The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·21V812000·Announced 2021-10-15

2021 Volkswagen Atlas front wheel bearing bolts may loosen and cause crash risk

Volkswagen is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles because the front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened and could loosen, potentially causing loss of control and crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: This recall meets the Severe criteria as a structural vehicle defect involving wheel bearing bolts that could cause loss of control and increase crash risk.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen is recalling approximately 30 units of certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles due to a wheel bearing defect. The front wheel bearing bolts on these vehicles may have been incorrectly tightened during manufacturing.

If the bolts continue to loosen, this could cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash. Owners should contact a dealer to have the defect corrected before continuing to operate their vehicles.

Owners can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 to schedule a dealer appointment. Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021.

For additional information, owners can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

The recalled product

Product
VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS, PASSAT, ATLAS CROSS SPORT
Brand
VOLKSWAGEN
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle
Hazard
Affected units
30

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • ATLAS
  • PASSAT
  • ATLAS CROSS SPORT

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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