no report yet
Steering
NewRisk. A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2018 Volkswagen AtlasProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 469 owner complaints about the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 17 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-321 the manufacturer reports only 26% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has problems
469 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
111Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
101Engine1 crash/fire/injury
100Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
74Service brakes4 crash/fire/injury
33Fuel/propulsion system
31Forward collision avoidance
27Steering
17Seats
16Power train
9218 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 111 | 1 |
| Engine | 101 | 1 |
| Air bags | 100 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 74 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 31 | 3 |
| Steering | 27 | 3 |
| Seats | 17 | 5 |
| Power train | 16 | 1 |
| 18 other systems | 92 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
17 recalls
2018 Volkswagen Atlas recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Occupant classification: front passenger
Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Other: labels
Risk. Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Unknown or other
Risk. Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Show 13 more recalls
repaired · 2022 Q4
Tires: sidewall
Risk. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Unknown or other
Risk. Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Springs: coil springs
Risk. If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk. If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk. The wet air bag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the air bags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Disc: caliper
Risk. The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Rear/other: buckle assembly
Risk. A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Disc: caliper
Do not driveRisk. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
19kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 66 electrical system complaints. 98% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 47% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
49under 30k miles65under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Atlas year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Atlas median. How we score
'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Volkswagen Atlas safety ratings
2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, and the recalls they led to.
- Fuel Injector LeakNo recall
- Inadvertent Automatic Emergency BrakingNo recall
In owners' words
What Atlas owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
EPC light Tire light My cold air doesn't work, cruise control, heating on driver side mirror. Not sure what else. I made my first car payment in June 2026. Looks like I got a lemon vehicle.
The vehicle intermittently displays a “Steering lock faulty, stop!” warning and fails to start. When this occurs, the vehicle cannot be operated at all. This issue has occurred multiple times within a short period and has persisted despite prior repair attempts by authorized Volkswagen dealerships.…
Both low beam headlights went out within two weeks of each other and the vehicle just hit 100,000 miles. Dealership states that replacing the entire headlight assembly is the only fix and will cost $3,000. So now both headlights (safety issue) are out and the vehicle cannot be driven safely. Other…
Own a 2018 Atlas?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.