KnownCarProblemsHome › Volkswagen › Atlas › 2023
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, most often about the engine (28% of complaints). It is 6th of 9 Atlas model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems
Engine
38 complaints · 28%The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that…
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at a local dealer, the dealer informed the contact that the cylinder head gasket was rusted. The dealer provided a 60 percent discount, and the vehicle was repaired. Six weeks later, while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle…
Electrical
33 complaints · 24%Parts named most often: starter assembly.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the instrument panel went black. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the radio/navigation system head unit needed to be replaced. The…
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in stop-and-go traffic, and while idling, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The vehicle was shaking abnormally while driving at various speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that…
Other or unspecified
24 complaints · 18%Air bags
22 complaints · 16%The contact owned a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated temporarily. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the automatic emergency braking system engaged, causing the vehicle to decelerate intermittently. The contact stated that while attempting to…
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent…
Fuel system
20 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that on the first day the vehicle was purchased, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was…
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at a local dealer, the dealer informed the contact that the cylinder head gasket was rusted. The dealer provided a 60 percent discount, and the vehicle was repaired. Six weeks later, while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle…
Brakes
15 complaints · 11%Lights
15 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: headlights.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH he noticed the headlights were out independently. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that headlight assembly needed to replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was…
Driver assistance
9 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: warnings, automatic emergency braking, assist, adaptive cruise control.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas recalls
Suspension
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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).
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking
Summary
On september 28, 2023, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the front assist automatic emergency braking (aeb) system in model year (my) 2018-2019 volkswagen atlas vehicles.the reports alleged that activation of the aeb system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in my 2018-2019 volkswagen atlas vehicles.volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of front assist and its limitat
Questions about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
- What are the most common problems with the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (38 complaints); electrical (33 complaints); other or unspecified (24 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 30, 2025 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2023 a bad year for the Volkswagen Atlas?
- It is 6th of 9 Atlas model years by number of complaints, with 137 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.