2022 Volkswagen Atlas Problems And Complaints

Volkswagen Atlas user complaints and problems

None of the model years of the Volkswagen Atlas has been scot-free and the 2022 Atlas has already faced four complaints officially. The complaints include a maximum of infotainment system issues while a single complaint regarding the electronic parking brake of the affected vehicle. Going back to the earlier models, the 2018 Atlas faced several issues with its powertrain, safety system, and battery. A couple of problems such as the auto start-stop system malfunction and the coolant leakage issue were present on the 2021 facelift model as well.

Engine problems

• Auto start-stop system malfunction: About thousands of models from the 2018 model year of the Atlas were affected by this issue. A maximum number of the complaints mention that the auto start-stop system would malfunction randomly while driving resulting in a complete engine shutdown. Despite following the proper steps of operating the system, it fails to start the engine further. A manual restart of the engine was required every time this issue occurred, making it a major safety concern as well.
• Fuel distribution rails leakage: This issue affected several models of the 2018 Atlas. All the reports against this issue stated that the affected models leaked gasoline randomly as a result of faulty fuel distribution rails.
• Catalytic converter failure: Plenty of models from the 2018 and 2019 model year of the Atlas faced this issue. The owners in their reports mentioned that the catalytic converter would fail to work as desired, resulting in other complex issues with the entire powertrain. In several cases, after the full replacement of the catalytic converter, the issue recurred.
• Coolant loss/leakage issue: This problem affected several models of the Atlas from its 2018 and 2019 model years along with a few 2021 model year vehicles as well. The owners complained about an abnormal loss of coolant. In multiple cases, the coolant vaporized from the coolant tank while in other cases it leaked to an extent where the engine overheated.
• Engine failures: Several Atlas models over its entire production run to date have faced this issue. The complaints against the issue stated that the engine of the SUV would fail due to some powertrain-related problems. As a result, the entire engine would require replacement. In a few cases, the engine replacement needed to be done multiple times but the issues kept recurring.

Safety problems

• Full deployment of all airbags despite a minimal impact: Several Atlas models from 2018 and a few from the later model years were affected by this problem. A majority of the reports stated that even with mild impacts such as hitting a curb accidentally, all the airbags of the vehicle would deploy. In some cases, the airbags deployed randomly while the vehicle was parked for a short period after driving.
• Airbag error message displaying: Several owners complained that the airbag deactivated message would come on and stay like that. This posed a major safety risk since the airbags would fail to deploy in the event of a crash.
• Forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control malfunction: The advanced driver-assist techs of several models of the VW Atlas have been problematic too soon after its launch. The owners complained that the collision avoidance system and the adaptive cruise control system would deactivate after starting the vehicle. The collision avoidance system would fail often when the vehicle was started via the remote start system.

Electrical problems

• Battery dying out completely: Quite a number of VW Atlas models from the 2018 and 2019 model years were hit by this issue. A majority of the complaints stated that the battery of the vehicle would die completely, shutting down the electronics of the vehicle. In several instances, the battery would die suddenly after being parked for some time. In a few cases, multiple replacements of the battery also failed to solve the problem.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas recalls

The Volkswagen Atlas has been subjected to several recalls regarding the numerous problems it faced. The 2022 Atlas faced a single recall to date regarding the delayed deployment of front airbags. The 2018 and the 2020 model year vehicles saw the maximum recalls. The table below lists the major recalls that Volkswagen has issued as a remedy to its customers.

Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Component Affected	Recall Issue	Explanation
November 29, 2017	17V766000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	Fuel Tank may Leak Fuel	A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
June 1, 2018	18V369000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	Insufficient Coating on Brake Caliper Pistons	A reduction in braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
June 6, 2018	18V375000	AIR BAGS	Passenger Frontal Air Bag may Deploy Improperly	If the airbag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
June 7, 2018	18V380000	SEAT BELTS	Certain Child Seats may Damage Seat Belt Buckles	A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
August 15, 201	18V536000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	Brake Caliper Bracket Bolts may be Loose	The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
August 20, 2018	18V537000	AIR BAGS	A/C Drain Tube Causing Air Bag Malfunction	The wet airbag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the airbags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
March 5, 2021	21V142000	TIRES	Tire Failure may Cause Sudden Air Loss	Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
March 20, 2019	19V218000	AIR BAGS	Incorrect Side Impact Air Bag Installed	In an event of a side-impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
August 26, 2020	20V505000	SEATS	Front Seat Backrest Frame Not Welded Properly	In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing the risk of injury.
November 18, 2020	20V716000	BACK OVER PREVENTION	Black Or Frozen Rear View Camera Image/FMVSS 111	A black or frozen rearview image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.

What model year of the Volkswagen Atlas to avoid?

The Volkswagen Atlas has been an underdog in the segment due to its reliability issues yet it ranks among the most spacious options in the segment. The latest model year of the vehicle has a single recall and a few complaints to its name while the previous model year faced quite a bit of trouble. Hence avoiding the 2021 model year of the Atlas would be a safe bet. Furthermore, the 2018 model of the Atlas is also better avoided considering the significant amount of recalls and problems it faced.

Should you buy a used Volkswagen Atlas?

The Volkswagen Atlas is a feature-packed and spacious SUV posing as a preferable family mover. However, the brand still needs to refine the vehicle further to reduce the vehicle’s possibility of facing numerous reliability issues. If you’re considering buying a used example of the Atlas, the 2020 model of the vehicle is the best option to go for due to its significantly fewer complaints than other model years of the vehicle.