2021 Volkswagen Atlas Problems & Owner Complaints

Electrical System 142

“When it is hot out and car is idiling car cuts off. When reverse car stalls. Auto stop/start is off and car request to be restarted manually.”
NHTSA complaint #11749727, 2026

“passenger side day time running light went out right at 60,000. called dealer not covered under warranty on a 21 atlas even though i purchased a 4 year 80,000 mile warranty.. the extended warranty started the day i bought the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11746013, 2026

“The right driver side daylight light is out, the SOS response system warning light is on, tire pressure loss detected light is but tires are fine and no loss in pressure, cruise control doesn’t always work and deactivates.”
NHTSA complaint #11740726, 2026

Service Brakes 95 2 crash

“I was driving between 25-30 mph at dusk. Suddenly a loud red warning appeared on the dashboard, and the car came to a screeching halt. I did not touch the brakes - it happened all on its own. There was nothing in front of me, such as a collision. It was not raining. The only factor that changed, which might be completely coincidental, is that I was just going over top of a large metal plate on the street that is used to cover road construction. The plate was just like any other, and stuck up maybe an inch. By the brakes slamming on, I was hit by the car behind me, who was also going 25-…”
NHTSA complaint #11458955, 2022 · crash

“My wife was driving our 5 day old Atlas along the interstate with cruise control set at 65mph. She was traveling up an incline that had a slight turn to the right along the interstate. There was not a car within 500+ yards of her car. All of a sudden she started hearing beeps and the car abruptly slammed on the brakes causing the Atlas to shift all of its weight to front and causing the rear tires to lift off of the ground. The front driver side portion of the car then skidded across the asphalt and into the safety rail. The airbags NEVER deployed although the entire front was destroyed. My wi…”
NHTSA complaint #11456927, 2021 · crash

“Brake booster system failed, which results in spongy brake pedal with significant reduction in braking force. Problem has been seen by my entire family and me, a mechanic. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, insurance or police since the issue arose . Brake lamp illuminated and message on dash saying faulty brake booster. Both appeared a few weeks ago.”
NHTSA complaint #11709844, 2025

Engine 80

“2021 Volkswagen Atlas, VIN [XXX], approximately 116,000 miles. Vehicle developed a cylinder failure requiring full cylinder replacement. Following replacement, compression remains abnormally low, specifically on cylinders #4 and #6 (approximately 90 PSI). Mechanic diagnosed significant carbon buildup on the piston rings as the cause of the persistent low compression, and confirmed this diagnosis via a wet compression test, in which compression increased when oil was introduced directly into the affected cylinders — indicating worn/compromised piston ring sealing rather than a valve or head gas…”
NHTSA complaint #11751327, 2026

“When it is hot out and car is idiling car cuts off. When reverse car stalls. Auto stop/start is off and car request to be restarted manually.”
NHTSA complaint #11749727, 2026

“I was driving on a busy road and my car turned off. I had to turn on my hazards and hope no one hit me at 60 mph. I got an EPC error on the dashboard and when diagnosed it was a failure with the Fuel Pump Control Module. This is massively unsafe for myself and my family. I cannot drive a car that can randomly turn off. According to online forums this is a very common VW issue and needs to be looked into”
NHTSA complaint #11747217, 2026

Unknown Or Other 73 1 injury

“There issue with bad smell or chemicals that causes an health issues. I tried resolving on several issues it's always more money. To resolve,there several Dealship that appraiser now it's at the lowest with the same deal.. There bleeding& spitting. Once come vehicle for and day. I've been there several times.”
NHTSA complaint #11728357, 2025 · 1 injury(ies)

“I own a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas with approximately 61,000 miles. After a software update prompted by the vehicle, saying it will be done in 3 parts.the infotainment screen began malfunctioning the following day. Initially, the screen would repeatedly go black, restart, work for a short period of time, and then go black again. This issue continued for almost three weeks. The screen is now completely black and no longer turns on. I contacted a Volkswagen dealership about the issue and was informed that I would be charged approximately $220 for diagnostic work before determining the cause of the pr…”
NHTSA complaint #11752448, 2026

“Hood release cable broken. Cannot open hood”
NHTSA complaint #11751400, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance 68 3 crash 1 injury

