2021 Volkswagen Atlas problems and complaints
Owners have filed 480 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (149), Service Brakes (95), Engine (86).
Key takeaways
- 480 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 12 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 149 | 31% |
| Service Brakes | 95 | 20% |
| Engine | 86 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 77 | 16% |
| Exterior Lighting | 70 | 15% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 67 | 14% |
| Air Bags | 66 | 14% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 41 | 9% |
| Structure | 22 | 5% |
| Power Train | 15 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 3% |
| Steering | 11 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-10-24
Day time running light has failed on the driver’s side. $1000 plus for the parts and labor. Reduces visibility and presents a hazard to other motorists
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-10-23
HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY. ÐRL LIGHT BURNT OUT RISKING MY SAFETY DAYTIME DRIVING
Forward Collision Avoidance,lane Departure - filed 2026-10-20
Something NHSTA should look into is an ongoing problem with the SOS system in the Volkswagen ATALS. In my case, the module was first replaced in 02/21/2025 with 46,973 miles on my 2021 Atlas SEL AWD V6. My vehicle was out of warranty so that repair cost just under $1,200.00. The module went out again and was replaced o...
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More for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.