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CarMonitor

Transport Canada + NRCan

2021 Volkswagen Atlas

Everything Canada’s open data holds on this vehicle: what has been recalled, what it costs to run, and how efficient it is compared with everything else on the road.

Recalls

9

9 current

Combined

10.9L/100 km

Fuel, a year

$3,379

20,000 km, Ontario prices

Recalls

Good news: Recall repairs cost you nothing. Book with any manufacturer dealer and quote the recall number — no time limit, however many owners the vehicle has had.

Airbag

Transport Canada recall 2024354 · manufacturer campaign 69PZ

19 June 2024

Transport Canada lists: Atlas 2020–2024

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off".

Why it matters

An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the PODS sensor mat and seat harness. Volkswagen advises that you shouldn't use the front passenger seat if a PODS error message displays on the instrument panel or if the airbag indicator light displays "passenger airbag off" with an occupant in the seat.

35,749 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Visual System

Transport Canada recall 2022382 · manufacturer campaign 91DV

20 July 2022

Transport Canada lists: Arteon 2021 · Atlas 2021–2022 · Golf 2021 · Gti 2021 · and 3 more

What is wrong

Under certain conditions, the rearview camera image may not appear on the center screen. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear.

Why it matters

A rearview camera image that does not display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the infotainment software.

23,553 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVCompliance Mfr

Fuel System

Transport Canada recall 2022182 · manufacturer campaign 24iD

13 April 2022

Transport Canada lists: Atlas 2021–2022

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the long fuel injectors may have been assembled without a filter element. As a result, fuel could leak into the engine compartment.

Why it matters

A fuel leak in the engine compartment can create the risk of a fire.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the long fuel injectors.

157 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Airbag

Transport Canada recall 2022110 · manufacturer campaign 97GF

11 March 2022

Transport Canada lists: Atlas 2019–2022

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the wiring contacts for the front doors may become damaged. If this happens, there could be a delay before the side airbags inflate in a side-impact crash. This problem could also cause the parking brake to engage while driving at low speed, cause the windows to roll down on their own, or give warning of a faulty door sensor.

Why it matters

Delayed inflation of the side airbags could create an increased the risk of injury in a crash.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development.

23,192 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Heater And Defroster

Transport Canada recall 2021705 · manufacturer campaign 87H4

17 November 2021

Transport Canada lists: Atlas 2020–2021

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the drain tube for the air conditioning system may be blocked. As a result, water may leak inside the vehicle and into the airbag control module. If this happens, the airbag control module may not work properly and could cause the airbags to inflate without a crash.

Why it matters

An airbag that inflates suddenly without a crash could create a risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the air conditioning system drain tube. If the tube is blocked, the dealer will repair it and replace the airbag control module.

3,984 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Steering

Transport Canada recall 2021032 · manufacturer campaign 40Q7

27 January 2021

Transport Canada lists: Atlas 2020–2021

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the front steering knuckles may not have been manufactured correctly. As a result, the steering knuckle could break suddenly while driving. If this happens, there would be a loss of steering control.

Why it matters

A loss of steering control could create a risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the front knuckles and replace them, if necessary.

369 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Visual System

Transport Canada recall 2020556 · manufacturer campaign 91BB & 91BC

18 November 2020

Transport Canada lists: Arteon 2021 · Atlas 2021 · Golf 2021 · Gti 2021 · and 2 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display or cause it to freeze. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear.

Why it matters

A rearview camera image that does not display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the rearview camera software.

2,564 vehicles affected in CanadaCarCompliance Mfr

Tires

Transport Canada recall 2020546 · manufacturer campaign 44Q5

13 November 2020

Transport Canada lists: Atlas 2020–2021

What is wrong

Certain vehicles were built with tires that may have been cured too long. As a result, the sidewall could crack or the tread and belts could separate. This could lead to a sudden loss of air pressure and could cause a tire failure. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with certain Continental tires, with specific date codes and mold numbers.

Why it matters

A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the tires and replace the ones that have the DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental.

16 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Seats And Restraints

Transport Canada recall 2020392 · manufacturer campaign 72K8 / 72K9 / 72L1

26 August 2020

Transport Canada lists: Q 5 2020 · SQ 5 2020 · Atlas 2020–2021 · Jetta 2020 · and 1 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been properly welded. As a result, the backrest adjustment could break in a rear-end crash and allow to seat to move.

Why it matters

A seatback that fails could cause an increased risk of injury in a crash.

What the dealer will do

The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the driver and passenger front seats. The seatback frames will be replaced, as necessary.

3,115 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Efficiency and running cost

Class
Sport utility vehicle: Small
In its class
More efficient than 21% of 220 2021 vehicles in this class
Tailpipe CO₂
257 g/km

Set your own distance and pump price · Full efficiency ranking

Watch this vehicle

Recall letters go to whoever owns the car on paper, which may not be you. Save your 2021 Volkswagen Atlas and we will email you the day Transport Canada issues a new recall for it.

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Common questions

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?
Transport Canada has 9 recalls on record for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. Recall repairs are free at any manufacturer dealer.
What fuel economy does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas get?
NRCan rates the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas at 10.9 L/100 km combined, emitting 257 g of CO2 per kilometre. There are 4 rated versions; this is the median.
What does it cost to run a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas for a year?
At 20,000 km a year and Ontario average prices, about $3,379 in fuel, producing roughly 5,036 kg of CO2. Your own distance and prices will change this — the calculator lets you set both.

Source: Transport Canada — Vehicle Recalls Database; NRCan — Fuel consumption ratings. Data current as of 30 July 2026. Running cost uses Ontario average prices (155 ¢/L, 14.5 ¢/kWh), which are hand-maintained estimates. 30,784 rated vehicles on file.