FaultScore

Volkswagen Atlas vs Toyota Highlander

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 Volkswagen Atlas Toyota Highlander
Complaints on file 2,991 7,124
Model years covered 2018–2026 1997–2026
Worst model year 2018 2019
Best model year 2026 2025
Crashes reported 68 701
Fires reported 9 86
Injuries reported 66 381
Deaths reported 0 10
Most complained-about part Electrical System Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 4.8% 16.5%

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%

Toyota Highlander by year

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

What breaks