“Component Malfunction: Emergency Braking system (EBS) engaged without warning systems alerting inside the car cockpit at a speed of 50 MPH on a high speed 4’ lane street. The car would not move forward and disengage the EBS until the ignition was turned off and appeared to reset the car. The driver was able to drive to the next driveway and inspect the car and review the site on the street where the car suddenly engaged the EBS. There was no visible evidence of debris or obstacles in the path of travel. Safety: The sudden stop physically jolted the driver, causing muscle soreness for seve…”
NHTSA complaint #11566739, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)

“I was hit from behind and slammed into the car in front of me while stopped at a light. The collision totaled my Atlas at 95% The air bags did not deploy nor did their give a warning for the collision. The damage was so severe that the inner frame of the vehicle is beyond repair. Recent warranty repairs were done to this vehicle prior to the accident one set to the dash electronics in the .ast 4 months. This car remains at the body shop awaiting INS settlement for the car”
NHTSA complaint #11509635, 2023 · crash

“I was driving between 25-30 mph at dusk. Suddenly a loud red warning appeared on the dashboard, and the car came to a screeching halt. I did not touch the brakes - it happened all on its own. There was nothing in front of me, such as a collision. It was not raining. The only factor that changed, which might be completely coincidental, is that I was just going over top of a large metal plate on the street that is used to cover road construction. The plate was just like any other, and stuck up maybe an inch. By the brakes slamming on, I was hit by the car behind me, who was also going 25-…”
NHTSA complaint #11458955, 2022 · crash

Air Bags 63 5 crash 1 injury

“The side airbags for this vehicle have been deployed, and there is no physical damage to the car and no indications of a collision. The side airbags deployed after checking a curb at 30 miles an hour. The incident happened in January of 2022. The other thing that happened during this incident, is that the passenger seat (that was not occupied) was deployed causing my wife to receive a concussion. We contacted VW corporate, and they deny any wrongdoing after they have "thoroughly evaluated" the data from the car, which I have asked for and have not been formally given. The dealer nor VW corpora…”
NHTSA complaint #11451975, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)

“My daughter hit a deer while she was on the interstate, so she had her cruise control set at 72 mph, the deer came up out of the left/median ditch (she was in the left lane at the time). There was no warning as she did not see it at all, so there was an immediate, intense impact, enough where the hood of the car ended up opening up and smashing and coming to rest against the windshield. The Front end of the Atlas was HEAVILY damaged and NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED at all! The vehicle's seatbelt did lock up and keep her from slamming into the steering column and windshield and the vehicle's Front Assi…”
NHTSA complaint #11739147, 2026 · crash

“Vehicle went in for service on the airbags. The dealer has been sent the incorrect OEM part 5 times from Volkswagen parts dealers.Volkswagen Cstomer Care sent email confirmation that the part is correct, dealer is stating part is not correct. The part delivered is a different part number than what is on the packaging. The vehicle has been in the shop since 12/8/2025. The invoice for the part the first time it was ordered is dated 12/29/2025.”
NHTSA complaint #11714335, 2025 · crash

Exterior Lighting 59

“Upon visual inspection of the car. Noticed driver’s side headlight outter light not working with no warning indicator. Have been pulled over since issue was first discovered by police. I believe it’s called daytime driving light part of the headlight.”
NHTSA complaint #11753203, 2026

“Passenger side Daytime Running Light went out. The vehicle had under 60k miles. Seems like a common problem. For now will not replace because of high price tag and not necessary for safety inspection. The problem is that negates the safety feature on the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11752529, 2026

“Both set of running lights on my Atlas have burned out and were replaced since purchased of car in 2021 and again both left and right running lights are no longer working. The first time the car was under warranty. The cost to fix the LED running lights are 1500.00 + per light! This is clearly a defect on VW‘s design and should be fixed and fall under a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11747355, 2026

Fuel/Propulsion System 39 1 crash 2 injury

“Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) system traps harmful fuel vapors from the gas tank, storing them in a charcoal canister before burning them in the engine”
NHTSA complaint #11731263, 2026 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“2021 Volkswagen Atlas, VIN [XXX], approximately 116,000 miles. Vehicle developed a cylinder failure requiring full cylinder replacement. Following replacement, compression remains abnormally low, specifically on cylinders #4 and #6 (approximately 90 PSI). Mechanic diagnosed significant carbon buildup on the piston rings as the cause of the persistent low compression, and confirmed this diagnosis via a wet compression test, in which compression increased when oil was introduced directly into the affected cylinders — indicating worn/compromised piston ring sealing rather than a valve or head gas…”
NHTSA complaint #11751327, 2026

