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RECALLS — VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS

Volkswagen Atlas recalls

Volkswagen Atlas model years 2018–2026 covered by at least one recall campaign. Pick a year to see the Canadian and U.S. campaigns side by side.

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U.S. NHTSA campaigns are listed on each year page, where they are queried live by model year. The Canadian list below covers every year together.

Transport Canada recalls

31
  • Visual System#2026357

    17,042 units affected

    Issue: Under certain conditions, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the rearview camera software.

  • Suspension#2025355

    291 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, certain bolt(s) on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension may not have been tightened properly. As a result, the bolt(s) could loosen and cause a loss of control. Safety Risk: A loss of control could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the affected bolt(s) on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension.

  • Visual System#2025272

    20,010 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display properly. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display properly when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display properly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the infotainment display software.

  • Engine#2025079

    20,925 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine cover may come loose after service. If this happens, the engine cover could contact hot surfaces in the engine compartment and melt. Safety Risk: An engine cover that melts onto a hot surface could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to remove the engine cover.

  • Brakes#2024568

    181 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, the brake master cylinder may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, there could be reduced braking. Note: This problem could cause the brake pedal to feel soft and/or spongy and a brake warning light could turn on in the instrument cluster. Safety Risk: Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the brake master cylinder.

  • Visual System#2024365

    13,562 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image to be delayed or not to appear on the display. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the infotainment software.

  • Airbag#2024354

    35,749 units affected

    Issue: 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". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: 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.

  • Airbag#2023183

    18,235 units affected

    Issue: 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". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: 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 until the recall repairs are completed.

  • Suspension#2022612

    12 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, the bolts for the left-rear trailing arm may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts may loosen over time and fall out. If this happens, the trailing arm may break and cause a sudden loss of vehicle control. Safety Risk: A loss of control could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the left-rear trailing arm bolts.

  • Engine#2022576

    9,697 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, the connecting rod bearings may become damaged. If this happens, the engine could make abnormal noises and a warning light may turn on. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail and/or an oil leak could occur. Safety Risk: An engine failure can cause a sudden loss of power, which could increase the risk of a crash. An oil leak could create the risk of a vehicle fire. Corrective actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership for an engine inspection test. The engine will be replaced, if necessary.

  • Structure#2022489

    356 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, the trailer hitch bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts could loosen, and the hitch could detach from the vehicle while towing a trailer. Safety Risk: A trailer hitch that detaches from a vehicle could create a risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to tighten the trailer hitch bolts.

  • Visual System#2022382

    23,553 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: 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. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the infotainment software.

  • Fuel System#2022182

    157 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: A fuel leak in the engine compartment can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the long fuel injectors.

  • Airbag#2022110

    23,192 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: Delayed inflation of the side airbags could create an increased the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development.

  • Heater And Defroster#2021705

    3,984 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: An airbag that inflates suddenly without a crash could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: 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.

  • Tires#2021116

    324 units affected

    Issue: 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 certain Continental tires, with specific date codes and mold numbers. Safety Risk: A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify the owners by mail and instruct them to take the vehicle to a dealer to inspect and replace the tires, if necessary.

  • Steering#2021032

    369 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: A loss of steering control could create a risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: 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.

  • Visual System#2020556

    2,564 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: 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. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the rearview camera software.

  • Tires#2020546

    16 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: 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.

  • Seats And Restraints#2020392

    3,115 units affected

    Issue: 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. Safety Risk: A seatback that fails could cause an increased risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: 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.

  • Label#2020353

    132,432 units affected

    Issue: On certain vehicles, the warning label for the engine block heater cable is written in English only. As a result, a French user may not receive important safety information about how to use the engine block heater. A label that is not provided in both official languages could create confusion. Safety Risk: User confusion could increase the risk of injury when trying to use the block heater. Corrective Actions: The company will mail each owner a new label for the block heater cable. If you would like help installing the label, you can contact a dealer for assistance.

  • Lights And Instruments#2019242

    51,987 units affected

    Issue: Certain vehicles were built with headlights that may allow horizontal adjustment. This is not allowed under Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: Headlights that are not properly adjusted could cause reduced visibility or glare for oncoming drivers, and could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect the headlights. A blocking cap will be installed on the horizontal adjusters as necessary.

  • Suspension#2018717

    1,755 units affected

    On certain vehicles, the rear suspension coil springs may not have been properly manufactured and could break over time. This could result in damage to a rear tire, resulting in rapid air loss and/or tire failure, which could affect vehicle control. Additionally, a broken coil spring could create a road hazard for other motorists. Both of these conditions may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage.  Correction: Dealers will replace both of the rear axle coil springs. If a broken coil spring is found, the rear tires should be inspected for damage and replaced as required.

  • Lights And Instruments#2018644

    15,853 units affected

    Certain vehicles do not to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention. Due to incorrect programming, the vehicle may fail to provide an audible warning when a driver opens their door after turning off the ignition, and the key is left in the ignition switch. This could increase the risk of vehicle theft. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster.

  • Airbag#2018431

    1,094 units affected

    On certain vehicles, a drain tube for the air conditioner may be twisted and could drain water inside the passenger compartment onto the airbag control module. This could cause the airbag control module to malfunction, potentially causing a sudden airbag deployment without a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants and potentially leading to a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect the HVAC drain tube and, if found twisted, the hose and airbag control module will be replaced.

  • Brakes#2018429

    774 units affected

    On certain vehicles, the brake caliper bracket bolts may not be properly tightened and could loosen, allowing the caliper to move. This could cause increased stopping distances, result in wheel damage and/or cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if a loose bolt is found, the bolt will be replaced and tightened to the correct specification. Note: On Atlas models, only the front brake caliper bracket bolts are affected, and on Passat models, only the rear brake caliper bracket bolts are affected.

  • Seats And Restraints#2018330

    9,396 units affected

    On certain vehicles, if a child restraint with a larger than recommended base is installed in the centre position of the second row bench seat, it may damage both the centre and adjacent outboard seat belt buckles. In the event of a crash, a damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect the centre and left (outboard) second row seat belt buckles, and replace as necessary. Additionally Volkswagen will provide an owner's manual supplement addressing child safety and child restraints.

  • Airbag#2018296

    902 units affected

    On certain vehicles, the passenger frontal airbag may not unfold properly or could tear during deployment, which would increase the risk of injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag.

  • Brakes#2018292

    5,120 units affected

    On certain vehicles, a problem with the brake system may cause gas bubbles to form in the brake fluid. This could cause a soft brake pedal feel and a reduction in brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will bleed the front or rear brakes as necessary. Note: In the interim, owners are advised to stop driving their vehicle until the defect has been repaired. Affected owners should call Volkswagen's Roadside Assistance number at 1-800-411-6688.

  • Fuel System#2018227

    293 units affected

    On certain vehicles, the thickness of fuel tank walls may not be adequate due to an issue in the manufacturing process. This could result in fuel leaking from the tank, which in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2017-586.

  • Fuel System#2017586

    18 units affected

    On certain vehicles, the thickness of fuel tank walls may not be adequate due to an issue during the manufacturing process. This could result in fuel leaking from the tank, which in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel tank.

Canadian data updated August 24, 2026

Does this recall apply to my vehicle?

Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

What to do

Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:

Check a Volkswagen Atlas VIN

Data sources and coverage limits