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Volkswagen Atlas: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Volkswagen Atlas problems by model year, from 2,122 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2023 (50%, 56 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (41%, 82 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (37%, 128 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 6 Volkswagen Atlas years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2020 (20%) and 2019 (30%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2021 drew the most drivetrain complaints (151 of 536 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Volkswagen Atlas year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Atlas | elevated | 37% | 128 | 464 | 3/6 | 17 |
| 2019 Atlas | no elevated signal | 30% | 99 | 480 | 5/6 | 12 |
| 2020 Atlas | no elevated signal | 20% | 20 | 133 | 6/6 | 11 |
| 2021 Atlas | elevated | 33% | 151 | 638 | 4/6 | 17 |
| 2022 Atlas | high | 41% | 82 | 255 | 2/6 | 7 |
| 2023 Atlas | high | 50% | 56 | 152 | 1/6 | 6 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Volkswagen Atlas years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Volkswagen Atlas engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Volkswagen Atlas involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 40 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2017 | 17V766000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage | 2018 |
| May 2018 | 18V284000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2018 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V614000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2019 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V245000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors | 2021–2022 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V753000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2022–2023 |
35 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2018 | 18V369000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V375000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2018 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V380000 | seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V536000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V537000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2018 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V824000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2018–2019 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V904000 | suspension: rear: springs: coil springs | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V218000 | air bags: side/window | 2019 |
| May 2019 | 19V389000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2018–2019 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V057000 | air bags | 2018 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V504000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2020–2021 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V505000 | seats | 2020–2021 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V561000 | unknown or other | 2018 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V702000 | tires: sidewall | 2020–2021 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V712000 | steering | 2020–2021 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V716000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2021 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V026000 | steering | 2020–2021 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V132000 | wheels: rim | 2021 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V142000 | tires: sidewall | 2018–2019 |
| May 2021 | 21V321000 | unknown or other | 2018 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V616000 | electrical system: wiring: relays/solenoids | 2021 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V812000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2021 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V892000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system | 2020–2021 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V086000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018–2021 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V152000 | air bags: side/window | 2019–2023 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V514000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2021–2022 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V657000 | trailer hitches | 2022 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V718000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2023 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V807000 | suspension: critical fasteners | 2022–2023 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V815000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2019–2021 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V215000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2018–2021 |
| Oct 2023 | 23V671000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2019 |
| Jun 2024 | 24V464000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2023 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V434000 | service brakes | 2023 |
| Sep 2026 | 26V590000 | steering | 2018–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Volkswagen Atlas
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Volkswagen Atlas
What are the worst years for the Volkswagen Atlas?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Volkswagen Atlas years are the 2023 (50% of relevant complaints, high), the 2022 (41% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (37% of relevant complaints, elevated). 4 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Atlas?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Volkswagen Atlas years are the 2020 (20%) and the 2019 (30%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Volkswagen Atlas have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 536 of 1,543 relevant NHTSA complaints (35%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 6 Volkswagen Atlas years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 35% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Volkswagen Atlas?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Volkswagen Atlas years we track, out of 40 in total: 19V614000 (Aug 2019, 2019), 22V245000 (Apr 2022, 2021–2022), 22V753000 (Oct 2022, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.