Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport year.
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas PA2 and Atlas Cross Sport PA vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, engine failure may cause an oil leak which can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 13i6.
Campaign 23V593000
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. 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.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Campaign 24V464000
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera with a delayed or deactivated image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2024, and July 16, 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW's number for this recall is 91US.
Campaign 24V480000
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been assembled with an incorrect secondary piston spring retainer, which can block the brake fluid port.
Risk: An obstructed brake fluid port can cause a loss of brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2024. Additionally, vehicles that were added to the population on November 21, 2024, their letters were mailed on December 2, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen Customer Relations at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 471F.
Campaign 24V723000
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
Risk: A loose engine cover that contacts hot surfaces in the engine compartment can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10X5.
Campaign 25V100000
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91SB.
Campaign 25V334000
Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
Campaign 25V434000
The parts named most often across 88 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 fire
1 crash
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
The media center does not shut off when my car shuts off, I brought it to Ken Garf Volkswagen dealership on June 25 when my car died. They did a diagnostic. I picked it up and they said there was nothing they could do about the media center because there are no software updates for it. So basically the plan was to just have my car continue dying. On July 10, it died again for the same reason.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brakes made abnormally loud squeaking and grinding sounds. The failure persisted, and the vehicle hesitated while responding with the brake pedal depressed while driving, causing the braking distance to be extended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the issue was normal vehicle operation. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 29,918.
Getting air bag warning for passenger side airbag not working
I am submitting this updated complaint regarding ongoing issues with Safety Recall 69PZ (Passenger Occupant Detection System) on my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Despite multiple repair attempts at Gossett Volkswagen in Memphis, TN, the recall remains incomplete, and the vehicle now exhibits additional safety‑system failures that began immediately after dealership service. I purchased the vehicle from Gossett Volkswagen and have had all warranty and recall work performed exclusively at this dealership. The first recall attempt occurred on April 20, 2026. The second attempt occurred on April 29, 2026, when the dealership picked up and returned my vehicle; this visit is confirmed by home security footage and text messages, but no repair order was issued. A third attempt on May 4, 2026 was also unsuccessful. On May 8, 2026, the dealership produced a repair order stating “SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED RECALL,” but later acknowledged in writing that the recall was not complete. On May 18, 2026, another repair order inaccurately stated that I “declined” the recall. Immediately after the [XXX] visit, my vehicle displayed new safety‑system errors, including Drivetrain Error, Emergency Assist Error, and Front Assist Error. These issues were not present before the visit and were documented on video. On May 20, 2026, during a recorded call, the Service Manager stated that the dealership would not schedule, diagnose, or repair any issues on my vehicle unless I authorized the recall repair, even though the new defects are unrelated to the recall and should be covered under warranty. He also stated the dealership is a “private company” and can refuse service. As a [XXX] who relies on custom hand controls, these unresolved safety issues and the dealership’s refusal to perform warranty repairs have left me with an unsafe and unreliable vehicle. I am requesting NHTSA’s review of the recall handling, documentation inconsistencies, and the resulting safety concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Repeated sensors go off simultaneously, brake assist, lane assist, rear brake maneuver assist and the infotainment system will reboot altogether causing the entire system to reboot and black out. The screen has not come on at times and and entire system will reboot. The vehicle has been to Hendrick dealership in [XXX] multiple times and has not been repaired and they keep saying they can’t replicate the problem, even though I have photos and video of the incidents. I have also documented when the malfunctions occur. I due have an attorney. Volkswagen is claiming the car is functioning properly, but the same problems keep occurring with no solution to the problem. This is a major safety concern and this is my only vehicle to drive. I have a lot of photos and all work orders, I can’t upload everything due to limited files that can be uploaded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The malfunction involves the windshield wiper control system, including the rain-sensing activation module and associated control software. The system activates windshield wipers without any driver input under dry and clear conditions. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. Safety was compromised due to sudden and uncommanded wiper activation occurring during active driving conditions, including highway and nighttime operation. This results in temporary loss of visibility as the windshield is smeared by debris, requiring driver distraction to manually control or disable the system while operating the vehicle in traffic. Initial complaints regarding this issue were made by [XXX] during dealership service visits; however, those concerns were not consistently documented in the official repair records at the time they were reported and were initially dismissed or not formally recorded by service personnel until later intervention ensured the issue was entered verbatim on the service order. The issue has been reported and addressed during multiple dealership service visits; however, the condition has not been reliably reproduced and permanently corrected by the dealer despite documented repair attempts, including sensor replacement and manufacturer-level software (ODIS) updates. The malfunction has persisted after these interventions. