The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact became aware of an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the transmission shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
The worst 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical33
- Airbags23
- Brakes18
- Driver assistance18
- Engine9
- Steering8
- Acceleration6
- Lights5
- Body4
- Fuel system4
- Suspension4
- Transmission4
- Wheels2
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Recalls 11
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 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.
- Risk
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Recall number 24V464000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 23V215000 · Recall details
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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 Audis customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Recall number 22V815000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 22V152000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 22V086000 · Recall details
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module.
- Risk
- A water leak may damage the air bag control module, causing an inadvertent air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will repair the drain tube and replace the air bag control module, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87H4.
Recall number 21V892000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting.
- Risk
- A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace one or both steering knuckles, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q7.
Recall number 21V026000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.
- Risk
- A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q6. Note: Owners are advised to DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until the vehicle has been inspected and repaired if necessary.
Recall number 20V712000 · Recall details
Tires: sidewall
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport and 2021 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tires, size 255/50 R 20 105 T. The tires may have been over cured.
- Risk
- Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air pressure or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect DOT date code and mold number on the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q5.
Recall number 20V702000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Atlas Cross Sports and 2021 Atlas vehicles. The driver's side headlight may have been aimed too low during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- A headlight aimed incorrectly aimed reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will adjust the driver's side headlight, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94N7.
Recall number 20V504000 · Recall details
Seats
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
- Risk
- In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1‑888‑241‑2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.
Recall number 20V505000 · Recall details
See all 11 recalls for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Defect investigations
Fuel Injector Leak
On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-008 to investigate instances of fuel injectors leaking in the engine compartment in model year (MY) 2018 through 2020 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. These vehicles are equipped with either a 3.6 or 2.0 liter engine. The subject investigation concerns vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. Prior to opening the investigation, ODI also observed that warranty data for the fuel system from TREAD reporting was an outlier for the MY 2018 Atlas.The allegation involved fuel injectors leaking fuel near engine compartment components that operate at high temperatures. Consumers allege a fuel leak, fuel odor, and/or an illuminated check engine malfunction indicator light (MIL) on that alerts them to the condition. Fuel leaking in the engine compartment has a higher potential risk of fire as nearby components are operating at higher temperatures compared to other areas of the vehicle. No fires have been connected to this issue to date.The 3.6L engine is a VR6 type engine. Due to its specific design, the VR6 has two types of injectors with different designs installed. Cylinders 1, 3, and 5 use long injectors and cylinders 2, 4, and 6 use short injectors. Unlike the short injectors, the long injectors require an extension pipe necessary to reach cylinders 1, 3, and 5. Volkswagen stated that the potential root cause for a leaking injector is typically either a damaged, misaligned, or missing supporting ring or a damaged O-ring. These rings assist in connecting the injector to the extension pipe. If one of these conditions is present in a vehicle, the O-ring has difficulty withstanding fuel pressure over time.Volkswagen stated that an analysis of warranty data related to leaking injectors in vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines showed that the vast majority of leaking allegations were related to internal leaks. Fuel can leak into the cylinder causing misfiring in the affected cylinders. This condition would not cause fuel to enter into the engine compartment. Volkswagen states that these internal leaks pose no unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition is an early-life failure with a relatively low failure rate. The average failure mileage calculated from all data sources was determined to be approximately 14,000 miles. Only two failures were reported outside of the vehicles' warranty coverage period. The average time to failure for the subject vehicle population is approximately 12 months in service (MIS). The majority of failures were below the average of 14,000 miles or 12 MIS. Analysis of reported failures showed that the failure rate is approximately 0.08% or 0.8 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV).To date, there have been no reported fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. In view of the low rate of failure, the nature of early-life failure, and low potential hazard to drivers, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at under the following identification numbers:11446833, 11438403, 11382958, 11298402, 11291955, 11218819, 11218780
PE21008
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 500
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Supporting FAQ for VWP-26-07 Main Engine Wiring Harness Limited Warranty Extension (Class Action)
- For applicable 2018-2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport 3.6L Settlement Class Vehicles (NA6 warranty key),...
- This supporting FAQ is for the Turbocharger Limited Warranty Extension Class Action Settlement
- For applicable Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 50%...
- This Supporting FAQ is for the Atlas Front Door Wiring Harness Class Action Settlement for vehicles...
- Volkswagen is extending warranty coverage for the Front Door Wiring Harnesses on certain 2019-2023 Atlas...
- These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the...
- Prevent Sporatic Misfire Faults.
- Checking engine oil level.