“When it is hot out and car is idiling car cuts off. When reverse car stalls. Auto stop/start is off and car request to be restarted manually.”
NHTSA complaint #11749727, 2026

Structure 20 1 crash

“I was hit from behind and slammed into the car in front of me while stopped at a light. The collision totaled my Atlas at 95% The air bags did not deploy nor did their give a warning for the collision. The damage was so severe that the inner frame of the vehicle is beyond repair. Recent warranty repairs were done to this vehicle prior to the accident one set to the dash electronics in the .ast 4 months. This car remains at the body shop awaiting INS settlement for the car”
NHTSA complaint #11509635, 2023 · crash

“Hood release cable either lost tension, broke, or came loose from the clamp in the junction box and cannot open the hood. I was stopped on the side of the road, unable to open the hood. I and my family were put in excessive danger on the side of the road as I could not correct the issue without waiting for a tow truck because I could not open the hood. Dealer, as well as multiple shops in my area have confirmed this is a consistent issue with the VW Atals. There was no warning or I would have replaced it when it was under warranty. My VW atlas only has 44,000 miles on it but not in t…”
NHTSA complaint #11743559, 2026

“The hood release latch cable on my 2021 VW Atlas snapped, making it impossible to access the engine compartment. This happened as I was at the store to change the battery in my vehicle. I had to jump start the vehicle twice earlier that day, as the battery was wearing out. Because the hood would not open, I was unable to change the battery. Luckily, the vehicle started, so I could drive it home, but otherwise I would have been stranded with no way to start the vehicle as I would not have been able to open the hood and access the engine or battery. This is a serious safety concern. It should ne…”
NHTSA complaint #11738815, 2026

Power Train 15

“Aluminum rear differential corroded, causing Haldex fluid to leak out resulting in Haldex pump, failure and loss of rear-wheel-drive ie.(4 motion) causing catastrophic failure of clutch pack.”
NHTSA complaint #11753081, 2026

“Up until failure, car showed no signs of a problem and was properly maintained. While driving under normal highway conditions one of the transmission lines blew which resulted in the vehicle breaking down and requiring a tow to the closest dealer who determined new transmission lines and a new transmission were needed. My daughter and I were in the car and the car became unsafe to drive in a very short period of time with no heads up. The problem has been reported on the same 2021 Volkswagen Atlas as mine however my VIN was not captured in the recall. Inspection and repair was performed by N…”
NHTSA complaint #11724895, 2026

“Hi- I have an atlas 2021 Volkswagen Atlas- that was recently serviced for a transmission leak. According to my mechanic, the leak was the result of the plastic cowling rubbing against the cooling tube and after 100k miles the tube wore through. This seems to be a design flaw or defect in the vehicle and not normal wear out. I have pictures of the part of that helps. Thank you”
NHTSA complaint #11725002, 2026

Vehicle Speed Control 12

“The car began revving at lights when I was in drive and stopped at red lights. The normal at rest rev is 0.75 however I have seen it as high as 1.5 and had to put the car into park to reset the acceleration. This had been consistently happening over the past month. The first visit to the dealer, I needed a new battery... that didn't fix the issue. The tech said that after the battery was replaced that the scan showed no error codes. The only codes before the battery replacement were low voltage indicators throughout the car. The next day the same issue happened again. The second scam showed n…”
NHTSA complaint #11688381, 2025

“The car stalls and turns off when operating at a slow speed, both in forward or reverse. This is a serious and potentially deadly problem. With my two young children in the car, I was turning left across three lanes of oncoming traffic. When I began to accelerate, my car stalled in the middle of the first lane. I had to figure out what happened, put it in park, restart the car and finish my turn before being hit by oncoming traffic. This has happened 2-3 times each day since this started last week. This has nothing to do with Eco mode or automatic start/stop feature. I am familiar with both of…”
NHTSA complaint #11613279, 2024

“Due to a faulty door wiring harness (a VW recall) the car has multiple electrical issues. The car shuts itself down, loss of blinkers, speedometer, brake lights, parking brake engagement and ALL electrical functions, every alarm goes off in the car, windows roll up and down, doors will lock and unlock while driving. Which is terrifying/life threatening while driving 65 MPH on a highway with kids. We have this on video. Most recently, it shut down and would not start again. The dealership has now attempted to fix this problem 5 times and cannot get the alarm lights to turn off so now the car is…”
NHTSA complaint #11675930, 2023

