Owners have filed 79 complaints
about the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas with NHTSA between 2024 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 12
Against the median year of the Volkswagen Atlas. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 20
3.8% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2025 compares with every other Volkswagen Atlas
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2025 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD
15.9% risk
2025 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD
13.6% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 2024peak 10Sep 2026
Recalls on the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
26V473000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
25V434000
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 arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
25V334000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
25V100000
ENGINE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
Risk: A loose engine cover that contacts hot surfaces in the engine compartment can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
25V081000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202635717,042 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: Under certain conditions, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the rearview camera software.
Recall 2025355291 units in Canada
Suspension
Issue: On certain vehicles, certain bolt(s) on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension may not have been tightened properly. As a result, the bolt(s) could loosen and cause a loss of control. Safety Risk: A loss of control could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the affected bolt(s) on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension.
Recall 202527220,010 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display properly. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display properly when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display properly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the infotainment display software.
Recall 202507920,925 units in Canada
Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine cover may come loose after service. If this happens, the engine cover could contact hot surfaces in the engine compartment and melt. Safety Risk: An engine cover that melts onto a hot surface could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to remove the engine cover.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Pewaukee, WICrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In December all of the cameras and front assist sensors stopped working. When I called to get into a Volkswagen dealer they first told me to get a car wash and that should solve it. When that didn’t work they weren’t able to get my car in for about 1 month. I’m that time we collided with deer on the highway and none of the collision assists worked. Now my car repaired and it’s still not working. My car was new in July 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11721547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pewaukee, WICrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
In December all of the cameras and front assist sensors stopped working. When I called to get into a Volkswagen dealer they first told me to get a car wash and that should solve it. When that didn’t work they weren’t able to get my car in for about 1 month. I’m that time we collided with deer on the highway and none of the collision assists worked. Now my car repaired and it’s still not working. My car was new in July 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11721547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pewaukee, WICrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
In December all of the cameras and front assist sensors stopped working. When I called to get into a Volkswagen dealer they first told me to get a car wash and that should solve it. When that didn’t work they weren’t able to get my car in for about 1 month. I’m that time we collided with deer on the highway and none of the collision assists worked. Now my car repaired and it’s still not working. My car was new in July 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11721547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Chicago, IL
ENGINE
The vehicle has approximately 15,000 miles and it’s less than two years old. It has a pretty significant oil leak from the oil inlet tube. This leak was appearing from the rear differential despite starting at the turbo. I took the car to two different dealerships and after 3 visits and multiple hours of time, a dealership found a TSB related to my issue (212602). The oil leak is a known defect and VW does not authorize any repair or fix. I have contacted VW customer service multiple times using multiple methods and have not gotten a resolution. I have owned many vehicles from many different manufacturers and the customer service from VW customer care has been abysmal. I have all of the records and notes and attempts to remedy.
NHTSA complaint #11764206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brick, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
Grinding plus vibration when you turn the wheels slightly and brake hard. Could be a stuck or dragging caliper, uneven pad wear, or a bent dust shield rubbing the rotor. Might be bolts that weren’t tightened right on the brake and suspension parts.
NHTSA complaint #11764205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a defective vehicle I purchased new, a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, on April 7, 2025. Since the time of purchase, the vehicle has experienced persistent and significant issues with the infotainment system that substantially impair its usability, safety, and value. The infotainment system repeatedly disconnects from both wired and wireless connections to my cellphone. When the system disconnects, it does not reconnect at all during the drive. This results in loss of GPS navigation and hands-free phone functionality, creating a safety concern. I have made extensive efforts to have this issue resolved. The vehicle has been taken to two authorized dealerships on ten separate occasions for service on the following dates: June 11, 2025 October 20–21, 2025 October 27–29, 2025 November 17–21, 2025 December 17–18, 2025 February 9, 2026 April 21–23, 2026 June 29-30, 2026 July 28, 2026 August 24-25, 2026 I have also contacted Volkswagen customer care regarding these issues; however, the matter remains unresolved despite my good-faith efforts to address it through authorized service channels. A case number with Volkswagen is available upon request. Multiple service representatives have verbally acknowledged that the infotainment issue is affecting other drivers and has been a known issue for years. This information was never disclosed by any sales representative at the time of purchase. I believe this represents a misleading and potentially predatory sales practice. Had I been informed of these known and ongoing issues, I would not have purchased this vehicle. Despite these repeated repair attempts, the issue remains unresolved, with the latest disruption occurring on September 3, 2026.
