2021 Kia Telluride vs 2021 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 | 2021 Kia Telluride | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 343 | 451 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 17 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 95 | 615 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–23 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 3,950 mi | 17,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Telluride | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 39 | 142 |
| Engine | 57 | 80 |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 93 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 20 | 68 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 59 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 63 |
| Visibility/wiper | 62 | 3 |
| Structure | 31 | 20 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 18 | 0 |
| Stalling | 15 | 41 |
| Loss of power | 12 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 12 | 27 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 5 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 21 |
2021 Kia Telluride
2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Kia Telluride 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.