Seats 9 1 crash 7 injury

“Our 2021 VW Atlas was rear-ended while stopped at stop light. The other driver was going an estimated 45 MPH. At impact, the driver seat broke backwards hitting our 5 year old child in the face. The child was in a 5-point harness car seat and the only injuries resulting from the accident were to the face and head. We were taken to a children's hospital in an ambulance where the child stayed 5 nights with facial fractures, a broken nose, skull fracture, and CSF leak.”
NHTSA complaint #11734251, 2026 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“Rear seat latch for the second row, which enables the seats to slide forward for passengers to enter the third row, does not latch correctly. Recent incident where child in car seat in the third row was thrown forward into the rear of the drivers seat (seatback) when the 2nd row seat latch mechanism suddenly released when applying light pressure to the brakes. Child was injured, suffered a laceration and bruising to his eye area.”
NHTSA complaint #11739668, 2026 · 1 injury(ies)

“There issue with bad smell or chemicals that causes an health issues. I tried resolving on several issues it's always more money. To resolve,there several Dealship that appraiser now it's at the lowest with the same deal.. There bleeding& spitting. Once come vehicle for and day. I've been there several times.”
NHTSA complaint #11728357, 2025 · 1 injury(ies)

Steering 9

“Brought car last March with 23000 miles on it has had vibration in steering at highway speeds randomly gotten worse over time currently have 36000 miles and it's very dangerous when you hit a bump on the highway took it to dealer they said the steering rack is worn out”
NHTSA complaint #11712441, 2025

“Steering wheel shakes at speeds over 65 mph, I had multiple repairs in 4 years and each time it is only a year fix. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
NHTSA complaint #11701462, 2025

“After starting vehicle the steering wheel locked up. It would allow you to drive forward and reverse but would not allow the steering wheel to turn. Prior to failure my wife and I noticed sometimes while driving down the interstate or highway it was difficult to turn steering wheel. Although random it was concerning checked power steering fluid and belts all looked good. Yesterday had to have vehicle towed due to faulty steering wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #11652929, 2025

Lane Departure 6 1 injury

“The side airbags for this vehicle have been deployed, and there is no physical damage to the car and no indications of a collision. The side airbags deployed after checking a curb at 30 miles an hour. The incident happened in January of 2022. The other thing that happened during this incident, is that the passenger seat (that was not occupied) was deployed causing my wife to receive a concussion. We contacted VW corporate, and they deny any wrongdoing after they have "thoroughly evaluated" the data from the car, which I have asked for and have not been formally given. The dealer nor VW corpora…”
NHTSA complaint #11451975, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)

“Upon starting the car All of the above warning lights came on the dashboard and did not function. Power steering,l and all adas did not function. Took to dealer and sensor was replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #11654600, 2025

“While driving in a city, the emergency parking brake would switch on everytime i slowed down or came to a stop. Multiple other warnings happened such as lane assistance unavailable. And one of my windows would roll down part way.”
NHTSA complaint #11495172, 2022

Wheels 5

“Steering wheel vibrates when going 55mph and over. Tired have been balanced and aligned I bought new tires and rims and got them balanced and aligned as well spent a lot of money and it’s still an issue. Vehicle pulls to the left, even with an alignment done. Taken to multiple shops they “can’t find the issue” .. my brakes grind, squeak, but again they said they are perfectly fine. My touchscreen turns off randomly for days won’t turn on nothing works on it and because of that I can’t put it in ECO mode , use navigation, or any other features and because VW couldn’t replicate the same issue th…”
NHTSA complaint #11594115, 2024

“Rattling or metal grinding sound coming from the right rear tire/wheel. I’ve had it checked out by two different dealerships and neither of them found a problem. The metal rattling noise occurs mostly while I’m doing in town driving (30-40 mph) but recently started doing it on the freeway as well. I don’t feel safe driving this car at all.”
NHTSA complaint #11648415, 2022

“Vehicle’s electronic emergency brake system engaged while driving at low speed, below 15mph. Loud scraping sound repetitively heard from driver side tire.”
NHTSA complaint #11463147, 2022

Seat Belts 4

“The seat belt receptacle on the rear passenger side seat has failed. The vehicle is barely 4 years old. The dealership offered to replace it at a cost of 808.00. There was no warning that it would fail, it simply quit working. There has not been any foreign substance spilled on the receptacle. There were no injuries, but the seat belt is a critical safety feature and should last longer than 4 years from new.”
NHTSA complaint #11699959, 2025

