The Lemon Index2021 Volkswagen Atlas.
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 420 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 376, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 17 recalls, and it gets 18 to 22 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Atlas year is 2020.
Lemon alert. 3.8× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2020
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 643 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Atlas year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 39K miles on the car (54 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 5K–15K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 11K–48K miles
Recalls 17
- airbags 2024
The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
- airbags 2023
The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
- tires 2022
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously.
Show all 17 recalls
- back over prevention 2022
The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display.
- fuel system, gasoline 2022
The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters.
- airbags 2022
The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.
- equipment 2022
The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed.
- visibility 2021
The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module.
- wheels 2021
The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.
- electrical 2021
Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.
- wheels 2021
The lug bolt holes on the wheels may have been machined incorrectly, preventing the wheel bolt from sufficiently attaching to the wheel bearing hub.
- steering 2021
The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting.
- back over prevention 2020
The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze.
- steering 2020
One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.
- tires 2020
The tires may have been over cured.
- seats 2020
Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
- lights 2020
The driver's side headlight may have been aimed too low during production.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 627 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with any combination…
- Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation Instruction (U.S
- Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states coolant leak Oil…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedInadvertent automatic emergency braking2023–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
My vehicle is having issues with the drivers door contact switch. The emergency break will come on spontaneously while driving the vehicle.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner · NHTSA complaint 11451605
More owner reports
Parking break engages while driving. Windows roll down door contact light flashes
NHTSA complaint 11456910
No notice engagement of E-Brake at stops and twice at speeds between 3-5 mph while accelerating.
NHTSA complaint 11458574
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 3.8× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 376; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Atlas year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (38%), brakes (28%) and automatic emergency braking (24%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have?
17 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas get?
18 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Volkswagen Atlas problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,000 and 39,800 miles. The middle report was at 15,100 miles, from 54 complaints.
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Volkswagen Atlas year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2022 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works