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2026 Volkswagen Atlas

Gas Compact SUV

2027202620252024202320222021202020192018
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
B
Safety Signal
82 / 100
BSafety Signal · 82 / 100
2Recalls · 1 critical
8Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
23 mpgFuel economy · best combined
⚠️
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Atlas, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 8 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AtlasGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,700
Atlas Cross SportGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,700
Atlas Cross Sport 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202622$2,850
Atlas SE 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202622$2,850
Atlas 4motion Peak EditionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192521$2,950
Atlas SEL 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192521$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

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Recalls (2)

Back Over Prevention

minor
57,851 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.

Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 28, 2026.

NHTSA campaign 26V473000 · reported Jul 22, 2026 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Wheels

critical
Do not drive27 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2026 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 vehicles. The incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed during vehicle manufacturing.

Risk: Incorrect wheel bolts can allow a wheel to detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wheel bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44BW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 5, 2025.

NHTSA campaign 25V835000 · reported Dec 3, 2025 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

8 complaints filed

0 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2026: 8

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 3
  • Unknown Or Other — 2
  • Electrical System — 2
  • Fuel/Propulsion System — 1
  • Vehicle Speed Control — 1
“The rear power liftgate opened on its own while the vehicle was being driven at speed on a public road, with no input from the driver or passenger. Luggage was ejected from the cargo area onto the roadway and could not be recovered. A passenger witnessed the incident. There were no warning lamps, messages, or prior sym…”Sep 1, 2026 · Unknown Or Other · NHTSA owner report
“Purchased vehicle brand new 1/31/26. Went for my first tire rotation and oil change (4600 miles) on 8/24/26. Inspection found wires coming from the inside wall of tire (the interior portion of tire). Service advisor said it was not covered because it’s wear and tear. The damage is not on the tread. The damage is not …”Aug 25, 2026 · Tires · NHTSA owner report
“Telematics Control Module (TCM/OCU). After several calls to the VW app division and independent research, I discovered that the module is malfunctioning. Several emails have been sent to kjell.gruner@vw.com and customercare@vw.com neither have replied. The issue remains consistent and repeatable even after a hard reset…”Aug 16, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Atlas model years

A

2027 Atlas

0 recalls · 0 complaints

D

2025 Atlas

5 recalls · 63 complaints

F

2024 Atlas

8 recalls · 259 complaints

F

2023 Atlas

6 recalls · 148 complaints

F

2022 Atlas

7 recalls · 249 complaints

F

2021 Atlas

17 recalls · 631 complaints

F

2020 Atlas

11 recalls · 132 complaints

F

2019 Atlas

11 recalls · 473 complaints

F

2018 Atlas

16 recalls · 462 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 49465, 49466, 49541, 49540, 49542, 49539). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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