2023 Volkswagen Atlas Reliability
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas has 143 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Atlas model years (2021–2025), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Atlas's typical year, while the 2025 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
143
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2023 Volkswagen Atlas complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 model year, filed between 2022 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 38 | 27% |
| Engine | 37 | 26% |
| Unknown or other | 25 | 17% |
| Air bags | 22 | 15% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 18 | 13% |
| Exterior lighting | 16 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 10% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 9 | 6% |
2023 Volkswagen Atlas recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2023 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| 22V718000 | Sep 26, 2022 | Service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 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. |
| 22V753000 | Oct 7, 2022 | Engine & cooling — engine / hard parts internal/mechanical | 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. |
| 24V464000 | Jun 20, 2024 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification / front passenger | 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… |
| 25V434000 | Jun 30, 2025 | Service brakes | 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… |
How the 2023 compares with nearby Atlas years
Verdicts compare these Atlas model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 480 | 17 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2022 | 185 | 7 | Engine | Caution |
| 2023 (this page) | 143 | 5 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2024 | 176 | 8 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2025 | 51 | 5 | Electrical system | Solid |
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 2023 Volkswagen Atlas on the used market
- Median asking price $27,795 at a median 42,279 miles, across 1,601 live US dealer listings in CarWhere's depreciation study.
What to check on a used 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- 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.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 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 2023 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.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas reliability FAQ
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas has 143 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Atlas model years (2021–2025), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Atlas's typical year, while the 2025 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas are electrical system (38), engine (37), unknown or other (25), air bags (22). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, including 22V152000 (air bags — side/window) and 22V718000 (service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas compare with the 2022 and 2024 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2022 has 185 complaints and 7 recalls (caution); the 2024 has 176 complaints and 8 recalls (avoid). The 2023 has 143 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2023 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 2023 Atlas, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.