The Lemon Index

All cars · Volkswagen Atlas · 2025

2025 Volkswagen Atlas. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index112100 = average car
Complaints73NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold102,608U.S. model year
Per 100K sold71complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S8)FWD20 / 26 / 22Regular$2,850
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S8)AWD18 / 25 / 20Regular$3,100

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 3,100 and 11,500 miles. Median 5,600, from 5 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Electrical40%
Transmission & drivetrain27%
Automatic emergency braking18%
Engine16%
Brakes8%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
7310001

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 26V473000 Jul 2026 Back Over Prevention / Software

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 28, 2026.

  • 25V434000 Jun 2025 Service Brakes

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.

  • 25V334000 May 2025 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91SB.

  • 25V100000 Feb 2025 Engine

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. Dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10X5.

  • 25V081000 Feb 2025 Power Train / Automatic Transmission

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38CX.

Manufacturer communications 204

Volkswagen filed 204 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Manual transmission noise diagnosing
  • Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory; Customer states MIL-on, P0068 stored in…
  • Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM memory; Customer states Electrical System Error…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardStandard

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
202218720782,025Brakes
202313715695,675Engine
2024279274114,387Electrical
202511273102,608Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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