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 8 recalls, 69 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport spread fairly evenly across a few systems, with no single dominant failure standing out. Service brakes draw the most reports, where owners describe shaking or shuddering when braking at highway speeds, a pattern consistent with rotor or brake system issues at moderate mileage. Engine complaints are close behind, with owners reporting unexpected stalls or shutoffs at idle, throttle non-response after coming to a stop, and related issues involving turbo components and the electronic throttle control system. Forward collision avoidance generates a similar volume of reports, though the representative narratives skew toward other systems, so that pattern is harder to characterize in detail from the available data. A handful of owners also mention steering concerns, with at least some cases requiring replacement of the electro-mechanical steering gear, and parts availability has come up as a factor in how long repairs take.
69
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
By System
The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has 8 recalls, the most serious involving engine connecting rod bearings that can fail and cause the engine to stall or leak oil, raising the risk of a crash or fire.
Two other recalls carry fire or crash risk at the same severity level. Fuel injectors assembled without internal filters can leak fuel near the engine, also raising fire risk. On the chassis side, rear trailing arm bolts may not have been properly tightened and can work loose and fall out, causing the trailing arm to fracture and the driver to lose control suddenly. The trailer hitch is covered by two overlapping recalls describing the same problem: mounting bolts that were not fully tightened can loosen and allow the hitch to separate from the vehicle while towing.
Both airbag recalls affect occupant protection in a crash. Corroded contacts in the door wiring harness can delay the side airbags from deploying, and a fault in the front passenger seat sensor wiring can deactivate the passenger airbag entirely even when someone is sitting there. Rounding out the list, a memory module fault in the infotainment system can prevent the rearview camera image from appearing when reversing.
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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Driver Assistance
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
Driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, allowing them to loosen and fall out.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver-side rear trailing arm bolts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, potentially causing complete engine failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the engine and replace it if necessary, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that secure the trailer hitch may not be tight enough, which could cause the hitch to loosen or fail.
What the fix does
A dealer will tighten the trailer hitch bolts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Trailer hitch bolts may not be properly tightened. They could loosen and the hitch could detach from your vehicle while towing.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealership to tighten the trailer hitch bolts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing issue with the infotainment system's memory module may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying on the screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the infotainment software at no cost to restore rearview camera display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters, which can cause them to malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the long fuel injectors 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.
