Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2026.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Atlas | 11 | 2 |
| 2025 Atlas | 50 | 5 |
| 2024 Atlas | 175 | 8 |
| 2023 Atlas | 139 | 5 |
| 2022 Atlas | 184 | 7 |
| 2021 Atlas | 480 | 17 |
| 2020 Atlas | 27 | 4 |
| 2019 Atlas | 483 | 12 |
| 2018 Atlas | 466 | 17 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system491
- Engine376
- Air bags375
- Service brakes350
- Unknown or other311
- Forward collision avoidance243
- Fuel/propulsion system144
- Exterior lighting125
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 72 Atlas vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 20 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | 3 |
| 2021 | 10 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 |
| 2019 | 28 | 7 |
| 2018 | 25 | 6 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 10 model-year variants; 9 of 9 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2027 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV ICE AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2026 | 2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV N/A AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2025 | 2025 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2024 | 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2023 | 2023 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2022 | 2022 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2021 | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2020 | 2020 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 8 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.0–11.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Atlas 4MOTION Comfortline · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 9.2 | 10.7 |
| 2025 | Atlas 4MOTION Comfortline · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 9.2 | 11.1 |
| 2024 | Atlas 4MOTION Comfortline · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 9.2 | 10.8 |
| 2023 | Atlas · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 9.3 | 10.2 |
| 2022 | Atlas 4MOTION · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 9.5 | 10.6 |
| 2021 | Atlas 4MOTION · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 9.9 | 10.9 |
| 2019 | Atlas · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 9.1 | 10.5 |
| 2018 | Atlas · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.8 | 8.9 | 10.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
New registrations in Europe
256 new Volkswagen Atlas cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2019 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Germany (46), Spain (2), Bulgaria (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 49 | 285 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 62 | 294 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 57 | 294 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 88 | 287 (WLTP) |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Atlas in 2 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
An incorrectly assembled design engine cover can become detached and come into contact with hot parts of the exhaust turbocharger, increasing the risk of the vehicle catching fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surv…
The condensation drainage ducts on the air-conditioning housing were not punched through, this prevents condensation from flowing through the condensation duct as intended, thus allowing it to enter the vehicle’s interior. Condensation could enter the airbag c…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
48 campaigns cover the Atlas; the latest 12 are below.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. 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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. 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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2026 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 vehicles. The incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed during vehicle manufacturing.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. 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 tightened during the manufacturing process.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been assembled with an incorrect secondary piston spring retainer, which can block the brake fluid port.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. 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."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. 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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas vehicles. The driver's side impact air bag may be missing a weld at the side air bag housing.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas PA2 and Atlas Cross Sport PA vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
NHTSA recalls