2023 Volkswagen Atlas: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the airbags, electrical, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023- Owner complaints
- 114
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes reported
- 5
- 6 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Volkswagen Atlas: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
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 2023 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 | AWD, FWD | 22–23 mpg |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20 mpg |
- The 2023 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 20 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.
Engine stalling while driving
4,000–9,600 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Airbags252 crashes
Most of these reports are about a recall, not a new failure. Federal recall records list campaign 24V464000 for the passenger occupant detection sensor, and owners say dealers have had no replacement part for more than a year. Some see the air bag warning light come on again and again. One owner was told the passenger air bag may not deploy and was advised not to use that seat. Two crash reports describe air bags that did not deploy or deployed late, with 3 injuries.
Electrical23No crashes
The engine shuts off at stops and the start-stop system fails to restart it, so the car will not move until it is shifted to Park and restarted. A few owners say power cut out at highway speed and took the dash and steering with it. Instrument cluster and infotainment screens go black while driving, and one head unit failed again after being replaced. Other reports cover sudden loud noise from the sound system and failed daytime running lights. Dealers often find no codes and cannot duplicate the faults.
Engine13No crashes
Unexpected stalling is the main complaint. The engine dies at low speed, while reversing, pulling away from lights, and sometimes at 45 mph. The dash then says to shift to Park and restart. Dealers often find no codes. When they do act, they replace the EVAP or carbon canister, sometimes several times, and the stalling can come back. Separate reports describe the PCV valve or oil separator leaking oil across the top of the engine and setting off the low oil warning, plus a failed fuel injector and a fuel pump failure with gas smell in the cabin.
Brakes121 crash
Grinding, squealing, and screeching are common, mostly after the car has sat or when it is wet. The noise often starts early in ownership. New pads and resurfaced rotors stop it only for a while before it returns. Dealers often call the noise normal or blame humidity. Some owners also feel vibration through the pedal when braking above 30 mph and are told they need rotors. One owner says brakes are covered for only 24,000 miles. A single crash report says automatic emergency braking did not work.
Automatic emergency braking5No crashes
The car brakes hard with nothing in its path, sometimes going from 30 mph to a full stop and locking the seat belts. One report of this kind lists whiplash and rib pain. With adaptive cruise on, owners describe emergency braking at highway speed after the car ahead had already moved out of the lane. Collision alarms also go off during routine stops and turns. In the opposite failure, the system fails to react when another driver cuts in. Dealers say the sensors check out.
Transmission4No crashes
Stalling at low speed and in reverse continues even with start-stop turned off, and one report puts the onset at about 8,500 miles. Carbon canister and N80 valve repairs are sometimes done twice without a lasting fix. Owners also describe throttle response that changes from one press to the next, with the car either surging hard or barely moving. A separate report describes steering vibration while accelerating, braking, and turning that spreads to the whole car at some speeds, and a dealer confirmed it.
Exterior lights3No crashes
The daytime running lights fail on one side or both, with no warning on the dash. Failures are reported from moderate mileage into high mileage, and in one report the second side quit soon after the first. One fix needed a full lamp assembly replacement plus recalibration of the adaptive cruise sensor, done under warranty. A related electrical complaint describes a steep dealer-only cost per light once the warranty is gone. Owners also say the headlights give poor visibility.
Steering21 crash
The wheel locks up without warning. In one report this happened during a right turn, and the car went over a sidewalk and into a building. The driver was hurt by air bag burns and the car was totaled. In the other report, the wheel locked after the engine shut off while backing out of a driveway, which ties this category to the stalling problem described elsewhere. Only 2 complaints are on file.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Atlas owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The Airbag warning light turns on/off at random times while operating vehicle. Sometimes the light remains on until the vehicle is restarted. During the events, only the driver was in the vehicle and nothing was on top of the passenger seats. There is also a pop-up Airbag message that displays on the dashboard panel and stays on for several seconds, when the Airbag warning light turns on.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
The airbag light continuously goes off and makes a loud beeping noise and blinks an orange airbag light, I constantly have passengers in my front passenger seat. It is unsafe to be driving when it’s not sure that their airbag will deploy if in an accident.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
While driving the main instrument panel turned off for about 10 seconds and restarted with default values, loat ability to see my speed and other vehicle information. This is not the radio I am talking about the main instrument that has speedometer tachometer fuel and temp gauges The car did seem to be runing while this happened
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
The design of the tilt and telescope steering column allows for an adjustment position that will cause the turn signal stalk to bind against the instrument panel trim with the steering wheel adjusted up and forward. This prohibits proper use of the turn signal and headlight dimmer functions. A clear design defect
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
Driving 45 mph on the highway, the vehicle suddenly loses power and shuts off. Dash instructed me to place the car in park and start the vehicle manually. This has happened 4+ times in the last two months. Volkswagen dealer states that no codes are showing and they are unable to fix it. This is extremely dangerous!!
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
Vehicle stalls when at very slow speeds which requires you to put the vehicle in park and restart. This has happened over 15 times and last time was 10/29/24.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2024
UNKOWN Brakes on brand new vehicle are exhibiting behavior that is not normal for a car of this size and relatively young age (miles). Measurably loud brake noise based on manufactures choice of materials in components leave concern on overall safety of brake system based on generally considered (except by dealer / manufacturer of course) unexpected behavior of vehicle braking system.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
The breaks make a screeching sound and you can feel in the pedal the car wobbling/slipping. I took to be repaired under warranty and they said there's nothing wrong. Break pads and breaks are in good health accord them. They have no explaination for the sound.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
How the 2023 compares with other Atlas years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks seventh for owner complaints among 8 Atlas years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Airbags2548
- Electrical2370
- Engine1324
- Brakes1229
- Automatic emergency braking512
- Transmission412
Where the 2023 fits in the Atlas's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the sixth model year of the Atlas's first generation (2018–2024).
It includes the 2021 update.
What changed for 2021
- New front end
- Redesigned wheels
- New rear lights
- New steering wheel
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V434000BrakesJun 2025
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
24V464000AirbagsJun 2024
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 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 September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
22V807000SuspensionOct 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Volkswagen Atlas FL and 2022-2023 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to loosen and fall out.
Risk: Unsecured bolts may cause the trailing arm to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver side rear trailing arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 25, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42M2.
22V753000EngineOct 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
22V718000BrakesSep 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Certain brake lines may leak at the threaded connections.
Risk: A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T2.
22V152000AirbagsMar 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.
Risk: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.
Also looking at these instead of a Atlas?
Cars shoppers compare with the Volkswagen Atlas, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
- Chevrolet Traverse62
- Ford Explorer84
- Honda Pilot93
- 2023 Volkswagen Atlas114
- Toyota Highlander140
- Kia Telluride161
- Hyundai Palisade326
