Problems · by component
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport engine problems
33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport cite engine, 20% of all 165 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
33
20% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“This has happened to me a total of three times now And I have had the car one month. It stopped on me again in the middle of traffic Just driving without warning without any indicating lights on on June 25th. It stopped on me prior on July 21st and I just got it out of the shop July 24th. This is very dangerous and a dangerous situation especially to be driving one minute and the car just stop on you and go to a slow roll.”
“I have not the slightest idea what is going on with the vehicle that I just bought on June 25th 2026. I have a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas crossover and the car stopped on me three times today. And when I arrived in my garage it said that the engine was hot. I will be taking it to the dealership tomorrow.”
“My car only has 58,000 and my car is leaking coolant and I was advised I need to replace the water pump at $15,000. I see there was a settlement already for Volkswagen’s however, my Volkswagen Atlas cross port is not included although it is in the same year as those cars with the settlement it needs to be added so that way the warranty can be extended by 80,000 miles.”
“I was driving on the freeway and the car slowed down on me, almost to a stop! This could have been fatal! I am glad I had the time to move the the right lane for emergency. This needs to be reported and don't let other VW owners deal with this issue! it's a BIG safety issue!”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The throttle and engine. Car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle will lose ability to accelerate when crossing busy intersections or traveling on highways, resulting in the car slowing down significantly and not allowing me to accelerate out of the way of vehicles. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, I have given the dealership purchased from and the VW dealership many attempts to repair the problem, the car will work for 1-2 months before the problem occurs again, and it is back in the shop. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, only by VW service department. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, the EPC light comes on nonce I lose throttle is not warning prior to this occurring. Car has been in the shop multiple times since purchase in 2023 for the same issue, the car has been…”
“Start stop error on 7/15/25. Engine light on 7/16/25. Drove the car to AutoZone and the diagnostic code was P0496 EVAP System High Purge Flow. VW dealership said it was okay to drive vehicle with engine on until my appointment on 7/24/25. Filled up the car with gas on 7/18/25, but the fuel gauge only went up to 7/8 of a tank and 365 miles to empty. After driving 51 miles, the fuel gauge was full and 430 miles to empty. After driving 116 miles, the fuel gauge dropped back down to 7/8 of a tank and 365 miles to empty. The car stalled today while going through the busy Burlington Road roundabout. There was a popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank after I shut it off when I got home. There was also a hissing sound coming from the fuel tank. The EVAP purge solenoid was replaced on 5/30/25, the evap system failed again on 6/19/25 at which point the vehicle was sent to VW for a software update. The engine light is on again for the same EVAP issue and now the fuel system appears to be failing because of it. I’m leaving the vehicle parked until my appointment. This vehicle is not safe to drive considering it stalls unexpectedly in stop and go traffic.”
Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.