The Lemon Index2020 Volkswagen Atlas.
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas is better than average by owner complaints: 66 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 80, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 19 to 22 mpg combined. It's the best Volkswagen Atlas year we track.
Better than average. 1.2× fewer complaints than average.
Worst year 2021
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 134 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Atlas year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 41K miles on the car (26 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 11
- airbags 2024
The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
- airbags 2023
The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
- tires 2022
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously.
Show all 11 recalls
- airbags 2022
The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.
- equipment 2022
The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed.
- visibility 2021
The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the air bag control module.
- steering 2021
The front steering knuckle may fracture in the area of the strut mounting.
- steering 2020
One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.
- tires 2020
The tires may have been over cured.
- lights 2020
The driver's side headlight may have been aimed too low during production.
- seats 2020
Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 642 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with any combination…
- Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation Instruction (U.S
- Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states coolant leak Oil…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedInadvertent automatic emergency braking2023–2024
- ClosedFuel injector leak2021–2022
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Driving and my car is automatically suddenly braking for me even-though my foot is on the gas. This now has happened a few times and I almost got rear-ended yesterday.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas owner · NHTSA complaint 11457643
More owner reports
The ControlNet module throws an error on the dash stating SOS Emergency error. The error cannot be cleared.
NHTSA complaint 11556585
While driving down a street the car engaged the emergency stop system and stopped the car, nothing in front of me or around me. Verify scary incident.
NHTSA complaint 11462959
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 80; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2020 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (42%), automatic emergency braking (30%) and brakes (26%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas have?
11 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas get?
19 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Volkswagen Atlas problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,400 and 41,800 miles. The middle report was at 14,200 miles, from 26 complaints.
Does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works