NHTSA complaint #11762596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbridge, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving my vehicle it stopped in traffic and would not drive. I got a transmission failure alert followed by warnings after. Vehicle was stuck in neutral without options to drive or reverse. Extremely dangerous occurrence while driving. Police assisted because this caused a dangerous situation on the road. I made a video of all alerts on vehicle. VW Service states since they can’t reproduce it or have a code they cannot do anything. I also called VW support to open case. This occurred on XXX. Police report was also filed in [XXX] since it was stopped in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11762131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kilgore ,TX, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS UP ON DASH RANDOMLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL STOPS WORKING, HEADS UP DISPLAY BECOMES UNABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. LANE DEPATURE STOPS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS BEGIN TO DISPLAY. EXTREMLY DANGEROUS
NHTSA complaint #11758303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kilgore ,TX, TX
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS UP ON DASH RANDOMLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL STOPS WORKING, HEADS UP DISPLAY BECOMES UNABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. LANE DEPATURE STOPS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS BEGIN TO DISPLAY. EXTREMLY DANGEROUS
NHTSA complaint #11758303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I have had several malfunctions in the past year with my brand new 2025 atlas. It started 6 months into my lease when it threw 7 different lights while driving down the street. I stopped at a light and put the car in park. After that it would not go back in drive. I had to get pushed out of the road with all my kids in the car. And have it towed to the dealership. They stated it just needed an update. After that everything started failing. The sunroof motor had to be replaced. The inside dome lights had to be replaced. The window motor had to be replaced. The infotainment system has repeatedly failed, been replaced and still fails. It has been a total nightmare
NHTSA complaint #11757649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I have had several malfunctions in the past year with my brand new 2025 atlas. It started 6 months into my lease when it threw 7 different lights while driving down the street. I stopped at a light and put the car in park. After that it would not go back in drive. I had to get pushed out of the road with all my kids in the car. And have it towed to the dealership. They stated it just needed an update. After that everything started failing. The sunroof motor had to be replaced. The inside dome lights had to be replaced. The window motor had to be replaced. The infotainment system has repeatedly failed, been replaced and still fails. It has been a total nightmare
NHTSA complaint #11757649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
ENGINE
I have had several malfunctions in the past year with my brand new 2025 atlas. It started 6 months into my lease when it threw 7 different lights while driving down the street. I stopped at a light and put the car in park. After that it would not go back in drive. I had to get pushed out of the road with all my kids in the car. And have it towed to the dealership. They stated it just needed an update. After that everything started failing. The sunroof motor had to be replaced. The inside dome lights had to be replaced. The window motor had to be replaced. The infotainment system has repeatedly failed, been replaced and still fails. It has been a total nightmare
NHTSA complaint #11757649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eden Prairie, MN
SERVICE BRAKES
Failure of brake booster and master cylinder. Failure caused breaks to malfunction, not allowing the vehicle to break appropriately. To break, you had to step on the break very hard, break pedal did not have usual pressure. No leakage visible on the ground outside of the car. When starting the car (usually you must press on breaks) it was already obvious something was wrong. After starting the car got a warning light about break malfunction and was alerted to contact my local dealership. The car was taken to a Volkswagen dealership and is currently being repaired. It was inspected by a technician in the service department and we are waiting on replacement parts. I am still waiting on a full invoice report from the dealership. The car is less than a year old and has around 7,000 miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11756552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarksville, TN
POWER TRAIN
While driving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral without any action from the driver. I was driving with my daughter when this occurred. After the vehicle shifted into neutral, it would no longer shift back into drive, and I was unable to continue driving normally. This resulted in an unexpected loss of propulsion while the vehicle was being operated on the road. the vehicle had to be stopped and requires dealership inspection. I am concerned this is a serious transmission or electronic transmission -control safety defect because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose drive power while moving. The Vehicle was towed to VW car dealership in Clarksville Tn, where I reported the incident to the service employee at the desk. I would hope that the NHTSA document the unexpected shift to neutral and loss of ability to select Drive.
NHTSA complaint #11755559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarksville, TN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral without any action from the driver. I was driving with my daughter when this occurred. After the vehicle shifted into neutral, it would no longer shift back into drive, and I was unable to continue driving normally. This resulted in an unexpected loss of propulsion while the vehicle was being operated on the road. the vehicle had to be stopped and requires dealership inspection. I am concerned this is a serious transmission or electronic transmission -control safety defect because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose drive power while moving. The Vehicle was towed to VW car dealership in Clarksville Tn, where I reported the incident to the service employee at the desk. I would hope that the NHTSA document the unexpected shift to neutral and loss of ability to select Drive.
NHTSA complaint #11755559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maurice, LA
POWER TRAIN
Our 2025 VW Altas had several engine lights come on at the same time after parking and would not shift out of neutral. Towed to the nearest VW for service and they stated it needed a transmission replacement. This vehicle had less than 16k miles.
NHTSA complaint #11751984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maurice, LA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Our 2025 VW Altas had several engine lights come on at the same time after parking and would not shift out of neutral. Towed to the nearest VW for service and they stated it needed a transmission replacement. This vehicle had less than 16k miles.
NHTSA complaint #11751984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kansas City, MO
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracked a singular crack from the top to the bottom of windshield after lifting car with spare tire jack.
