FaultScore

Toyota 4 Runner vs Volkswagen Atlas

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Toyota 4 Runner Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints on file 1,234 2,991
Model years covered 1994–2005 2018–2026
Worst model year 1997 2018
Best model year 2005 2026
Crashes reported 153 68
Fires reported 9 9
Injuries reported 105 66
Deaths reported 12 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 22.6% 4.8%

Toyota 4 Runner by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 290 23.5%
Brakes 144 11.7%
Tires 139 11.3%
Suspension 100 8.1%
Airbags 50 4.1%

Volkswagen Atlas by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 472 15.8%
Engine & Cooling 371 12.4%
Airbags 370 12.4%
Brakes 359 12.0%
Lights 115 3.8%