Volkswagen Atlas reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 1,998 complaints about the Volkswagen Atlas with NHTSA since 2018, most often about electrical system and engine. Volkswagen has filed 13 warranty extensions and 4 service campaigns for it, and there are 48 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Volkswagen Atlas? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Atlas a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2018 on.
- Owner complaints
- 1,998
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 13
- Filed by Volkswagen
- Service campaigns
- 4
- Filed by Volkswagen
- Safety recalls
- 48
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Atlas with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | Engine (40%) | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 49 | Electrical system (35%) | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 171 | Electrical system (25%) | 8 | 2 |
| 2023 | 135 | Engine (26%) | 5 | 8 |
| 2022 | 183 | Engine (27%) | 7 | 11 |
| 2021 | 477 | Electrical system (31%) | 17 | 12 |
| 2020 | 27 | Electrical system (41%) | 4 | 11 |
| 2019 | 480 | Airbags (29%) | 12 | 11 |
| 2018 | 466 | Electrical system (24%) | 17 | 9 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Atlas model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Volkswagen
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Volkswagen filed with NHTSA for the Atlas, in its own words. A warranty extension means Volkswagen pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionJul 2026· Engine· model years 2018–2022
For applicable 2018-2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport 3.6L Settlement Class Vehicles (NA6 warranty key), the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 80% of the replacement of the Water Pump or Water Pump Gasket by an authorized Volkswagen Dealer to 8.5 years or…
- Warranty extensionSep 2025· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2018–2023
This supporting FAQ is for the Turbocharger Limited Warranty Extension Class Action Settlement.
- Warranty extensionSep 2025· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2018–2023
For applicable Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 50% of the repair or replacement of the Turbocharger by an authorized Volkswagen Dealer for 8.5 years or 85,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle’s in-service date.
- Warranty extensionMay 2025· Seats· model years 2018–2024
For applicable 2018-2024 Volkswagen Atlas Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty has been extended to cover the repair or replacement of the Second Row Seat Latching Mechanism by an authorized Volkswagen dealer for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs…
- Warranty extensionMay 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2022
Volkswagen has extended the Warranty coverage for the Evap Leak Detection Pump (LDP) to 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicles original in-service date, for certain 2022 Model Year Volkswagen vehicles.
- Warranty extensionOct 2024· Electrical system· model years 2019–2023
This Supporting FAQ is for the Atlas Front Door Wiring Harness Class Action Settlement for vehicles identified by U70 Warranty Key.
- Warranty extensionOct 2024· Electrical system· model years 2019–2023
Volkswagen is extending warranty coverage for the Front Door Wiring Harnesses on certain 2019-2023 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles identified by the U70 Warranty Key for 5 years / 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first) from the date that the 97GF recall was performed.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2018–2023
These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2018–2023
These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement
- Warranty extensionDec 2023· Engine and cooling· model years 2020–2021
This Document announces the policy for the Engine Control Module Software Update Limited Warranty extension.
- Warranty extensionSep 2023· Visibility· model years 2018–2021
This Document informs dealers on the Sunroof Class Action Limited Warranty Extension revision. Revised to include info on how to proceed with vehicles not applicable to the 60E2/60E5.
- Warranty extensionSep 2023· Visibility· model years 2018–2021
This Document informs dealers on the Sunroof Class Action Limited Warranty Extension FAQ for commonly asked questions. Revised to include info on how to proceed with vehicles not applicable to the 60E2/60E5.
- Warranty extensionJun 2019· Electrical system· model years 2018–2019
This Document informs dealers on the new warranty extension of the 12 Volt Battery Warranty Extension for certain Atlas vehicles
- Service campaignMay 2026· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2026
A small number of vehicles were equipped with an incorrect differential race in the transmission. Under this service action, dealers will replace the transmission at no cost to owners
- Service campaignNov 2025· Engine· model years 2022–2023
The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve / oil separator may fail prematurely due to material aging.
- Service campaignNov 2025· Engine· model years 2024–2025
Install engine cover.
- Service campaignApr 2022· Equipment and accessories· model years 2021–2022
Working with Service Campaigns that have Over-the-Air (OTA) Capability
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Atlas model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Electrical system484 (24%)
- Engine372 (19%)
- Airbags367 (18%)
- Brakes349 (17%)
- Other or unspecified306 (15%)
- Automatic emergency braking and collision warning240 (12%)
- Exterior lights106 (5%)
- Fuel and propulsion104 (5%)
Safety recalls
48 recalls cover at least one Atlas model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.
The incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed during vehicle manufacturing.
Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly…
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse.
The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The brake master cylinder may have been assembled with an incorrect secondary piston spring retainer, which can block the brake fluid port.
The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.
The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
The driver's side impact air bag may be missing a weld at the side air bag housing.
The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously.
The driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to loosen and fall out.
And 33 more recalls on NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- EA24004Engineering analysis· opened Dec 2024, still open· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2019
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
- PE23017Preliminary evaluation· opened Sep 2023, closed Dec 2024· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2018–2023
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
- PE21008Preliminary evaluation· opened Mar 2021, closed Oct 2022· Fuel system· model years 2018–2020
Fuel Injector Leak
NHTSA's own page for the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2018 on: 1,998 owner complaints, 13 warranty extensions and 4 service campaigns Volkswagen filed, and 48 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2019 (480), 2021 (477), 2018 (466). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Volkswagen Atlas?
Across every model year since 2018, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name electrical system (24%), engine (19%), airbags (18%). Volkswagen has filed 13 warranty extensions covering the Atlas, listed on this page.
Which Atlas model years have the most complaints?
2019 (480), 2021 (477), 2018 (466). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Atlas with each other rather than with other models.
Has Volkswagen extended the warranty on the Atlas?
Yes: engine (model years 2018–2022); transmission and drivetrain (model years 2018–2023); transmission and drivetrain (model years 2018–2023), and 10 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Atlas?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 48 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.