“Seatbelt light stays on and dings at me while driving, even though I am buckled. I’ve tried turning the car on and off to reset the seatbelt sensor and it doesn’t work.”
NHTSA complaint #11648414, 2024

“REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN OVER-SHOULDER SEAT RELEASE LEVER (AFFECTS ALL REAR SEATS, EXCEPT MIDDLE BENCH SEAT). THIS CAN PREVENT SEAT BELTS FROM RETRACTING PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN MIDDLE ROW SEATS ARE RETURNED TO SEATING POSITION FROM FOLD-DOWN POSITION. THIS SLIGHTLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE T TO BE SEAT TO RELEASE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.”
NHTSA complaint #11338887, 2020

Back Over Prevention 3

“I own a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas with approximately 61,000 miles. After a software update prompted by the vehicle, saying it will be done in 3 parts.the infotainment screen began malfunctioning the following day. Initially, the screen would repeatedly go black, restart, work for a short period of time, and then go black again. This issue continued for almost three weeks. The screen is now completely black and no longer turns on. I contacted a Volkswagen dealership about the issue and was informed that I would be charged approximately $220 for diagnostic work before determining the cause of the pr…”
NHTSA complaint #11752448, 2026

“The electric board goes black frequently. Also, my backup camera and assistive device for backup doesn’t work. It starts and stops after a second. Posing a big problem with backing up because I have neck injury and can’t adequately see.”
NHTSA complaint #11746984, 2024

“We have 2021 Atlas purchased Nov. 2020 the AEB and parking collision sensors and system engage at random times while driving. The most recent incident was while parking the car 3/13/22 there were no cars in the parking lot and while turning into the lot and parking spot the AEB engaged and stopped the car completely this is not only unnecessary but while having kids in the car I was left to look around and be like what just happened. Finally parking the car the car was not near the curb on the front nor the side. This happens while driving and I would hate for it to happen on a freeway in ru…”
NHTSA complaint #11457034, 2022

Parking Brake 3

“The emergency brake randomly turns on when starting the Atlas, the brakes will automatically brake at very low speeds, the windows randomly role down and/or will not be able to roll up, the car shuts off randomly after coming to a stop (I need to push the start button to start it again), the Atlas will begin to drift after shutting off. The Atlas currently has a recall for "Front Door Wiring Harness". I took it to the dealer and they did diagnose this. I do not feel comfortable with my wife driving the car with my kids. There is currently not a "remedy". Volkswagen would not provide a rep…”
NHTSA complaint #11464322, 2022

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the parking brakes and alarms illuminated on the instrument panel. The driver’s and rear passenger’s side windows rolled up and down independently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified; however, informed the contact that parts were not available. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000”
NHTSA complaint #11457331, 2022

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V152000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall and referred the contact to another dealer. The contact stated that the closest dealer was too far for him to travel. The contact also stated that while traveling at slow speeds, the parking brake would independently engage without warning. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.”
NHTSA complaint #11486349, 2021

Tires 3

“Driving north on [XXX] on [XXX] the right rear tire on my 2021 Atlas completely failed and ripped apart through the sidewall and on the treads. The tire model was Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/60 R18 105T M+S Radial Tubeless. I have already replaced the tire at Costco in Inglewood, CA. This was a scary incident and endangered my family and others traveling on the highway. I contacted Continental and they said that tires matching this in 2021 were on a recall, but not this one from 2020. I find that suspicious because it's very close and matches description of failures. INFORMATIO…”
NHTSA complaint #11706616, 2025

“Tire: Continental CrossContact LX Sport 255/50 R20 105T Incident Description: While traveling about 65mph, in the center lane of I-40, under clear weather conditions, the vehicle, a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SEL Premium, experienced a sudden and catastrophic failure of the left rear tire. No object or pothole was hit in the road. The failure was characterized by a loud noise, an immediate deceleration of the vehicle, and significant vibrations. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. Actions Taken: The vehicle was safely maneuvered from the center lane to the right s…”
NHTSA complaint #11619630, 2024

“Continental cross contact LX Sport 255x50x20 has a large bulge/bubble approx 21/2” from the letter T on Contact on the sidewall. This tire has had issues since new with losing air pressure. The drivers side rear has had same issue with losing pressure. It has a bulge in same spot on tire sidewall.”
NHTSA complaint #11449480, 2022

Visibility 3

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud explosion before shards of glass fell from the moon roof onto the rear center seat. There was no impact to the moonroof to have caused the moon roof glass to explode. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.”
NHTSA complaint #11646917, 2025

