2020–2021 Volkswagen Atlas & Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Steering Recall 20V712000 (Volkswagen 40Q6)

NHTSA recall 20V712000 (Volkswagen recall 40Q6) covers about 776 2020–2021 Volkswagen Atlas & Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vehicles (steering), filed with NHTSA Nov 17, 2020. NHTSA lists a DO-NOT-DRIVE advisory: owners should not drive these vehicles until the repair is done.

Source: NHTSA campaign 20V712000 · Data as of Nov 6, 2026 · By CarWhere Research

Do not drive: NHTSA safety advisory

NHTSA lists a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign. Owners should not drive affected vehicles until the recall repair is done.

776
vehicles affected (potential)
2020–2021
model years
Nov 17, 2020
filed with NHTSA
Do not drive
NHTSA advisory

What's recalled

Component: Steering

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.

The risk

A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy and its status

Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q6. Note: Owners are advised to DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until the vehicle has been inspected and repaired if necessary.

Status: NHTSA lists Nov 19, 2020 as the owner-notification date for this campaign.

Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Volkswagen recall number 40Q6

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number for 20V712000 as 40Q6. Owner letters and dealer service departments often use this code, so a search for "40Q6 recall" refers to the same campaign.

Affected models and years

Models and model years NHTSA lists for this campaign. Not every vehicle of a listed model and year is included; check by VIN.

VehicleModel yearsMore
Volkswagen Atlas2021All Atlas recalls
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport2020–2021—

Key dates

Report filed with NHTSA
Nov 17, 2020
Owner notification
Nov 19, 2020
Recall initiated by
the manufacturer
Filed by
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Check your VIN for 20V712000

  1. Find the 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the door-jamb sticker, or your registration.
  2. Enter it in NHTSA's free VIN recall lookup. It shows every open recall on that exact vehicle, including this one if it applies and hasn't been repaired.
  3. If 20V712000 is open, call any Volkswagen dealer's service department and give them the recall number (20V712000 or 40Q6). The repair is free.

Not sure of the exact model or year? Decode it first with the free VIN decoder.

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 20V712000?

NHTSA recall 20V712000 (Volkswagen recall 40Q6) covers about 776 2020–2021 Volkswagen Atlas & Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vehicles (steering), filed with NHTSA Nov 17, 2020. NHTSA lists a DO-NOT-DRIVE advisory: owners should not drive these vehicles until the repair is done. It covers certain 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles.

Is it safe to drive a vehicle with recall 20V712000?

No. NHTSA's record for 20V712000 carries a do-not-drive advisory: owners should not drive the vehicle until the recall repair is done. Contact a Volkswagen dealer to arrange the repair.

How do I know if my vehicle is affected by 20V712000?

Only a VIN lookup can tell you. Not every vehicle of the listed models and years is included, and repaired vehicles drop off. Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Volkswagen dealer to check it.

What is the fix for recall 20V712000, and is it free?

NHTSA's record says: "Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the steering knuckle, free of charge." NHTSA lists Nov 19, 2020 as the owner-notification date for this campaign. Safety-recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.

What is the Volkswagen recall number for 20V712000?

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number as 40Q6. Dealers and owner letters often use that code (40Q6) instead of the NHTSA campaign number 20V712000.

Sources and method

  • NHTSA recall record for 20V712000, from NHTSA's public recall campaign database. Problem, risk and remedy text is NHTSA's own wording.
  • "Vehicles affected" is NHTSA's potential-units-affected count for the whole campaign.
  • Data as of Nov 6, 2026. NHTSA updates campaigns as manufacturers file amendments, so check the official record for the latest.

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