The Lemon Index2022 Volkswagen Atlas.
The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas is worse than average by owner complaints: 207 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 187, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 19 to 23 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Atlas year is 2020.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 258 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Atlas year. 2022 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 16K to 56K miles on the car (21 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 7
- 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.
- suspension 2022
The driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to loosen and fall out.
- engine 2022
The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Show all 7 recalls
- trailer hitches 2022
The trailer hitch bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
- back over prevention 2022
The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display.
- fuel system, gasoline 2022
The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters.
- 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.
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 468 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Engine oil consumption measurement
- Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with any combination…
- Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Oil level sensor leaking Customer…
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
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 $2800–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Very loud grinding noises and squeaking especially in the mornings when you use the brakes.
2022 Volkswagen Atlas owner · NHTSA complaint 11565101
More owner reports
I received crash warnings while driving 60mph but no car was near to trigger the warning. Vehicle rear passenger side window rolled down on its own about 5 inches. Same trip, the rear driver side window rolled down about 5 inches.
NHTSA complaint 11464912
Car make noises while breaking at times, does not break at all if you dont push the pedal really hard.
NHTSA complaint 11535512
Quick answers
Is the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 187; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Atlas year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2022 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (32%), electrical (25%) and engine (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas have?
7 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 2022 Volkswagen Atlas get?
19 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2022 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 2022 Volkswagen Atlas problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,400 and 56,100 miles. The middle report was at 42,000 miles, from 21 complaints.
Does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Volkswagen Atlas year is better than the 2022?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2022 and 2019.
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