2018 Volkswagen Atlas: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 444 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, airbags, and engine. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018- Owner complaints
- 444
- Recalls
- 16
- 1 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 5
- 16 injuries
One recall on this model year told owners to stop driving until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2018 Volkswagen Atlas: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/5
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Atlas is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | FWD | 24 mpg |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 19–20 mpg |
- The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Atlas that averages well under the EPA 19 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Early 12-volt battery failure
8,800–35,400 miles
Warped front brake rotors
20,000–27,000 miles
LED low beam headlight failure
50,000–100,000 miles
Water pump failure, coolant loss
69,000–98,022 miles
Engine failure requiring replacement
77,000–116,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical95No crashes
The engine shuts off at a light under auto start-stop and then will not restart, which leaves drivers stuck in intersections until someone jump-starts them. Dealers usually blame a weak or internally defective 12-volt battery. Several reports say replacement batteries are on back order. Dead batteries show up early, often in the first year or two of ownership. After a jump, some cars flash an EPC light and will not go faster than about 12 mph. Low beam headlight failures and on-and-off passenger airbag warnings also appear in this category.
Airbags872 crashes
Side curtain and seat airbags go off after minor curb or storm-drain hits that leave little damage on the vehicle. These cases account for the crash and injury reports. The more common complaint is an airbag warning light plus a flashing passenger airbag off light, tied to the passenger seat occupant sensor. Many filings are about recall 23V-215. Owners are told not to use the front passenger seat while the parts stay on back order for months. Others describe a twisted A/C drain tube that floods the passenger floor, covered by recall 18V-537.
Engine48No crashes
Coolant loss is the main pattern. A low coolant warning comes on, owners notice a sweet antifreeze smell, and dealers often find no leak. Water pumps fail between roughly 69,000 and 98,022 miles, and a replacement pump can fail again. Some cars stall in traffic with white smoke and end up needing a full engine replacement. One stall linked to a coolant leak gave three occupants headaches and nausea. Other reports describe oil consumption, early rod knock, and the engine shutting off at red lights under start-stop.
Brakes461 crash
A "Brake Booster Faulty" warning appears with no lead-up. The pedal goes soft or pulses, and the car slows sharply or stops on its own. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault, and owners say it keeps coming back over several years. Automatic emergency braking also slams on the brakes with nothing ahead. Reported triggers include intersections, parking-lot dips, and passing trucks on cruise control. One crash report describes the pedal going to the floor at under 5 mph. Warped front rotors show up at around 20,000 to 27,000 miles.
Steering221 crash
Power steering cuts out without warning, sometimes at highway speed, after an orange and then a red warning light. In other cases a faulty steering lock message disables the car. One owner paid $1,300 for a new steering module and the fault came back. Lane assist jerks the wheel or steers toward medians, and dealers call that normal. Engine stalls under start-stop also leave drivers with no power steering. One crash involved losing steering during a highway lane change. A fractured front steering knuckle is also reported.
Automatic emergency braking13No crashes
Automatic emergency braking brings the SUV to a hard stop when nothing is ahead, at anything from parking-lot speed to highway speed. Owners name railroad and light rail tracks, small inclines, and left turns across traffic as triggers. Cars behind nearly rear-end the vehicle, and one sudden stop strained two occupants' necks. Dealers and the manufacturer often find nothing wrong and suggest turning the feature off. A few reports say adaptive cruise control and lane assist refuse to turn on and show an error message instead.
Transmission131 crash
A "Transmission in emergency mode" message appears, often on a cold start or when shifting out of park. It usually clears after a restart, but dealer fixes do not always last. Several reports describe stalling at low speed or in reverse, and sputtering with an EPC light and lost power. Others describe start-stop shutting the engine off while moving, which also cuts power steering. Additional complaints include a car rolling downhill while in park, a hard jump into gear from neutral, and an engine that overheated and needed replacement.
Seats12No crashes
The second-row captain's chair unlatches and slams forward under normal braking. Children in car seats get thrown into the front seatback. All three injury reports involve this, with bruised noses and a forehead abrasion. Owners say the seat can click as if it is locked when it is not. They also say third-row children can easily reach and pull the release strap while the car is moving. Other complaints involve the passenger occupant sensor recall, where owners are told not to use the front passenger seat until a delayed fix arrives.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Atlas owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Both low beam headlights went out within two weeks of each other and the vehicle just hit 100,000 miles. Dealership states that replacing the entire headlight assembly is the only fix and will cost $3,000. So now both headlights (safety issue) are out and the vehicle cannot be driven safely. Other VW Atlas vehicles are having the same issue around 50-60K miles. There should be a recall on the head lamps for safety concerns and liability reasons.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
There has been an airbag recall on my 2018 VW Atlas since March of 2023 with no remedy from the manufacturer even though it’s been almost a year. Manufacturer has advised that passengers should not use the front passenger seat until a remedy is available. I have not been able to have someone ride in my front passenger seat for almost a year with no advice or remedy from VW. Vehicle has been in dealership to try to fix this 3-4 times but fix has not worked.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
The vehicle is a 2018 VW Atlas SE w/Tech 2.0T FWD. The manufacturer recall number is 69FB. The NHTSA recall number is 23V215. The recall status is incomplete because a remedy is not yet available. I have called several VW dealerships and they are all saying there is no remedy identified yet for this. This has been a known issue since April 2023. It has now been 8 months. How long does a manufacturer have to NOT remedy a SAFETY situation?
