rolled down independently and without warning. The contact also stated that the windows occasionally failed to roll up after multiple attempts. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact then received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V152000 (Air Bags). The dealer was notified about the recall and the contact was scheduled an appointment. Once the vehicle was serviced, the contact was informed that the driver’s side of the vehicle was repaired; however, the part for the passenger’s side repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts for the repair were unavailable. The vehicle was not fully repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Jul 20, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint
I own a 2021 Atlus Cross-Sport and the last month I have had several electrical issues with it. It first started with my driver's windows would automatically roll down, then my radio would tune in/out, my check engine light comes on and then the passenger side air bag would turn off. I then would have my parking break come on when I rolled into a stop which included consistent beeping and alarms going off. Being a concern, I brought it into Volkswagen and was told that there was a recall on a faulty wiring harness. They agreed to place me into a rental car but had none available and gave me no other choices but to continue to drive the vehicle until the back-ordered parts came in. Two days later on May 1st I was driving the Atlus down the highway when my parking break automatically turned on and my car then sieved up on me. I returned my vehicle in Volkswagen the next day because I do not feel safe in that vehicle. So now I wait, with no ETA of parts to repair my vehicle that I am still paying a note and insurance on.
May 04, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE
1 complaint
VW ATLAS R LINE SLE MULTIPLES STOPS IN THE MIDLE OF THE TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES ON, 3 WINDOWS ROLL DOWN , ALARMS ON BEEPING AND ILUMINATING
Apr 12, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
Stop/start error, park brake engages, constant warning signal beeping, windows roll down, can not drive car at all without it constantly applying the park brake
Apr 08, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
UNKNOWN: 3/22 Vehicle stalled two times at 70 mph on a highway. Increased steering wheel vibrations/ shaking Increased gas pedal vibrations Overall vehicle shaking increased after this occurred Took it to dealer which had it in the shop until 3/25. Stated couldn’t find anything wrong. Went to pick it up on 3/25 and STOP/START ERROR appeared. Left it until Monday. Talked to technician and stated car misfired last week but couldn’t find anything else and cleared error code. April 4th Car stalled and stuttered three times on a major highway at 70 mph Car started shaking again. Dropped car to dealership on4/4 and on way car barely made it passed 50 mph and shook during the drive to dealership. Acceleration was very slow. Both incidents put me in positions where accidents could have happen on major highways. Luckily, I was able to pull over both times before a major accident ensued. Vehicle is still in shop without any status on an update.
Apr 05, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving at 8 MPH, the automatic emergency braking system engaged and the vehicle stopped abruptly. The emergency parking brake warning light illuminated. An audible message "Ignition Is Turned On" was engaged. The contact stated that he disengaged the emergency parking brake and continued to drive; however, the failure reoccurred while driving at low speed as he was approaching a traffic light. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle windows rolled down independently and would not roll up unless he turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that he was unable to lock the doors of the vehicle using the key fob or the driver's side power door lock switch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side door wiring harness needed to be replaced; however, the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Mar 24, 2022
ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint
In Aug/Sept Windows drivers side go down at will. Parking brakes engages when I slow down to stop, at times difficult to disengage. Bells constantly ring while driving. Lane assist notification of problem comes on at will. Something about Drives side message of no electrical connection. Engine light constantly on. Doors lock, unlock at will. I took vehicle to dealership for scheduled oil change in Feb 2022 and told them what was happening and was told there was a recall and parts to be ordered. I returned the next week for dash lights (engine, lane assist, door connection, brakes, bells ringing, etc). Was then told there are many customers with the same issues and VW are waiting for the parts to come. I called the service Dept and asked have my parts come in and was told they probably wouldn’t arrive till Jun 2022. This is a very DANGEROUS situation and I am afraid to drive vehicle unless it’s necessary. I checked on your recall list and my vehicle was not included. I am having EVERY problem listed.
Mar 20, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint
My car would activate the emergency brakes for no reason. A safety risk for myself, my family and anyone on the road near me. I was late to work several times as the parking brake would become stuck and not allow me to drive. The car would shake and the engine light would come on causing me to think my car would leave me stranded. The windows would roll down and get stuck and go up and down. My brakes and rotors were warped and would squeak and make a terrible grinding noise. Everyday was new problem that would come and go until it because constant and all at the same time , sometimes. I was in fear for my safety and that Of my son, mom family. The dealership was informed and i was assured that it was not an emergency mechanical issue. I could drop it off if I liked but there were no loaners available. Since I needed a loaner to get to and from work , I was placed on a waiting list and called when one was available. That was 10 days later . I kept looking at my car net app vehicle health report for my car that states my car had the issues aforementioned and I should schedule an appointment to get it checked but did not advise to stop driving the vehicle , which is an option. That gave me some type of reassurance but I realized that was not correct. I did not feel safe driving but I couldn’t miss work and get fired or afford to a rental myself and my car note. I dropped of my vehicle on Jan 31 2022. The advisor knew exactly what the issue was and the part it needed. Advised me the part was on backorder and 2-3 weeks for part to arrive. That turned into over 45 days with no estimated time of when it would be made and shipped. I learned through the internet searches i did that VW has a manufacturing plant in Ukraine where the part is produced. Ukraine is at war so the part is not going to be ready anytime soon. I was grateful for the loaner and rental provided but none suited my needs for the transportation of my mom who uses a wheelchair.
Mar 19, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
While driving the vehicle it would randomly turn on the emergency brake, roll down the windows, and start flashing all of the lights. We were told it is a door wire harness issue. We have been waiting on the replacement part for 5 months now with no end in sight. The
Mar 10, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint
Emergency brake engaged while driving, car warning beeps and warning alerts while stopped and while driving, windows opening while driving - cannot be closed from driver side, car alarm activated when opening door. Dealer states the problem is a door harness and parts not available. They state there is a problem with many other VW Atlas 2021 cars. Over 80 in their lot with same problem.
Mar 01, 2022
SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
brakes are squeaking at 15k , airbag light on, cracking noise when turning corners
Jan 26, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
Error message “driver door contact switch” occurs, drive door and driver side passenger windows roll down, locks disengage, alarms ding and causes a sensor to engage the emergency parking break which occured both while stationary or while moving.
Jan 24, 2022
POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
Since purchased new on January 29, 2021, I have encountered the same issue. When stopped and about to accelerate, the vehicle will hesitate. This happens with the start/stop engaged and disengaged. As I press the accelerator, nothing happens, then suddenly the car will take off. This happened when I test drove the car (I chalked it up to the start/stop mode), sitting at a light making a U turn to the left.. Since purchase this has happened multiple times, usually when the vehicle wheels are turned to left or right but this past week-end, it happened as I finally was able to accelerate after hesitation and traveling in a straight line. Dangerous to say the least! Dealer says they cannot replicate and they basically do nothing other than suggest I put a few more miles on it. Currently around 6000 miles.
Jul 16, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
How many problems does the 2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport have?
The 2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport currently has 142 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.
What are the most common problems with 2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport?
The most common problems reported for the 2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.
Where does this 2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport problem data come from?
All problem and complaint data for the 2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.
Other Years - VOLKSWAGEN Atlas Cross Sport
2025 Problems
2024 Problems
2023 Problems
2022 Problems
2020 Problems
2019 Problems
2018 Problems
2017 Problems
2016 Problems
2015 Problems
2014 Problems
2013 Problems
2012 Problems
2011 Problems
2010 Problems
2009 Problems
2008 Problems
2007 Problems
2006 Problems
2005 Problems
2004 Problems
2003 Problems
2002 Problems
2001 Problems
2000 Problems
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