2021 Volkswagen Atlas Seat Recall (20V505)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 5,376 vehicles · Reported August 26, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 5,376 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly. 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. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V505 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V505000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 72L1, 72K8, 72K9 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 26, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas |
| Units affected | 5,376 |
| Component | Seats |
| Safety 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. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas in recall 20V505?
Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Atlas with recall 20V505?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: 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.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: 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.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the seats.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V505?
Recall 20V505 covers 5,376 vehicles: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.
NHTSA lists 5,376 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volkswagen | Atlas |
What is the fix for the Atlas seat recall?
Yes. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge.
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.
Manufacturer recall number: 72L1, 72K8, 72K9.
When was recall 20V505 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 20V505 to NHTSA on August 26, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 26, 2020 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V505000. |
This recall was filed 74 months ago. If your Atlas was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Atlas is part of recall 20V505?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V505 is open on your Atlas, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 20V505000 is open on your Atlas, it will be listed there, along with Volkswagen recall number 72L1, 72K8, 72K9. You can also ask any Volkswagen dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Atlas owners do about recall 20V505?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V505000 applies to your Atlas.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the seats happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Atlas owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 473 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 20V505 was reported on August 26, 2020, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 1 of them (9%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the body, doors and seats and were received on or after August 26, 2020, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related body, doors and seats issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 473 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the body, doors and seats. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Volkswagen Atlas: 473 complaints in total, 12 about the body, doors and seats
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud grinding and squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. There was an abnormal sound of rushing water underneath the floorboard.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11640888, filed February 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start due to battery failure. The contact attempted to open the hood of the vehicle to charge the battery; however, the hood failed to unlock.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11677298, filed July 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes erroneously engaged nearly causing a crash. Additionally, the door locks would randomly unlatch and the driver’s side window would erroneously roll down. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, NM, NHTSA complaint 11459093, filed March 31, 2022
Can recall 20V505 make my Atlas a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Body and latch defects on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Atlas been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volkswagen Atlas recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V505
Did the recall 20V505 fix work?
Since recall 20V505 was reported on August 26, 2020, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 1 of them (9%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 20V505000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Atlas is part of recall 20V505000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V505000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Volkswagen. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.