MODELYEARINDEX

Volkswagen Atlas

2,217 complaints across 4 scored model years and 46 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Volkswagen Atlas Full report
D
Grade 2018–2021
2021 vs model median 1.6×
Model median3× median
Electrical 132
Brakes 97
Driver Assist 85
Avoid

2021

Best

2018 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2018
0.96× 368 C
2019
1.04× 430 C
2020
0.08× 34 A
2021
1.57× 614 D
2022 P
0.79× 272 C
2023 P
0.60× 179 B
2024 P
0.65× 253 C
2025 P
0.18× 67 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG22
City / Highway20 / 26
Engine2L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,800

Recalls

46 campaigns on record, 2 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
19V389000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 2018, 2019 662,185
22V815000 TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS 2019–2021 296,044
24V464000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2021–2024 271,330
22V152000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW 2019–2023 222,892
25V100000 ENGINE 2024, 2025 177,493
25V334000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2024, 2025 171,381
23V215000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2018–2021 143,053
24V480000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2024 84,432

+ 38 further campaigns

Others in Midsize SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura MDX
20162020
C
Audi Q7
20172021
C
Audi Q8
2019
C
BMW X5
20112021
D
BMW X6
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Traverse
20102011
C
Dodge Durango
20112012
C
Dodge Journey
20142015
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 Atlas
Complaints in window
614
Severity-weighted
821
Model median (weighted)
524
vs model median
1.57×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
19
Open investigations
0
Score 45.8 D