2021 Volkswagen Atlas Relays and Solenoids Recall (21V616)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 33 vehicles · Reported August 6, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 33 2021 Volkswagen Atlas; 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter. A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V616 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V616000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 97FR |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 6, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas; 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport |
| Units affected | 33 |
| Component | Electrical System > Wiring > Relays / Solenoids |
| Safety risk | A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas in recall 21V616?
Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Atlas with recall 21V616?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
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 relays and solenoids, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V616?
Recall 21V616 covers 33 vehicles: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas; 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
NHTSA lists 33 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 relays and solenoids recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and as necessary, replace the relays, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and as necessary, replace the relays, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97FR.
When was recall 21V616 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V616 to NHTSA on August 6, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 27, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 6, 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V616000. |
| August 27, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 62 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 21V616?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V616 is open on your Atlas, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V616000 is open on your Atlas, it will be listed there, along with Volkswagen recall number 97FR. 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 21V616?
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 21V616000 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.
- Keep a simple log of any relays and solenoids symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Atlas owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 638 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 198 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 21V616 was reported on August 6, 2021, owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 23 of them (12%) 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 electrical system and were received on or after August 6, 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 electrical system 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 198 of them involve the electrical system. 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, 145 about the electrical system
- 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: 165 complaints in total, 53 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
when I start my car, the infotainment center does not turn on, which means that I lose not just the luxury features that come along with it, but also the safety features, like the back-up camera and road sign recognition. Issues started in January 2025 as intermittent and are now an everyday, even multi-day occurrence.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11640816, filed February 5, 2025
3 weeks ago, the warning light of the front airbag turned on.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11641680, filed February 10, 2025
SOS light is not working with active subscription, showing error light. Seems to be a problem as multiple Volkswagen owner are having the same issue.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owner, UT, NHTSA complaint 11644529, filed February 24, 2025
Can recall 21V616 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 21V616000 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))?
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same relays and solenoids problem is common in lemon law claims.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 21V616
Did the recall 21V616 fix work?
Since recall 21V616 was reported on August 6, 2021, owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 23 of them (12%) 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.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 27, 2021.
Is the 21V616000 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 21V616000?
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.
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 21V616000 (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.