CarBrief

NHTSA has 73 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas[1]. The electrical system is the biggest group, with 29 complaints[2].

73owner complaints[1]
5recalls[3]
20–23MPG combined (EPA)[4]
5★NHTSA overall rating[5]

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners name, biggest first.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2025 Atlas is necessarily included.

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Atlas 4motion Peak Edition, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[18] 18 / 25 / 20 $3,350
Atlas, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[19] 20 / 26 / 22 $3,050
Atlas Cross Sport, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] 20 / 26 / 23 $2,900
Atlas SEL 4motion, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[20] 18 / 25 / 21 $3,200
Atlas SE 4motion, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[21] 19 / 26 / 21 $3,200
Atlas Cross Sport 4motion, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[22] 19 / 26 / 21 $3,200

Safety ratings

Version Overall Frontal Side Rollover Rollover risk
SUV AWD[5] 5 4 5 4 15.9%
SUV FWD[23] 5 4 5 4 13.6%
SUV AWD[24] 5 4 5 4 15.1%
SUV FWD[25] 5 4 5 4 16.9%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine Horsepower
2025 Volkswagen Atlas with 2.0L 4-cylinder[26] 270 hp

How 2025 compares with other years

2018: 466 complaints, 17 recalls20182019: 482 complaints, 12 recalls20192020: 134 complaints, 11 recalls20202021: 645 complaints, 17 recalls20212022: 258 complaints, 7 recalls20222023: 157 complaints, 6 recalls20232024: 275 complaints, 8 recalls20242025: 73 complaints, 5 recalls7320252026: 11 complaints, 2 recalls2026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Atlas model year. The 2025 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
201846617
201948212
202013411
202164517
20222587
20231576
20242758
2025735
2026112

NHTSA's counts for the Atlas show 73 complaints and 5 recalls for 2025[3]. Among the 10 model years listed, 2 have fewer complaints than 2025 and 7 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2021 (645)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2025 Atlas?

The 2025 Atlas has 73 complaints on file with NHTSA[1]. The electrical system leads with 29 complaints[2], and the power train and the unknown or other group each have 20[7][6]. Owners also describe stalling and sudden braking in their stories, so these are worth a close look on a test drive. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales. Check the recalls section on this page too, since the Atlas has 5 recalls listed[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?
The electrical system has the largest group, with 29 complaints[2]. The power train and the unknown or other group each have 20[7][6], and the engine has 12[8].
Does the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas have recalls?
Yes, 5 recalls are listed for the 2025 model year[3]. The recalls section on this page has the details.
How many complaints does the 2025 Atlas have?
NHTSA has 73 owner complaints on file[1].
Is the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
Owner complaints are one clue. There are 73 on file[1], led by the electrical system[2]. See the fuel, safety and recalls sections on this page for the rest of the picture.
What is the best year for the Volkswagen Atlas?
The by-year comparison on this page puts the model years side by side. The 2025 model has 73 complaints and 5 recalls[3].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Volkswagen Atlas

Compare all model years of the Volkswagen Atlas

Other Volkswagen models from 2025

All Volkswagen models

Similar cars from 2025: small suvs

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 73 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 29 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Volkswagen Atlas model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Atlas Cross Sport, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 26 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 20 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 20 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 12 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 9 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 6 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 5 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 4 complaints name the lane departure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 26V473, filed July 22, 2026: Back Over Prevention › Software. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 25V434, filed June 30, 2025: Service Brakes. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 25V334, filed May 21, 2025: Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 25V100, filed February 17, 2025: Engine. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 25V081, filed February 12, 2025: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
  18. EPA rating for Atlas 4motion Peak Edition, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Atlas, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for Atlas SEL 4motion, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA rating for Atlas SE 4motion, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  22. EPA rating for Atlas Cross Sport 4motion, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  23. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 13.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
  24. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
  25. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  26. EPA Test Car List, 2025 Volkswagen Atlas with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 270 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.