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes erroneously engaged nearly causing a crash. Additionally, the door locks would randomly unlatch and the driver’s side window would erroneously roll down. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 8,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11459093, 2022

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V892000 (Visibility, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A 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 contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
NHTSA complaint #11448582, 2022

Visibility/Wiper 3

“Windshield repeatedly cracks with no visible sign of impact. A quick Reddit search shows lots of other people having the same issue”
NHTSA complaint #11692658, 2025

“We bought this vehicle with 15,000 miles in January 2023. Since then, we have made close to 30,000 miles, currently sitting at 44,000 miles. Today, I discovered another crack in the windshield. This would be our 5th windshield since we own a car. I had numerous vehicles but never had a crack. Further investigation on my part revealed that this is an extremely common problem with the VW Atlas. It impairs my view; sun light is breaking over those cracks, and not to mention that glass can break if I hit a pothole.”
NHTSA complaint #11594499, 2024

“2021 VW Atlas. Outside mirror heaters are not working. There is a VW Tech Tip 662003 that describes the problem, however, the dealership Bud Cleary in Auburn WA is refusing to perform repair, saying mirror heaters only work when the ambient temperature is below 40 degrees and here in Washington state our day time temperatures are almost always higher. I drive at night so I experience severe outside mirror fogging in all kinds of temperatures. Cleaning, wiping mirrors offers little relief. Rear window heater works fine. So I am caught in a Catch-22 situation. I can't "prove" that a problem exi…”
NHTSA complaint #11488939, 2022

Engine And Engine Cooling 2 1 fire

“The contact owned a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, she had turned the air conditioner on and felt that hot air was blowing out. The contact stopped at a traffic signal turned the vehicle off and on again and noticed that the air conditioner was now blowing cool air. The contact had begun to smell a burning rubber smell and noticed that smoke was being emitted from under the hood on the driver's side. The contact stated that when she stopped at another traffic signal all of the dash alarms began to flash and she heard warning chimes sound as wel…”
NHTSA complaint #11512472, 2022 · fire

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that an unknown exhaust warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the fuel injection system to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000. Vehicle has been repaired.”
NHTSA complaint #11443728, 2021

Latches/Locks/Linkages 2

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start due to battery failure. The contact attempted to open the hood of the vehicle to charge the battery; however, the hood failed to unlock. The contact stated that an unknown dealer had previously replaced the hood release due to the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who completed the first repair. The dealer determined that the hood release needed to be replaced with a stronger part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure…”
NHTSA complaint #11677298, 2023

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes erroneously engaged nearly causing a crash. Additionally, the door locks would randomly unlatch and the driver’s side window would erroneously roll down. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 8,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11459093, 2022

Carry Handle 1

“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The base to my baby’s car seat. We have the Maxi-Cosí Peri 180 Rotating Car Seat. My husband and I were placing the car seat to clip in to the base. When doing so it span around and would not stay locked I place. Once we clipped the car seat in and turned it to lock it kept spinning even when the lock button symbol showed it was locked. I took my baby out of the car seat and my husband tried to see if maybe the car seat needed to be reinstalled or fixed. But that did not resolve the issue. The…”
NHTSA complaint #11653087, 2025

Chest Clip 1

“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I feel that the straps are faulty and have been for some time. I tried to follow up with Nuna directly and was not successful as apparently a carseat that was purchased in 2021 is out of their warranty (yet kids should be in carseats for a VERY long time). The carseat is available upon request for inspection. I cannot get a tight pull on the crotch pull to make the straps tight on my child. They seem to always feel loose and such a struggle to pull the strap. The straps feels as though they have…”
NHTSA complaint #11578687, 2024

Equipment 1

“We have had a 2021 Atlas Premiun R Line for about 2 months and we have had issues with the audio system output loading (radio won't play mostly, can't speak or hear calls, nav won't load) but everything shows up on the screen. When this happens I have been holding the power button in for 10 seconds or so and it will fix the problem but today it wouldn't work and I had no radio or couldn't talk or hear calls. Has anyone else experienced this? If so what's the fix?”
NHTSA complaint #11427920, 2021

Fuel System 1

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. In addition, the EPC engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the contact's wife was in traffic. The contact's wife was able to safely drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact's wife noticed a burning odor. The contact's wife exited the vehicle. The contact arrived at the location and the insurance company was contacted. The insurance company advised the contact to have the vehicle towed to th…”
NHTSA complaint #11704698, 2025

Suspension 1