Volkswagen Atlas complaints by model year
1,996 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2024 | 171 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 2023 | 134 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | 183 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 2021 | 476 | 9 | 1 | 17 |
| 2020 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 480 | 7 | 0 | 12 |
| 2018 | 466 | 8 | 0 | 17 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2018–2026. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 111 | 75 | 11 | 148 | 44 | 33 | 43 | 17 | 3 |
| Air bags | 100 | 141 | 8 | 66 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 100 | 60 | 3 | 85 | 50 | 35 | 28 | 7 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 75 | 76 | 4 | 95 | 47 | 15 | 36 | 5 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 73 | 60 | 5 | 77 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 12 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 31 | 72 | 7 | 68 | 20 | 8 | 27 | 6 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 32 | 32 | 2 | 41 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 2 | 0 | 67 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Volkswagen Atlas recalls (48)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Atlas model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V590000 | Sep 11, 2026 | Loss of Steering Control from Bolt Failure | 2018, 2019 | — |
| 26V473000 | Jul 22, 2026 | Rearview Camera Image May Not Display | 2024, 2025, 2026 | — |
| 25V835000 | Dec 3, 2025 | Wheel May Detach from Vehicle | 2026 | 100% |
| 25V434000 | Jun 30, 2025 | Loss of Vehicle Control from Loose Brake and Suspension Bolts | 2023, 2024, 2025 | 85% |
| 25V334000 | May 21, 2025 | Distorted Rearview Camera Image/FMVSS 111 | 2024, 2025 | 90.6% |
| 25V100000 | Feb 17, 2025 | Loose Engine Cover May Melt and Cause Fire | 2024, 2025 | 94.5% |
| 25V081000 | Feb 12, 2025 | Loss of Drive Power from Transmission Failure | 2025 | 100% |
| 24V723000 | Sep 27, 2024 | Brake Master Cylinder Contains Incorrect Part | 2024 | 98.4% |
| 24V480000 | Jun 27, 2024 | Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 | 2024 | 98.2% |
| 24V464000 | Jun 20, 2024 | Front Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy | 2021–2024 | 73.9% |
| 23V671000 | Oct 4, 2023 | Side Air Bag May Deploy Improperly | 2019 | 50% |
| 23V593000 | Aug 23, 2023 | Engine Failure | 2024 | 98.7% |
| 23V215000 | Mar 29, 2023 | Front Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy | 2018–2021 | 64% |
| 22V815000 | Oct 31, 2022 | Tire Pressure Loss Not Detected/FMVSS 138 | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 84.4% |
| 22V807000 | Oct 26, 2022 | Trailing Arm Bolts Improperly Tightened | 2022 | 84.9% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2025 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2024 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2023 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2022 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Volkswagen Atlas FAQ
How many recalls has the Volkswagen Atlas had?
NHTSA lists 48 recall campaigns that cover at least one Volkswagen Atlas model year from 2018 to 2026. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Volkswagen Atlas year has the most complaints?
Among the last 4 model years with settled counts, the 2019 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (480) and the 2020 the fewest (27). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Volkswagen Atlas problems?
Across the 2018–2026 model years, owners most often name the electrical system, air bags, engine in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Volkswagen Atlas get?
EPA rates the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas at 21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.