NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side impact air bag may lack a weld at the side air bag housing, which could affect its function in a crash.
This page covers 12 recalls, 451 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas.
19–22 mpg combined
10.7–12.4 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints for the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas are dominated by two systems: airbags and forward collision avoidance. The airbag complaints are the highest-volume category, with owners describing warning lights, unexpected system deactivation, and concerns about whether the supplemental restraint system would function correctly. Forward collision avoidance draws the second-largest share of reports, with owners describing false alerts, erratic braking responses, and the system activating without an actual obstacle present. The electrical system rounds out the top three, with owners reporting various warning lights and intermittent failures across multiple vehicle functions. Scattered reports also mention steering vibration that persists through tire replacements and alignments, and at least some owners describe coolant leaks that required water pump replacement.
451
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas has 12 recalls, the most serious involving a fuel tank defect that can leak fuel and raise the risk of fire, as well as Continental tires that can develop sidewall cracks and lose air suddenly or shed tread.
Several recalls involve airbags. Corroded wiring in the front door harness can delay side airbag deployment in a side impact, the wrong side airbags may have been installed on some vehicles and may not deploy as intended, the driver's side airbag housing may be missing a weld that causes it to detach or deploy improperly in a crash, and a fault in the front passenger seat sensor wiring can deactivate the passenger airbag while the seat is occupied. The rear coil springs can fracture while driving and damage a tire, causing loss of control. The tire pressure monitoring system may fail to detect a sudden loss of pressure across all four tires. On the electrical side, vehicles without keyless entry may not chime when the key is left in the ignition, and the headlight horizontal aim may lack a blocking cap, allowing the beam to be adjusted out of spec and reducing visibility at night. Vehicles with accessory side steps may be missing a weight rating label reflecting the added load.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side impact air bag may lack a weld at the side air bag housing, which could affect its function in a crash.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's side impact air bag at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger air bag detection system's wiring may malfunction, causing the front passenger air bag to turn off even when someone is sitting in that seat.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the detection system sensor mat and wiring harness at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect when air pressure drops in all four tires at the same time, failing to alert you in time.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the tire pressure monitoring system software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical contacts in the front door wiring harness can corrode, breaking the electrical connection and delaying deployment of the driver or passenger front side airbag during a side impact crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will secure and replace any front door wiring harness showing a fault code at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front door wiring contacts can become damaged, potentially delaying side airbag inflation in a side-impact crash. This may also cause the parking brake to engage unexpectedly while driving slowly, windows to lower on their own, or false door sensor warnings.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will mail owners. The repair procedure is still being developed and will be communicated when available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vehicle's weight limit label was not updated to account for the added weight of accessory side steps, causing the label to show an inaccurate maximum weight rating.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the corrected weight limit label that reflects the side steps' added weight.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
One or more Continental tires may have been cured too long during production, potentially affecting tire integrity.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect tires and replace affected ones at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank suction jet may be welded in the wrong position, causing fuel to leak and uneven fuel distribution that can make the engine stall.
What the fix does
The fuel tank will be replaced at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The blocking cap that prevents headlight horizontal aim adjustment may be missing, allowing unintended headlight aiming changes that don't meet federal lamp standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect headlights and install the blocking cap if needed to prevent horizontal adjustment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver or front passenger side impact airbag may be incorrect, potentially affecting its function in a side collision.
What the fix does
Volkswagen inspects and replaces the side airbags at no cost. Contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 for scheduling.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear coil springs may break prematurely, potentially affecting vehicle handling and safety.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument cluster may not alert you with a sound when the key remains in the ignition and a door is open.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster at no cost to restore the audible warning.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
