Most common 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems
Share of the 138 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Atlas complaints by model year
Best Atlas years: 2020, 2025, 2023. Years to avoid: 2024, 2021. Compare all years →
2023 Volkswagen Atlas recalls (5)
Service brakes
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…
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
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
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.
Air bags › Side/window
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…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas:
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in…
What 2023 Volkswagen Atlas owners say
Engine & cooling all 38 →
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the sound might be caused by unknown engine parts rubbing against each other. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V753000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at a local dealer, the dealer informed the contact that the cylinder head gasket was rusted. The dealer provided a 60 percent discount, and the vehicle was repaired. Six weeks later, while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled, but the contact was able to avoid a crash. All of the warning lights illuminated. A mobile mechanic initially checked the battery and later determined that the fuel pump control module had failed. No further information was available. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
Electrical system all 34 →
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that upon his wife coming to a complete stop, the automatic start-stop system activated but failed to restart the vehicle as the driver attempted to accelerate. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The automatic start-stop system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who observed a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who then diagnosed a failure with the starter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 33,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in stop-and-go traffic, and while idling, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The vehicle was shaking abnormally while driving at various speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to start and was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who aligned the wheels and tightened the bolts. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the loss of automotive power failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000.
Air bags all 22 →
The contact owned a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated temporarily. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the automatic emergency braking system engaged, causing the vehicle to decelerate intermittently. The contact stated that while attempting to deactivate the forward collision avoidance system, the contact got distracted, causing the front passenger's side of the vehicle to crash into a utility pole. The contact caused the front driver's side air bag delayed to deploy and he hit his face against the steering wheel. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's side curtains air bags were delayed deployed. The contact stated that the curtain air bags deployed while he was exiting the vehicle through the front driver's side door and hit his head. …
The contact owned a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, a vehicle was coming towards her in the opposite direction making a left turn, and she collided with another vehicle on its front passenger side. No air bags were deployed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was then towed by her insurance company. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact stated that she sustained injuries on her neck and back. The contact's daughter who was the front passenger sustained injuries on her neck, back, and left leg. Both have received medical attention vis doctors. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags) however the vehicle had already been deemed totaled. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 25 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 24 / 22 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas a good car?
Based on 138 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 Atlas rates average: 34% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Atlas at the same age. It is one of the best Atlas years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
The engine & cooling — 38 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (34) and air bags (22).
How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, the most recent from June 30, 2025 (service brakes). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Atlas?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2025 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024 and 2021. See the full Volkswagen Atlas years comparison.
At what mileage do 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 73% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.