Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has 16 recalls, 448 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
16
Recalls
448
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
18V536000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper...
20V057000
AIR BAGS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrectly manufactur...
18V904000
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen J...
18V375000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger...
18V369000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen a...
19V389000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabl...
18V284000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank on these vehicles may leak fuel due to a...
18V824000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do n...
21V142000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicle...
20V561000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Pass...
21V321000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 G...
18V380000
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswaen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The owner's manuals provided with the affected veh...
18V537000
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. During production, the air conditioning system dr...
17V766000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank may have been manufactured with insufficient w...
22V086000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory s...
23V215000
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detec...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2026 | ENGINE | Vehicle has heavy leak from water pump. Most vehicles of this model have extended warentee due to c... |
| Mar 13, 2026 | ENGINE | Multiple low coolant alerts. Dealer inspected 3 times and denied problem while vehicle still under w... |
| Feb 27, 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES | Automatic parking brake comes on every time I start my car or park. It won’t come out of parking bra... |
| Jan 5, 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES | I received a brake booster fault caution which was followed by the BRAKE warning light being illumin... |
| Dec 29, 2025 | AIR BAGS | I am reporting a failure by Volkswagen Group of America to provide a safe and timely remedy for Safe... |
| Dec 27, 2025 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The vehicle intermittently displays a “Steering lock faulty, stop!” warning and fails to start. When... |
| Dec 23, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Both low beam headlights went out within two weeks of each other and the vehicle just hit 100,000 mi... |
| Dec 10, 2025 | ENGINE | Dealer maintained with oil changes per the schedule. Cylinder head issue requiring engine replacemen... |
| Nov 29, 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Gas tank melted on top of the tank next to drive shaft and a hole was leaking gas- we are keeping th... |
| Nov 3, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving, the vehicle suddenly loses engine power and shuts off without warning. This has happe... |
| Nov 1, 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The passenger side low beam headlights failed at roughly 100k miles. The replacement part and labor ... |
| Sep 12, 2025 | ENGINE | Low engine coolant light came on and began overheating all within a short period of time. Mechanic s... |
| Aug 13, 2025 | ENGINE | Our 2018 VW, when extremely hot temperatures would make a very loud grinding/squealing sound. Then t... |
| Aug 8, 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | This is a common issue with this car that is dangerous. The Evap Purge High Flow Control goes out an... |
| Jul 19, 2025 | ENGINE | My 2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 experienced a catastrophic engine failure at approximately 116,000 miles... |
| Jul 13, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | while operating the vehicle felt a jerk and then the check engine, oil, and EPC warning lights illum... |
| Jul 9, 2025 | STEERING | The power steering control module failed while the vehicle was traveling at highway speeds. When th... |
| Jun 15, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I buckled my son in his car seat and set my purse in the passenger seat and walked around the vehicl... |
| Jun 4, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | ECM light came on, while going 60+ on expressway. Car lost ability to accelerate and began to sputte... |
| May 21, 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | ECP light came on and vehicle entered limp mode |