try.vin
Log in

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 27 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2020 Volkswagen Atlas owner complaints

Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas, describing incidents dated August 18, 2020 to July 23, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 11 complaints
  • Air Bags 8 complaints
  • Forward Collision Avoidance 7 complaints
  • Steering 5 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 5 complaints
  • Service Brakes 4 complaints

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11752297 · Filed

    The car will shut down/stall while sitting at a red light. The START/Stop function is turned off, I turn it off while driving. So I am stalled at a red light and then have to place the car back into park and restart it. There are no messages or warning lights that appear on the dashboard. This is a…

  • ODI #11749105 · Filed

    I received alerts while I’m driving to tell me that the fuel pressure was low and to turn off the engine immediately… and then it would go away. there were several different times about 5 total separate incidents on separate days that my car would not move forward and lurch forward from a parked…

  • ODI #11719140 · Filed

    The airbag occupancy detectors on the passenger side are faulty. I noticed that other similar models of the VW Atlas are having this issue and it has an active recall, but my particular model has not.

Read all 27 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Front Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy

NHTSA #23V215000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger · NHTSA notice

Reported March 29, 2023 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 143,053 vehicles

Repair completion: 64% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 69FB · Owners notified March 22, 2024

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 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.

Safety consequence

A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Tire Pressure Loss Not Detected/FMVSS 138

NHTSA #22V815000 · Tires — Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems · NHTSA notice

Reported October 31, 2022 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 296,044 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.37% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign AU:45J7,VW:45J6,45J8 · Owners notified November 18, 2022

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Safety consequence

An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Delayed Deployment of Front Side Air Bag

NHTSA #22V152000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported March 28, 2022 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 222,892 vehicles

Repair completion: 95.6% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 97GF · Owners notified June 22, 2022

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. 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.

Safety consequence

A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Reduced GVWR Label Missing/FMVSS 110

NHTSA #22V086000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported February 16, 2022 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 3,648 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.38% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 09D9 · Owners notified March 31, 2022

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Safety consequence

Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Other Volkswagen Atlas model years

Check your 2020 Volkswagen Atlas VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen Atlas at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volkswagen VIN