First generation
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
The most reported problem on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is airbag, with 100 complaints, usually around 45,000 miles.
- 464owner complaints
- 17recalls
- 8involved a crash
- 19,170median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Atlas doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has 464 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 1.4 times the median of 331 for 2018 SUVs on this site. Of the 8 Atlas model years since 2018, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019
- At 52 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs below the 2019 (60). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Airbag leads with 100 of the 464 complaints (22%), ahead of brake wear at 75. A quarter of the 17 owners who gave a mileage for airbag saw it by about 17,000 miles, and half by about 45,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 20 of the 464 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 8 reports mention a crash and 18 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Each of airbag, brake wear and dead battery has a recall on the same system: airbag, 18V-375, 18V-537 and 2 others; brake wear, 18V-369 and 18V-536; dead battery, 18V-824. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 93 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 31. So far in 2026, 25 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: airbag warning light or recall, 100 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
464 complaints is 1.7 times the median 2018 model on this site and 1.4 times the median 2018 SUV. Among the 6 Atlas model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen filed 818 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. 56 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car, 1 of those a warranty extension. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Airbag warning light or recall 1 bulletin · 100 complaints
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication for the airbag control module. For trouble code DTC B1022F0. Communication with the airbag control module – J234 has failed.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 3 bulletins · 75 complaints
Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation. Addition of mandatory brake form and reference to Volkswagen Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual.
Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation Instruction (U.S. Only)
1 more on this problem
Bake Vibration, Pulsation, Noise when braking during PDI
Battery dies or the car will not start 2 bulletins · 53 complaints
Discharged Battery, Diagnosis for excessive current draw.
Over time and mileage, the factory-installed catalyst may not perform as required. If the effectiveness of the catalyst is reduced, this may result in increased tailpipe emissions and the vehicle could fail an emissions (IM) inspection.
Check engine light or misfire 25 bulletins · 30 complaints
Engine misfire diagnostic aid.
Fuel Additive to prevent sporatic misfire
23 more on this problem
Turbocharger wastegate stuck, DTCs P2563 and or P00AF stored in engine/motor control module.
Fuel additive to help with misfire faults
Update Programming in Engine/Motor Control Module, DTC P054A
Diagnostic Aid for engine misfire.
DTC's P053F,P0087, P0088, P1025 may set due to the high pressure fuel pump being out of time (sync).
Recommended fuel additive to avoid engine misfires.
Diagnostic aid for DTC P0088 & P1025.
Update programming for ECM & DCTs P0300 thru P0304
Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid. Updated to include additional model and model year applicability.
Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
Plus 13 older ones not listed here.
Seat belt or seat problems 2 bulletins · 30 complaints
Memory Seat inop or unable to set basic settings.
Customer states 2nd row seat rattles while driving
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 4 bulletins · 24 complaints
Update programming for Infotainment System Malfunctions. Updated to include additional labor operation & time units in warranty table.
Tips to address MIB2 infotainment functionality concerns
2 more on this problem
Updated diagnostic direction to address new concerns in regards to Apply CarPlay Connection on MIBII equipped vehicles. Update models and model year applicability.
Update to existing information to address phone concerns via bluetooth resulting from saved emoji information
Engine overheats or leaks coolant 2 bulletins · 24 complaints
For applicable 2018-2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport 3.6L Settlement Class Vehicles (NA6 warranty key), the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 80% of the replacement of the Water Pump or Water Pump Gasket by an authorized Volkswagen Dealer ...
Coolant leak at the coolant pump
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 17 bulletins · 13 complaints
Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant Circuit (U.S. Only) updated to adjust Flush machine filter pricing.
A/C Compressor leak diagnosis
15 more on this problem
Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number
Refrigerant leak diagnosis using Nitrogen. Updated to include ID.4
Refrigerant leak diagnosis using Nitrogen. Updated to include additional model and model year applicability.
A/C cap leak diagnosis.
Using Nitrogen to assist in finding A/C refrigerant leaks.
Statement referring to TB 2043893 removed. To include additional models and model year applicability. A.C. Compressor Replacement, GFF Required Regardless of Concern and Flush Requirement
Customer states MIL-on with P1429 and/or P0556 Customer states MIL-on with P0133 Customer states MIL-on, HPFP mounting bolts loose/broken Customer states MIL-on P0496 Customer states front window(s) noisy during operation A/C compressor leaking Customer ...
Customer states MIL-on with P1429 and/or P0556 Customer states MIL-on with P0133 Customer states MIL-on with P050A Customer states front window(s) noisy during operation A/C compressor leaking Customer states the rear lift gate has rust or corrosion Customer ...
Customer states MIL-on with P1429 and/or P0556 Customer states MIL-on with P0133 Customer states MIL-on with P0496 Customer states MIL-on with P050A Customer states MIL-on with P0116 Customer states front window(s) noisy during operation A/C compressor ...
Customer states MIL-on with P1429 and/or P0556 Customer states MIL-on with P0133 Customer states MIL-on with P0496 Customer states MIL-on with P0116 Customer states the rear lift gate has rust or corrosion Customer states "door warning light" on dash and/or ...
Plus 5 older ones not listed here.
Complaints filed by year
93 complaints came in 2019. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Closed dec 18, 2024.
NHTSA summary
Fuel injector leak. Closed oct 3, 2022.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
All 17 recalls on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide One recall here carries a do-not-drive warning. What that means
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
Airbag, with 100 of the 464 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 45,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 Volkswagen Atlas problems start?
Of the 219 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 9,000 miles and half by about 19,000.
Is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas better or worse than the 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has fewer complaints than the 2019: 52 a year against 60.
How many 2018 Volkswagen Atlas complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
20 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for airbag on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls on the same system: 18V-375, 18V-537, 20V-057 and 23V-215. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.