2023 Volkswagen Atlas
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 37 of 130 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 180 in 2022 to 130 in 2023.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,450 | 2,700–3,300 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–22 | 19–23 | 20–23 | 20–23 | 20–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–21 / 22–24 | 17–21 / 23–25 | 18–21 / 23–25 | 18–20 / 24–27 | 18–20 / 25–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 400–485 | 387–460 | 387–450 | 393–435 | 392–436 | |
| Complaints filed | 467 | 180 | 130 | 167 | 44 | |
| Recalls issued | 17 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 9 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
Engine: 37 of 130 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas get?
EPA rates it 20–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 21 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 387 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 21 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 391 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 445 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 435 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 411 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 450 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 443 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 412 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 23 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
SUSPENSION; SERVICE BRAKES · Campaign 25V434000 · Jun 26, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 24V464000 · Jun 21, 2024
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL · Campaign 22V753000 · Oct 11, 2022
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Consequence: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 22V718000 · Sep 27, 2022
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Certain brake lines may leak at the threaded connections.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T2.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 22V152000 · Mar 14, 2022
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.
Consequence: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.