2021 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Toyota Highlander | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 485 | 162 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 14 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 180 | 561 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 16 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–36 | 20–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 23,555 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Highlander | Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 199 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 64 | 36 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 37 |
| Electrical System | 25 | 54 |
| Engine | 44 | 33 |
| Structure | 48 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 31 | 16 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 30 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 21 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 5 |
| Stalling | 17 | 16 |
| Check engine light | 12 | 16 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
2021 Toyota Highlander
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Compare all Toyota Highlander vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.