Volkswagen Atlas years to avoid
Every Volkswagen Atlas model year on file (2018-2025), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2024
Worst year on file
64.6
Severity index
Electrical System
Most-reported system
2019
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024 Volkswagen Atlas | 64.6 Medium | 174 | Electrical System |
| 2 | 2023 Volkswagen Atlas | 52.5 Medium | 138 | Engine |
| 3 | 2020 Volkswagen Atlas | 48.0 Medium | 27 | Electrical System |
| 4 | 2025 Volkswagen Atlas | 43.6 Low | 49 | Electrical System |
| 5 | 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | 41.9 Low | 465 | Electrical System |
| 6 | 2022 Volkswagen Atlas | 35.5 Low | 184 | Engine |
| 7 | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas | 34.5 Low | 476 | Electrical System |
| 8 | 2019 Volkswagen Atlas | 29.0 Low | 482 | Air Bags |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Volkswagen Atlas complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 465 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 41.9 Low | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2019 | 482 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 29.0 Low | AIR BAGS |
| 2020 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 48.0 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2021 | 476 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 34.5 Low | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2022 | 184 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 35.5 Low | ENGINE |
| 2023 | 138 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 52.5 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2024 | 174 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 64.6 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2025 | 49 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 43.6 Low | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.