2018 Volkswagen Atlas Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 17 NHTSA recalls and 465 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
25/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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17
NHTSA Recalls
17 recalls on record
465
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
8
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Volkswagen Atlas (17)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Volkswagen dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Caliper
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.
Remedy: 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,…
🔧 Air Bags
In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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….
🔧 Suspension: Rear: Springs: Coil Springs
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.
Remedy: 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….
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module
If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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….
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Caliper
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Exterior Lighting: Headlights
Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Tank Assembly
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
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.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Tires: Sidewall
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.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Unknown Or Other
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: 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.
Showing 10 of 17 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Based on 465 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Volkswagen Atlas — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Volkswagen Atlas VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a Volkswagen VIN — free Volkswagen VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
✅ Best model years: 2020 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has 17 recall campaigns and 465 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have?
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has 17 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas are: Electrical System, Air Bags, Engine, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas safe to buy?
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 17 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Volkswagen Atlas should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Volkswagen Atlas are: 2020. These show the lowest complaint rates.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.