- Reprogramming Control Module process
See all 500 bulletins for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21 | 24 | 22 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
What 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the hood-release mechanism on my 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The interior hood-release lever/latch has failed, preventing me from opening the hood through the normal release mechanism. This creates a safety concern because I cannot access the engine compartment to check essential fluids, inspect mechanical problems, perform necessary maintenance, or address potentially dangerous conditions such as overheating, leaks, or smoke. After researching this issue, I discovered multiple reports and videos from other Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport owners experiencing similar hood-release failures. This suggests the problem may be widespread rather than an isolated incident. Volkswagen has previously documented an inoperative hood-release condition in technical communication the federal safety agency #10200754. Additionally, the federal safety agency Complaint #11730429 describes a similar hood-release cable failure. Despite these documented reports, I was informed that no recall currently covers this issue on my vehicle. I believe this may be a recurring design or manufacturing defect that creates unnecessary safety risks and repair expenses for owners. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate these repeated failures and determine whether a safety recall or other manufacturer corrective action is warranted.
Air Bag error-seat occupant classification module-passenger side occupant detection sensor is defective. Air bag may not deploy upon impact. Confirmed that airbag sensor is defective at dealership. Airbag error first appeared one week ago at 75k miles. VW will not cover cost to repair defective air bag sensor.
steering went out completly and the SUV shut off in the middle of the street. had to restart car to get it home. SUV shut off in the middle of a turn. Had the SUV checked at dealership and they found a bad steering unit. I had the SUV in 3 times with the complaint and they found nothing until the warranty ran out. Neillo VW checked it in 2020,2021,2023 and say they found nothing,
VW SOS system TCU has gone bad. I see this as a safety issue and VW will not replace under warranty
Air bag error light lit up with barely over 60k miles. Dealer diagnosis identifies the issue as a faulty Driver Head Curtain Airbag Igniter. Correction is to replace the driver side head curtain airbag assembly at a cost of ~$1,200. The vehicle has never been in an accident nor had the airbags deployed. This seems to be a common issue based on previous comments therefore Volkswagon should step up and include this model/make/year in a safety recall to correct the issue.
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag, cruise control, electronic parking brake, and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the HVAC drain tube had leaked onto the air bag control module and the air bag control module and the drain tube needed to be replaced. The contact researched and became aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V892000 (Visibility, Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
HVAC water tubing has leaked on to the airbag control module causing airbag errors and many other electrical faults. This is a known safety problem under recall 87H4, the federal safety agency campaign 21V892. However, Volkswagen stated my VIN is not eligible for this recall. Note: this diagnostic was not performed at a dealership but at an independent German car repair shop.
sunroof shattered while driving down the freeway
We purchased a Chicco Fit360 car seat approximately two weeks ago. During normal use, we discovered that the magnetic chest clip/latch on the 5-point harness can appear to be connected but is not always mechanically latched. If the two halves of the magnetic chest clip are brought together lightly/loosely, the magnets pull the clip together and it appears closed, but the latch can separate without pressing the release buttons. The issue appears to be with the magnetic chest clip/chest latch portion of the harness system. This creates a safety concern because the chest clip may appear secured when it is not actually locked. If this occurred during driving or a crash, the harness straps may not remain properly positioned on the child’s chest/shoulders, which could reduce the effectiveness of the restraint system and increase the risk of injury or ejection. The clip seems to connect correctly most of the time when clipped deliberately, but it can fail when loosely clipped, which is concerning because a caregiver may reasonably believe the chest clip is secured due to the magnetic connection. The car seat/component is available for inspection upon request. We contacted Chicco customer service and reported the issue. Chicco stated they are sending a replacement magnetic chest clip and indicated that the replacement should fix the issue. Chicco has not physically inspected the seat or the original chest clip at this time. The seat has not been inspected by police, insurance, or any other third party. No crash or injury has occurred. The cause is UNKNOWN, but based on observation, the failure appears to involve the magnetic chest clip giving the appearance of being closed without the mechanical latch fully engaging.
Compare the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Other model years
Questions about the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Is the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport reliable?
Owners have filed 108 complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, close to a typical Atlas Cross Sport model year.
What is the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport year score?
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport scores 69 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport?
Electrical system, with 33 complaints, typically around 16,843 miles. Next is airbags (23).
How many recalls does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport have?
11 recalls, covering air bags, tires and equipment.
What year does the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport have the most electrical problems?
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport model years with the most electrical complaints are 2021 (54 complaints), 2024 (35 complaints) and 2020 (33 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport get?
Official estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport range from 19 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 24 highway.
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