2021 Volkswagen Atlas Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems
NHTSA lists 69 Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, 15% of all complaints that year, tied to 3 crashes and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure was 11,300 miles. A related recall (20V716000) covers rear view camera malfunction risk during ignition.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
- 69
- 15% of 472
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 11,300 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report
- Front Assist system triggers sudden automatic braking without any obstacle present, sometimes at low speeds around 10 mph.
- Adaptive cruise control disables itself after using remote start and requires the driver to manually cycle the ignition to restore it.
- Lane Assist activates erratically at very low speeds, such as while pulling out of a parking spot, and engages the parking brake unexpectedly.
- A faulty door contact switch or wiring harness triggers false alerts that disable adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and other safety systems while driving.
- The electronic parking brake engages on its own during active driving at speeds ranging from 25 to 70 mph, accompanied by dashboard warnings and window malfunctions.
When 2021 Volkswagen Atlas collision avoidance system complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 2, 2021, latest Jul 23, 2026.
Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
- NHTSA 20V716000Nov 18, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras32,048 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by Atlas model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many complaints does the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas have for Collision Avoidance & Cameras?
- NHTSA lists 69 complaints in this area for the 2021 Atlas, representing 15% of all 472 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas collision avoidance or camera system?
- Yes, recall 20V716000 covers the 2021 Atlas among other Volkswagen models for a rear view camera that could malfunction during ignition; the fix is a free infotainment software update.
- Has the 2021 Atlas collision avoidance issue caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area shows 3 crashes and 1 injury reported for the 2021 Atlas.
- At what mileage do these collision avoidance problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 11,300 miles.
- How does the 2021 Atlas compare to other model years for this problem?
- The 2021 Atlas's 15% share of complaints in this area is lower than 2020's 26% but higher than 2018's 7%, 2022's 14%, and 2023's 8%.