2020 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2022 Atlas equipped with the 2.0T four-cylinder engine is prone to excessive oil consumption, burning a quart every 1,500-3,000 miles. Owners often discover critically low oil levels between service intervals. This issue has been the subject of a class-action lawsuit and is among the top complaints for the model.

Request an oil consumption test from your VW dealer. VW has acknowledged the issue and may replace piston rings or the short block assembly under warranty. A class-action settlement (Berman v. Volkswagen) covers some affected vehicles. Use only VW 508.00 spec full synthetic oil.

The Aisin 8-speed automatic transmission in the 2022 Atlas exhibits harsh downshifts, delayed upshifts, and hesitation when accelerating from a stop. The transmission may lurch or jerk in stop-and-go traffic and occasionally hunts between gears on slight inclines.

VW released TCM (Transmission Control Module) software updates to refine shift logic. The dealer will reprogram the TCM to the latest calibration. If shifting issues persist after the update, the valve body or torque converter may need inspection and possible replacement.

Multiple 2021-2022 Atlas owners report complete AC compressor failure, resulting in no cold air from the vents. The compressor may seize or develop internal leaks, contaminating the system with metal debris. Failure often occurs between 30,000-50,000 miles.

Replace the AC compressor, receiver/drier, and flush the AC system to remove debris. If metal debris from the failed compressor has circulated, the condenser and expansion valve should also be replaced to prevent repeat failure.

The power rear liftgate on 2018-2022 Atlas models may fail to hold itself open, slowly dropping down or slamming shut unexpectedly. The gas struts lose pressure prematurely. This presents a safety concern, particularly when loading cargo, as the heavy liftgate can strike occupants.

Replace both rear liftgate gas struts as a pair. VW dealers have replaced struts under warranty when failures occur early. For power liftgate-equipped models, the liftgate motor and control module should also be inspected for proper calibration.

The panoramic sunroof on 2018-2022 Atlas models is prone to water leaks caused by clogged drain tubes. Water intrusion occurs at the headliner, A-pillars, or rear cargo area during rain or car washes. Prolonged leaking can cause electrical damage, mold, and musty cabin odors.

Clear and flush all four sunroof drain tubes using compressed air or flexible cable. Inspect the drain tube grommets and connections for cracks or disconnections. VW recommends periodic drain maintenance. Severely damaged headliners or electronics may need replacement.

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.

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

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.

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."

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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."

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

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.