2019 Volkswagen Atlas problems and recalls

Owners filed 239 complaints on the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas in the last three full years, out of 473 on record. The most cited component is the Air Bags.

473
Complaints
11
Recalls
7
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
10
Injuries
29.5
Severity index

Severity index 29.5 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 29.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 115 of 123 by severity index among 2019 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 7% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2019 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 141 complaints (29.8%)141 30%Service BrakesService Brakes: 76 complaints (16.1%)76 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 73 complaints (15.4%)73 15%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 72 complaints (15.2%)72 15%EngineEngine: 60 complaints (12.7%)60 13%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 59 complaints (12.5%)59 12%SteeringSteering: 35 complaints (7.4%)35 7%Power TrainPower Train: 34 complaints (7.2%)34 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS14129.8%
SERVICE BRAKES7616.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7315.4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE7215.2%
ENGINE6012.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5912.5%
STEERING357.4%
POWER TRAIN347.2%

Complaints filed per year

0651302018: 12019: 372020: 522021: 252022: 822023: 1242024: 632025: 522026: 37 (partial year)181920212223124242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20181
201937
202052
202125
202282
2023124
202463
202552
2026 (year to date)37
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (239 against 159).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V61400021/08/2019FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas vehicles. The suction jet in the fuel tank may have been welded in the incorrect position allowing fuel to leak. Additionally, the vehicle may stall due to uneven fuel distribution.
18V90400019/12/2018SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
19V38900022/05/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Fede
18V82400026/11/2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in
19V21800020/03/2019AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.
21V14200005/03/2021TIRES:SIDEWALLVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
22V08600016/02/2022EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not inst
22V15200028/03/2022AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWVolkswagen 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 dri
22V81500031/10/2022TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas
23V21500029/03/2023AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 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.
23V67100004/10/2023AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAINVolkswagen 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.

Other Volkswagen Atlas model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.