2018 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | 2020 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 460 | 27 |
| Recall campaigns | 16 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 814 | 618 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 0 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 18,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Atlas | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 111 | 11 |
| Air Bags | 100 | 8 |
| Engine | 97 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 74 | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 31 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 30 | 2 |
| Steering | 24 | 5 |
| Seats | 17 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 28 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 24 | 0 |
| Battery drain | 14 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 11 | 0 |
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
2020 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Volkswagen Atlas vs Volkswagen Atlas years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.