NHTSA complaint #11752001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilford, NH
POWER TRAIN
Bought it with 39k miles on it. A year old. within thirty hours I was trying to return from a trip and when I turned the key the car powered on but the engine didn’t turn over and several error messages popped up including a transmission error. The car would not start. I had it towed to the dealer and they said it was a software issue. Within 24 hours of having it back I when to drive it and a check engine light was on again. Dealer is saying it’s a piece of the transmission that needs replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11748954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sensors keep failing. Constant on and off warnings. Radio is also only working at times. Reboots often on its own. Total distraction and very dangerous. Dealership already updated software twice. They can’t seem to fix it either.
NHTSA complaint #11747165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Sensors keep failing. Constant on and off warnings. Radio is also only working at times. Reboots often on its own. Total distraction and very dangerous. Dealership already updated software twice. They can’t seem to fix it either.
NHTSA complaint #11747165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branchburg, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The capacitive touch controls located below the infotainment screen on this 2025 Volkswagen Atlas — used to adjust climate and audio volume — are not illuminated in low-light or nighttime driving conditions. The controls are invisible without direct light, requiring the driver to look away from the road for an extended period to locate them by feel or sight. No warning lamps preceded this condition; it appears to be a design characteristic. This constitutes a driver distraction hazard during nighttime operation. It is unknown whether this issue affects other vehicles of the same model year and trim. The component is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11744116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branchburg, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The power window switches on this 2025 Volkswagen Atlas have repeatedly malfunctioned. The switches fail to operate windows consistently and have been brought to an authorized VW dealer for repair on three or more separate occasions without successful resolution. The defect has been confirmed and documented by the dealer on each visit but remains unresolved. Faulty window switches present a safety risk as they impair the driver’s ability to ventilate the vehicle, communicate with others outside the vehicle, and in an emergency, may prevent occupant egress or entry of emergency responders. The component is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11744120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branchburg, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The factory-installed remote start system on this 2025 Volkswagen Atlas operates intermittently, failing to activate approximately 50% of the time. The issue has been reported to an authorized VW dealer. The intermittent nature of the failure has made it difficult to reproduce consistently during service visits. When remote start fails in cold or hot weather conditions, occupants may be forced to enter an extreme-temperature vehicle, presenting a risk particularly to children and vulnerable passengers. The component is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11744117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branchburg, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The power window switches on this 2025 Volkswagen Atlas have repeatedly malfunctioned. The switches fail to operate windows consistently and have been brought to an authorized VW dealer for repair on three or more separate occasions without successful resolution. The defect has been confirmed and documented by the dealer on each visit but remains unresolved. Faulty window switches present a safety risk as they impair the driver’s ability to ventilate the vehicle, communicate with others outside the vehicle, and in an emergency, may prevent occupant egress or entry of emergency responders. The component is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11744120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branchburg, NJ
ENGINE
The factory-installed remote start system on this 2025 Volkswagen Atlas operates intermittently, failing to activate approximately 50% of the time. The issue has been reported to an authorized VW dealer. The intermittent nature of the failure has made it difficult to reproduce consistently during service visits. When remote start fails in cold or hot weather conditions, occupants may be forced to enter an extreme-temperature vehicle, presenting a risk particularly to children and vulnerable passengers. The component is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11744117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cumberland, RI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, ~14,065 miles Electrical System / Telematics (connected services) The vehicle's connected-services system fails to complete device registration. The infotainment shows my device as paired, but Volkswagen's backend repeatedly declines the pairing, leaving all connected services non-functional. Because this same telematics module is responsible for emergency SOS and automatic crash notification, I am concerned the registration failure may compromise the vehicle's ability to place emergency calls. The dealer applied the latest software update with no effect, and a Volkswagen support ticket remains unresolved. I am filing so this connectivity/telematics defect is on record. No crash or injury. Requesting investigation into whether the registration failure affects emergency-call functionality.
NHTSA complaint #11743963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Palm Beach, FL
POWER TRAIN
At 10,000 miles Upon starting the vehicle, it appeared to operate normally with no warning messages displayed. However, immediately after beginning to drive, the transmission began shifting extremely harshly between gears. Within a short distance, the transmission shifted with such force that the drive wheels briefly lost traction and the tires chirped/skidded. At the same time, a warning message appeared on the instrument cluster stating: "Transmission overheating – vehicle is still safe to drive." Prior to this incident, there were no transmission warning lights, messages, or noticeable symptoms. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Volkswagen dealership for inspection. The dealership retained the vehicle for approximately 14 days but was unable to duplicate the condition. The dealership advised that they found no faults, could not identify any transmission issues, and could not locate any record of the transmission overheating warning message in the vehicle's history. The sudden and severe transmission behavior created a safety concern because the unexpected harsh shifting and loss of traction could have caused loss of vehicle control, particularly in traffic or adverse road conditions. To date, the cause of the condition remains unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11741170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
