The best and worst Volkswagen Atlas years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Volkswagen Atlass old enough to judge (2017–2022), the 2017 and 2020 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2018 has the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2018 Volkswagen Atlas · 77.4 per 10,000 sold (1.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 35,612 miles; then driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration.
Years with the fewest complaints
2017 Volkswagen Atlas · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
2020 Volkswagen Atlas · 3.2 per 10,000 sold (0.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 17,049 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Volkswagen Atlas year: 49.4 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Volkswagen Atlas?
Among Volkswagen Atlass old enough to judge (2017–2022), the 2018 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 77.4, about 1.6× a typical Volkswagen Atlas year.
What is the best year for the Volkswagen Atlas?
The 2017 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Volkswagen Atlass from 2017–2022: 0.0, against 49.4 for a typical year. The 2020 is also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
The most-reported problem on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 35,612 miles.
Why aren't the newest Volkswagen Atlas years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
Looking at a specific Volkswagen Atlas?
See what it’s likely to cost you over the next 3 years from its year and mileage.
Open the cost estimator → Full Volkswagen Atlas reportCompare the Volkswagen Atlas with
Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.