Volkswagen Atlas 2023 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls issued for the Volkswagen Atlas 2023 and 139 complaints filed by owners. It has 44% fewer complaints than the average Volkswagen Atlas from 2018–2025 (250 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Volkswagen Atlas 2023? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Volkswagen Atlas 2023
Brakes
NHTSA campaign 25V434000 · 2025-06-30
What happens
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 have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Consequence
A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 24V464000 · 2024-06-20
What happens
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.
Consequence
A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Engine and cooling
NHTSA campaign 22V753000 · 2022-10-07
What happens
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.
Consequence
A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Brakes (hydraulic)
NHTSA campaign 22V718000 · 2022-09-26
What happens
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.
Consequence
A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T2.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 22V152000 · 2022-03-28
What happens
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 impact crash.
Consequence
A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
139 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
4 with a crash · 6 injuries
Most reported problems on the Volkswagen Atlas 2023
- Engine: 36 (26% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 34 (24% of complaints)
- Air bags: 21 (15% of complaints)
- Fuel and propulsion: 18 (13% of complaints)
- Exterior lighting: 15 (11% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Atlas 2023
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Test lights, windows, locks, the screen and dashboard warning lights; have trouble codes scanned.
- The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2023 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Volkswagen Atlas recalls by year
- 2018 : 17 recalls · 465 complaints
- 2019 : 12 recalls · 483 complaints
- 2020 : 4 recalls · 27 complaints
- 2021 : 17 recalls · 478 complaints
- 2022 : 7 recalls · 184 complaints
- 2023 : 5 recalls · 139 complaints
- 2024 : 8 recalls · 175 complaints
- 2025 : 5 recalls · 50 complaints
Guides for this check
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Atlas 2023 have?
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls issued for the Volkswagen Atlas 2023. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Volkswagen Atlas 2023?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: engine (36 of 139 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 23, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).