The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2025 2025
The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
My new car is telling me I have a transmission problem. I got in my car to go to work and my car wouldnât go in drive or reverse. Then my back up camera doesnât work all the time and my screen gets blurry or complete black.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas owner · NHTSA complaint
My gears shift randomly while driving and every time I do a U turn. My air conditioning goes out for an hour randomly then comes back on Side mirror signals do not tell you when a car is next to you or passing you as they should
2024 Volkswagen Atlas owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Volkswagen Atlas years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Volkswagen Atlas years are 2019, 2024, 2025.
What are common Volkswagen Atlas transmission problems?
Owners most often describe lost power while driving, rolled away or park trouble, delay or hesitation.
Which Volkswagen Atlas years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Volkswagen Atlas years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2023, 2020, 2022.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Volkswagen Atlas reliability by year. How we count