First generation
2023 Volkswagen Atlas
The most reported problem on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas is stalling, with 44 complaints, usually around 20,000 miles.
- 133owner complaints
- 5recalls
- 4involved a crash
- 24,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 24, 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 2023 model year.
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas has 133 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 166 for 2023 SUVs on this site. Of the 8 Atlas model years since 2018, it has the 6th 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 2022 and 2024
- At 33 complaints for each year on the road, the 2023 runs close to the 2022 (37) and below the 2024 (57).
- Top problem
- Stalling leads with 44 of the 133 complaints (33%), ahead of airbag at 22. A quarter of the 9 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 9,000 miles, and half by about 20,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 5 of the 133 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), 4 reports mention a crash and 6 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Stalling, the one problem here with enough reports to check, has a recall on the same system (22V-753). 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 2024 at 42 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 29. So far in 2026, 40 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: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 44 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
133 complaints is about the median for a 2023 model on this site and 1.2 times fewer than the median 2023 SUV. Among the 6 Atlas model years here it ranks 6th 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 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen filed 338 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. 35 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. 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 2 bulletins · 22 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.
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication with the airbag control module.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 3 bulletins · 18 complaints
Infotainment system freezes and/or reboots, will not turn on/boot up, loses sound and/or volume controls malfunctions, Navigation malfunctions, App-Connect malfunctions, SiriusXM radio malfunctions
MIB3 Infotainment Poor Radio Quality
1 more on this problem
MIB infotainment system recovery for unresponsive condition.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 2 bulletins · 15 complaints
How to handle Brake noise or Pulsation during Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI)
Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation. Addition of mandatory brake form and reference to Volkswagen Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual.
Check engine light or misfire 28 bulletins · 9 complaints
Engine misfire diagnostic aid.
Fuel Additive to prevent sporatic misfire
26 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
Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states Mill-on, P0462 and/or P0463 stored in ECM memory Customer states rattle noise from below the vehicle Customer states key FOB lock/unlock functions ...
Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states noise while driving Customer states seat memory is inoperative Customer states driver's seat ...
Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory* Customer states MIL-on, fault P04F0 stored in ECM memory Customer states noise while driving Customer states seat memory is inoperative Customer states driver's ...
Update Programming in Engine/Motor Control Module, DTC P054A
Customer states MIL-on, P2402 stored in ECM memory Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, fault P04F0 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, fault P0461 stored in ECM memory Customer states noise while driving Customer ...
Customer states MIL-on, P2421 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, P2402 stored in ECM memory Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, fault P04F0 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, fault P0461 stored in ECM ...
Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, fault P04F0 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, fault P0456 and/or P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states sun visor is ...
Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, fault P04F0 stored in ECM memory Customer states MIL-on, fault P0456 and/or P0442 stored in ECM memory Customer states condensation in the taillights Customer states seat memory is ...
Plus 16 older ones not listed here.
Complaints filed by year
42 complaints came in 2024, 2.0 times the year before. 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
Recalls that include the 2023 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 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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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).
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
All 5 recalls on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
Stalling, with 44 of the 133 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 20,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems start?
Of the 27 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 15,000 miles and half by about 24,000.
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas better or worse than the 2022 and 2024?
Counted per year on the road, the 2023 has about as many complaints as the 2022 and fewer complaints than the 2024: 33 a year against 37 and 57.
How many 2023 Volkswagen Atlas complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
5 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 22V-753. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.