NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring fault in the passenger occupant detection system can cause the front passenger air bag to deactivate even when someone is sitting in that seat.
This page covers 15 recalls, 97 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport cluster around a few systems. Airbag and forward collision avoidance warnings each draw the most reports, with owners describing dashboard warning lights for airbag faults, automatic deactivation of the passenger airbag, and the passenger seat sensor triggering errors. On the forward collision avoidance side, owners report the system activating unexpectedly or behaving erratically while driving. Electrical issues are close behind, with multiple owners describing daytime running light failures, often both sides, that require full headlight assembly replacement at significant cost. A separate group of electrical complaints involves intermittent glitches where door locks cycle on their own, windows roll down without input and resist being closed, and dashboard lighting flickers or goes dark.
97
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has 15 recalls, the most serious involving steering knuckles that can fracture or fail while driving, causing a sudden loss of steering control, and tires on certain vehicles that can develop sidewall cracks or shed their tread, leading to abrupt air pressure loss.
A separate but equally urgent concern involves a blocked air conditioning drain tube that lets water reach the airbag control module, which can cause airbags to deploy without a crash. On the airbag side, corroded door wiring can delay side airbag deployment in a side-impact crash, and a fault in the passenger seat detection system can deactivate the front passenger airbag even when someone is seated. Front seat frame welds may also be inadequate, meaning the backrest adjuster can break in a rear-end collision and reduce how well the seat restrains the occupant.
Other issues include a tire pressure monitoring system that may fail to detect a sudden loss of pressure across all four tires, a driver's side headlight aimed too low from the factory reducing forward visibility at night, and a missing weight rating label on vehicles equipped with accessory side steps that could lead to unintentional overloading.
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring fault in the passenger occupant detection system can cause the front passenger air bag to deactivate even when someone is sitting in that seat.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the occupant detection sensor mat and wiring harness at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger airbag detection system may fail, causing the airbag to disable even when someone sits in the front passenger seat. An error message and warning chime will appear on the dashboard.
What the fix does
Volkswagen dealers will replace the airbag sensor mat and seat harness to restore proper airbag detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger air bag detection system's wiring may malfunction, causing the front passenger air bag to turn off even when someone is sitting in that seat.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the detection system sensor mat and wiring harness at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect when air pressure drops in all four tires at the same time, failing to alert you in time.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the tire pressure monitoring system software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical contacts in the front door wiring harness can corrode, breaking the electrical connection and delaying deployment of the driver or passenger front side airbag during a side impact crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will secure and replace any front door wiring harness showing a fault code at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vehicle's weight limit label was not updated to account for the added weight of accessory side steps, causing the label to show an inaccurate maximum weight rating.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the corrected weight limit label that reflects the side steps' added weight.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air conditioning drain tube may become blocked, allowing water to leak into the airbag control module. This can cause the airbags to deploy unexpectedly without a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube, clear any blockage, and replace the airbag control module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air conditioning drain tube may become blocked, allowing water to accumulate and leak into the vehicle near the air bag control module.
What the fix does
Dealers will clear the drain tube and replace the air bag control module if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front steering knuckles may have a manufacturing defect and could break while driving, causing loss of steering control.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will mail you instructions to visit a dealer who will inspect and replace the front knuckles if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front steering knuckle may crack near where the strut attaches, potentially affecting steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace one or both steering knuckles as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production, affecting how the front wheels connect and move.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the steering knuckles and replace them if necessary, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain Continental tires may have been cured too long during manufacturing, causing sidewalls to crack or tread and belts to separate, which can lead to sudden air loss and tire failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your tires and replace any with the specific DOT and mold number combinations identified by Continental.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tires on these vehicles may have been over cured during manufacturing, which can affect tire performance and durability.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the tire date code and mold number, then replace affected tires at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front seat frame and backrest adjuster welds may be incomplete, potentially causing structural failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect front seats and replace seatback frames as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side headlight was aimed too low during manufacturing, causing the vehicle to fail federal lighting standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will adjust the driver's side headlight to the correct aim at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
