2019 Volkswagen Atlas Reliability
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas has 485 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Compared with nearby Atlas model years (2018–2021), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Atlas's typical year, while the 2020 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
485
NHTSA owner complaints
12
Recall campaigns
7
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2019 Volkswagen Atlas complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 model year, filed between 2018 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 142 | 29% |
| Electrical system | 76 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 76 | 16% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 73 | 15% |
| Unknown or other | 61 | 13% |
| Engine | 60 | 12% |
| Steering | 39 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 34 | 7% |
2019 Volkswagen Atlas recalls
12 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2019 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V824000 | Nov 26, 2018 | Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that… |
| 18V904000 | Dec 19, 2018 | Suspension — rear / springs / coil springs | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture. |
| 19V218000 | Mar 20, 2019 | Air bags — side/window | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed. |
| 19V389000 | May 22, 2019 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail… |
| 19V614000 | Aug 21, 2019 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas vehicles. The suction jet in the fuel tank may have been welded in the incorrect position allowing fuel to leak. Additionally, the vehicle may stall due to uneven fuel distribution. |
| 21V142000 | Mar 5, 2021 | Tires — sidewall | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production. |
| 22V086000 | Feb 16, 2022 | Equipment — other / labels | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side… |
| 22V152000 | Mar 28, 2022 | Air bags — side/window | 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… |
| 22V815000 | Oct 31, 2022 | Tires — pressure monitoring and regulating systems | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross… |
| 23V215000 | Mar 30, 2023 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification / front passenger | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 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… |
| 23V671000 | Oct 4, 2023 | Air bags — side/window / curtain | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas vehicles. The driver's side impact air bag may be missing a weld at the side air bag housing. |
| 26V590000 | Sep 11, 2026 | Steering | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack… |
How the 2019 compares with nearby Atlas years
Verdicts compare these Atlas model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 467 | 17 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2019 (this page) | 485 | 12 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2020 | 27 | 4 | Electrical system | Better year |
| 2021 | 480 | 17 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas on the used market
- Median asking price $17,000 at a median 93,636 miles, across 1,155 live US dealer listings in CarWhere's depreciation study.
What to check on a used 2019 Volkswagen Atlas
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Driver aids: ask about false automatic-braking events and check for warning messages on the dash.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 12 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2019 Volkswagen Atlas can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas reliability FAQ
Is the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas has 485 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Compared with nearby Atlas model years (2018–2021), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Atlas's typical year, while the 2020 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2019 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas are air bags (142), electrical system (76), service brakes (76), forward collision avoidance (73). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas have recalls?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas, including 18V824000 (electrical system — instrument cluster/panel) and 18V904000 (suspension — rear / springs / coil springs). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas compare with the 2018 and 2020 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2018 has 467 complaints and 17 recalls (caution); the 2020 has 27 complaints and 4 recalls (better year). The 2019 has 485 complaints and 12 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2019 Volkswagen Atlas?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Volkswagen Atlas research
Other Volkswagen Atlas model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2019 Atlas, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.