2021 Volkswagen Atlas Steering Recall (21V026)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 10,303 vehicles · Reported January 27, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 10,303 2021 Volkswagen Atlas; 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting. A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V026 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V026000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 40Q7 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 27, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas; 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport |
| Units affected | 10,303 |
| Component | Steering |
| Safety risk | A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas in recall 21V026?
The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting.
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.
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 21V026?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Atlas shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the steering, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V026?
Recall 21V026 covers 10,303 vehicles: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas; 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
NHTSA lists 10,303 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 |
| 2021 | Volkswagen | Atlas Cross Sport |
What is the fix for the Atlas steering recall?
Yes. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace one or both steering knuckles, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 21V026 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V026 to NHTSA on January 27, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 27, 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V026000. |
This recall was filed 69 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 21V026?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V026 is open on your Atlas, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Atlas vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Atlas owners do about recall 21V026?
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 21V026000 applies to your Atlas.
- Call a Volkswagen dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 steering 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 638 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 15 of them about the steering.
Since recall 21V026 was reported on January 27, 2021, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 3 of them (20%) 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 steering and were received on or after January 27, 2021, 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 steering issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 638 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 15 of them involve the steering. 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, 11 about the steering
- 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: 165 complaints in total, 4 about the steering
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
My vehicuel vibrate at low speed or hight speed, speed does not descrimita, the steering wheel vibrate in a very strange way, when the car hit a bump, at any speed, it vibrate like a motor, for a short period of time, and them it goes back to normal, until agiang I hit a bump…
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11694382, filed October 19, 2025
Driving under 10mphs (in slow moving traffic or parking lot, etc.), the vehicle engine turns off and power steering also shuts down. I reported this issue to VW Service and they were able to reproduce the issue but are unable to find a fix for it.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11602874, filed July 17, 2024
For steering: There is a grinding noise that happens each time I turn my wheel when turning into a parking spot or making a non wide turn. It happens every single time that I do it. For Automatic Emergency Braking: It turns on while I am in the middle of driving constantly.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11640792, filed February 5, 2025
Can recall 21V026 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.
Recall 21V026000 does not automatically make your Atlas a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Steering defects go straight to safety. Under California's lemon law, a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create a presumption after just two repair attempts, if the manufacturer was also notified directly.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same steering again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 20V712000.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Atlas went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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 21V026
Did the recall 21V026 fix work?
Since recall 21V026 was reported on January 27, 2021, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 3 of them (20%) 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 21V026000 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 21V026000?
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 21V026000 (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.