Use cautionVehicle recall · NHTSA · Published March 3, 2021
Volkswagen 2021 Atlas Wheels Recall: Risk of Crash from Loose Wheels
Volkswagen recalls 2021 Atlas vehicles with wheels that may not attach properly, risking crashes. Owners must have wheels inspected and replaced free of charge by dealers.
“Volkswagen 2021 Atlas Wheels Recall: Risk of Crash from Loose Wheels.” GovInfoNow, updated August 18, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/80715-volkswagen-2021-atlas-wheels-recall-risk-of-crash-from-loose. Based on NHTSA recall #21V132000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=21V132000).
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. recalled certain 2021 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles due to wheels that may separate from the vehicle, increasing crash risk, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall was announced on March 3, 2021.
How to tell if you have it
Volkswagen Atlas, 2021
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, 2021
What to do
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four wheels, and as necessary, replace the wheels, lug bolts ,and wheel bearings, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
The hazard
An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. The lug bolt holes on the wheels may have been machined incorrectly, preventing the wheel bolt from sufficiently attaching to the wheel bearing hub.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has 276 other recalls on record since 2014-10-20. Other recent recalls of similar products include Mercedes-Benz G 580 EV (2025) Wheel Recall: Risk of Wheel Detachment (2026-03-27), Cadillac Escalade 2025 Wheels Recall: Loose Bolt Risk (2026-05-14), and Volvo VNL 2026 Wheel Recall: Risk of Detachment Causing Loss of Control (2026-05-28).
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2021 Atlas has wheels with incorrectly machined lug bolt holes. The recall began March 4, 2021, and applies to all 2021 Atlas models.
Brand
Volkswagen
Category
Vehicle
Based on the official NHTSA remedy
What to do — step by step
Contact Volkswagen
Call 1-800-893-5298 to schedule a wheel inspection and replacement if needed.
Have Wheels Inspected
Dealers will inspect all four wheels and replace wheels, lug bolts, and wheel bearings if necessary at no cost.
Official remedy
What NHTSA says to do
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four wheels, and as necessary, replace the wheels, lug bolts ,and wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q9.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 1 day.
1NHTSA received the defect report
2Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Take action
Contact Volkswagen
We’ve drafted a message you can send Volkswagen to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 21V132000 — Volkswagen 2021 Atlas Wheels Recall: Risk of Crash from Loose Wheels
Hello,
I own a Volkswagen 2021 Atlas Wheels Recall: Risk of Crash from Loose Wheels that is covered by recall 21V132000 from Volkswagen.
The official recall notice states: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four wheels, and as necessary, replace the wheels, lug bolts ,and wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44Q9.
I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this?
Thank you.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 18, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.