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
It has been almost 1 year since this airbag recall and no resolution. VW advises to “discontinue use of the front passenger seat”. This is ridiculous and unacceptable. I purchased this 7 passenger vehicle to transport my family including grandkids. I cannot do that with out the front passenger seat. I want a 7 passenger loaner or for VW to refund my purchase of this vehicle. There has not yet been a crash.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2024
Replaced a failed water pump at 78,831 miles on 11/03/2022 and that replacement part failed again at 98,022 miles on 12/26/2023.The dealer would not cover either replacement. The first was outside vehicle warranty and the second was outside the 12k mile part warranty period. This model/trim was not covered under the class action lawsuit related to water pump failure. I’m reporting this so you are aware that
Filed with NHTSA, August 2024
2018 Atlas SEL Premium 3.6L V6. Currently at VW dealership for warranty work. Vehicle has had coolant leaks in the past where dealer replaced water pump. Atlas in for the third time for misfiring in cylinder 6 and other misfiring engine codes. They found issues with the head cylinder gasket and will be replacing the head gasket. There are blogs about this issue throughout the internet.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
I have experienced an alert/alarm for a "Faulty Break Booster", "Break System Failure", as well as other Break related alarms go off while driving. Multiple times I have been going over 40 mph and the vehicle has instantly breaked and came to a stop on it's own. I have taken my vehicle to the dealer and was advised there is no issue. This issue seems to happen randomly as I have been unable to recognize any similarities between conditions and frequency.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2024
Driving on a single lane road with no other cars on road (in front or behind) and car suddenly brakes to a complete stop and the crash warning sound become audible inside the car. This happened 1 other time about 1 month prior but car did not come to a complete stop that time. That incident there were other vehicles on the road but were at a fair distance away from the car and those vehicles were not braking or slowing down.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
How the 2018 compares with other Atlas years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 Atlas years, about 1.9 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical9560
- Airbags8740
- Engine4819
- Brakes4624
- Steering228
- Automatic emergency braking1311
Where the 2018 fits in the Atlas's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the first model year of the Atlas's first generation (2018–2024). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Volkswagen fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Volkswagen updated the Atlas for 2021, so a 2018 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2021 (not on a 2018)
- New front end
- Redesigned wheels
- New rear lights
- New steering wheel
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recalls to confirm (16)
Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
18V369000BrakesDo not driveJun 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
23V215000AirbagsMar 2023
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 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.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.
22V086000EquipmentFeb 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.
21V321000OtherMay 2021
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 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
21V142000Wheels and tiresMar 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44R1.
20V561000OtherSep 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
20V057000AirbagsJan 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrectly manufactured air bag sensor, which can delay or disable air bag deployment when necessary.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag crash sensor, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AL.
19V389000Exterior lightsMay 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
18V904000SuspensionDec 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Risk: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J2/42J3.
18V824000ElectricalNov 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection.".
Risk: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
18V537000AirbagsAug 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. During production, the air conditioning system drain tube may have been twisted, causing water to drain into the air bag control module.
Risk: The wet air bag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the air bags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube, and if it is twisted, the drain tube and air bag control module will be replaced, free of charge. Some of the affected vehicles have had their drain tube previously replaced but did not receive a new air bag control module; the airbag control module will be replaced in these vehicles. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87F9.
18V536000BrakesAug 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
Risk: The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
18V380000Seat beltsJun 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswaen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The owner's manuals provided with the affected vehicles do not inform the customers about the child restraint size limitation/restrictions for the second row center seating position. As a result, the center and adjacent outboard seat belt buckles on the second row can become damaged it a child seat base is installed that is wider than 12.6 inches.
Risk: A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seat belt buckles, and replace them if necessary, free of charge. Volkswagen will also provide an owner's manual supplement addressing child safety and child restraints. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X1.
18V375000AirbagsJun 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Risk: If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
18V284000Fuel systemMay 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank on these vehicles may leak fuel due to a manufacturing error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity.".
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AW. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 17V-766.
17V766000Fuel systemNov 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank may have been manufactured with insufficient wall thickness, potentially resulting in the tank leaking fuel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity.".
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AQ.
Also looking at these instead of a Atlas?
Cars shoppers compare with the Volkswagen Atlas, with their own 2018 checklists.
2018 owner complaints, side by side
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