Head light assembly. ðrl light burnt out risking my safety daytime driving
2021 Volkswagen Atlas: headlights failing or too dim
42 of the 483 complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas describe headlights failing or too dim.
- owner complaints
- 42
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,000
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 14 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Headlights failing or too dim by model year
What owners say
Right headlight assembly must be replaced because daytime running light failed and cannot be repaired separately.
My 2021 Volkswagen Atlas at 58,000 miles the passenger side daytime running light stopped working. This is a replacement that can only be completed with an entire headlight assembly replaced the cost of a headlight assembly is between $1800- $2500 which is an astronomical amount to replace just the LED daytime running light.
Passenger side DRL has failed - requires replacement of entire headlamp assembly
LED DRL headlight on the passenger side failed at 35k miles. That little, single LED light cannot be replaced without replacing the entire headlight system, which costs almost $2k and requires removing the bumper! Negligent design that conveniently happens once the warranty expired, and despite the low miles of my vehicle. (these are supposed to last to 50k-70k)
Headlight LED DRLs went out on passenger side at only 60k miles. To fix, the whole headlight would need to be replaced which is >$1k. LED bulbs should last much longer and there are many other instances of the same problem from other owners across various forums. Seems like this is a VW issue and should warrant a recall.
LED DRL headlight stopped working on the passenger side at 90k miles
Passenger side headlight failed prematurely resulting in only one of the headlights functioning
Upon visual inspection of the car. Noticed driver’s side headlight outter light not working with no warning indicator. Have been pulled over since issue was first discovered by police. I believe it’s called daytime driving light part of the headlight.
Daytime running lights have failed on both headlight assemblies. Both failed at just outside the warranty period. High and low beams work fine and the repair is $2000 for a headlight which is outrageous.
Driver's side daytime running lights have gone out already after fairly low mileage. Have since discovered this is a very common issue for this model and requires entire headlight assembly replacement, which is over $1,000. This prohibitive cost lessens the likelihood of replacement for many drivers and since it is not legally required it negates the added safety value of these lights.
The daylight running lights failed at the same time. This a closed system so VW wants 1000 per headlight unit.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses
- Condensation
- Condition is normal due to cold fresh air and humidity
- Moisture Accumulation
- What to do if customer mentions water droplet within tail lights.
- Moisture witin rear tail lamp assembly
- Phyical condensation within Taillamp cluster is an optical phenomenon and does not affect the function of...
- Headlight Variants and Identification, update to model year applicability.
Related recalls
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
Questions about the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas headlights
Is headlights failing or too dim a common problem on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
42 of 483 owner complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas (9%) mention headlights failing or too dim. The model year with the most reports is 2021.
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 19 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
There is 1 recall and 14 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Stalling 44Check engine light 39Grinding brakes 22Start-stop 18Adaptive cruise 17Airbag light 15Door locks 10Fuel pump 9Lane assist 8Warning lights 8Won't start 8Jerking 7No deployment 6Battery drain 5Collision warning 5Engine failure 5Fuel leak 5Overheating 5Sunroof shattered 5
VIN decoder
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