2018 Volkswagen Atlas: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 645 complaints
645
Total Complaints
16,700mi
Median Mileage
Electrical System
Top Issue
8
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
4,500
25th Percentile
16,700
Median Mileage
30,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Electrical System
108
Air Bags
98
Engine
95
Service Brakes
74
Unknown Or Other
70
Fuel/Propulsion System
29
Steering
22
Automatic Emergency Braking
17
Seats
15
Power Train
14
Severity Assessment
8
Crashes
0
Fires
24
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"THE FIREWALL WAS BROKEN DURING A REPAIR TO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BY THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2017. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE FIREWALL BEING BROKEN DURING THE REPAIR. WE WERE ONLY INFORMED WHEN WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER REPAIR IN NOVEMBER 2017. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWINGLY ..."
"THE IGNITION SWITCH, IF PRESSED, WILL TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NEXT TO THE SHIFT GEAR AND MAY BE ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK WHICH MAY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH."
"I CAME TO A FULL STOP AS I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY. SINCE THERE WERE NO VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM EITHER DIRECTION AND THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF ME, I STATED TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED MY VEHICLE WITH NO JUST..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Electrical System
108 complaints
25th: 10,250 mi
Median: 18,737 mi
75th: 29,750 mi
Air Bags
98 complaints
25th: 15,741 mi
Median: 45,000 mi
75th: 65,700 mi
Engine
95 complaints
25th: 7,650 mi
Median: 18,475 mi
75th: 29,916 mi
Service Brakes
74 complaints
25th: 4,273 mi
Median: 13,039 mi
75th: 30,000 mi
Unknown Or Other
70 complaints
25th: 2,150 mi
Median: 8,800 mi
75th: 25,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 94
TX: 55
FL: 54
VA: 30
NY: 27
GA: 27
IL: 26
IN: 21
WA: 21
NC: 19
Who Files Complaints?
0.9%
Original Owners
99.1%
Second+ Owners
Volkswagen Atlas — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (16)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Caliper
Campaign 18V536000 | 15/08/2018
The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if ne
Air Bags
Campaign 20V057000 | 31/01/2020
In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag crash sensor, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AL.
Coil Springs
Campaign 18V904000 | 19/12/2018
If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J2/42J3.
Inflator Module
Campaign 18V375000 | 06/06/2018
If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
Caliper
Campaign 18V369000 | 01/06/2018
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contac
Headlights
Campaign 19V389000 | 22/05/2019
Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
Tank Assembly
Campaign 18V284000 | 02/05/2018
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AW. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 17V-766.
Instrument Cluster/Panel
Campaign 18V824000 | 26/11/2018
If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
Sidewall
Campaign 21V142000 | 05/03/2021
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44R1.
Unknown Or Other
Campaign 20V561000 | 16/09/2020
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
Unknown Or Other
Campaign 21V321000 | 05/05/2021
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
Buckle Assembly
Campaign 18V380000 | 07/06/2018
A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seat belt buckles, and replace them if necessary, free of charge. Volkswagen will also provide an owner's manual supplement addressing child safety and child restraints. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may
Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Campaign 18V537000 | 20/08/2018
The wet air bag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the air bags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube, and if it is twisted, the drain tube and air bag control module will be replaced, free of charge. Some of the affected vehicles have had their drain tube previously replaced but did not receive a new air bag co
Storage
Campaign 17V766000 | 29/11/2017
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AQ.
Labels
Campaign 22V086000 | 16/02/2022
Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.
Front Passenger
Campaign 23V215000 | 29/03/2023
A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.
Maintain Your Electrical System
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Clean battery terminals annually with baking soda and water
- Replace the battery every 3-5 years before it leaves you stranded
- Don't leave accessories running with the engine off
- Check for corroded ground connections if you have intermittent electrical issues
- Replace dim headlights promptly — they're a safety issue and a wiring symptom
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28