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. No inspection has been conducted by police, insurance representatives, or independent third parties. No consistent warning lamps or dashboard messages were present prior to the failure. The activation occurs unpredictably and without prior warning indicators. The issue first appeared intermittently at lower mileage and has continued through recent operation. The defect persists after multiple repairs and manufacturer intervention, indicating an uncorrectable electronic system failure causing an unresolved safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Component/System: Electrical system (wiring, control modules, and related software) Availability for Inspection: Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The electrical cutouts and glitching create an unpredictable and dangerous driving situation. Sudden electrical failures can affect critical systems such as power steering, braking assist, instrument cluster, and engine control — putting myself and other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk of an accident. Rear camera would also black out while reversing and once or twice the gas stopped working on the highway. Dealer/Service Confirmation: Yes. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed. The vehicle has been brought in for repair 7 times for the same recurring electrical cutout and glitching issue. Each visit resulted only in essentially a software update, currently no permanat solution to the problem. Inspection by Manufacturer/Others: The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership/authorized service center on all 7 occasions. The manufacturer's representatives (via the dealership) have been aware of this ongoing issue. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: [Describe any warning lights, error messages, or symptoms you noticed — e.g., dashboard warning lights flickering, system reboot messages, loss of display, unexpected shutdowns, etc.] These symptoms have been recurring and have not been resolved despite repeated software updates. Summary: Despite 7 repair attempts, all resulting in software updates only, the electrical cutout and glitching problem persists. The root cause has not been identified or permanently fixed by the dealer. This represents an ongoing safety defect that requires investigation.
When traveling at hwy speeds (about 55-60mph) on long straight stretches of road, the steering feels sticky when trying to slightly adjust the steering wheel to keep the car going straight in your lane. In other words, when you are traveling on a straight stretches of hwy and you need to make very minor adjustments with the steering wheel to keep the car moving straight ahead, the steering wheel is resistant to those minor changes. You have to almost jerk the steering wheel to get it unstuck off of center.
Discovered oil leak after smelling burning oil in garage. I have the 2 liter turbo motor.. Service tech at VW confirms loose cover bolts plus an additional leak. Online search shows recall for same problem with Audis equipped with same motor because of fire hazard. I have video of inspection but was unable to download. Attached are photos
The vehicle’s infotainment and connectivity system has malfunctioned since the day the vehicle was purchased. This includes the integrated GPS navigation system and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The system frequently freezes, disconnects, fails to recognize the phone, or stops functioning while the vehicle is in operation. These systems are critical for navigation and hands free communication while driving. The issue has occurred repeatedly since purchase and has not been successfully repaired despite multiple service visits. The vehicle and system are available for inspection upon request. The problem has been reported to and evaluated by the authorized Volkswagen dealership multiple times. The dealer has acknowledged the malfunction and has attempted to diagnose the issue during several service visits. The dealer has also informed me that there is a national service bulletin related to this issue but that there is currently no available fix. The issue began immediately after the vehicle was purchased. Symptoms include the infotainment system freezing, navigation failure, loss of Bluetooth connectivity, and the system failing to recognize or maintain phone pairing. These failures occur intermittently and without warning during normal operation of the vehicle. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by an authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. To date the issue has not been resolved despite repeated attempts. I have also contacted Volkswagen Customer Care to open a case regarding the defect.
This vehicle, since January of 2025, has a screen that flickers and shuts off entirely multiple times per day. Sometimes, it is severe enough that the entire computer system shuts down and none of the safety features are available, such as collision warning, automatic braking, etc.. You also cannot control the heat or see the backup camera because of the screen being broken. This is a persistent issue that VW has no permanent solution for. The car has been in the shop multiple times for multiple weeks attempting a repair, but even the dealer has said to start the buyback process because they have dozens of people with the same issue.
The Digital Display Continues to drop connection to phone when driving. Digital display drops blue tooth - will recycle and not auto connect Will state that it needs wifi connection and action must be taken on phone while driving. VW - has claimed to be working on a fix for over a year. Every dealer visit does not resolve issue.
Showing 12 of 88 complaints.

NHTSA frontal crash test
Rated configuration: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD
Over 5 years this costs $2,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.