Volkswagen Atlas Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 487 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Volkswagen Atlas across 9 model years. The 2021 model year has the most (148). The words owners use most often: “start stop” (13% of reports).
- 487electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Start stop: mentioned in 63 of 487 complaints (13%)
- Parking brake: mentioned in 53 of 487 complaints (11%)
- Driver door: mentioned in 34 of 487 complaints (7%)
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 28 of 487 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 101 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 487 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 4 an injury.
Volkswagen Atlas electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Atlas | 3 | 27% | — |
| 2025 Atlas | 17 | 35% | 4,379 |
| 2024 Atlas | 44 | 25% | — |
| 2023 Atlas | 33 | 24% | 25,250 |
| 2022 Atlas | 44 | 24% | 31,390 |
| 2021 Atlas | 148 | 31% | 13,500 |
| 2020 Atlas | 11 | 41% | 66,525 |
| 2019 Atlas | 76 | 16% | 10,250 |
| 2018 Atlas | 111 | 24% | 18,738 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:wiring:relays/solenoids; electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Model years: 2021
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.
Risk: A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and as necessary, replace the relays, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97FR.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2018, 2019
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
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.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Digital instrument cluster is not working.
I purchased my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas new on January 25, 2025. Since purchase, the infotainment/touchscreen system has repeatedly failed, sometimes while driving. The screen becomes completely black and nonfunctional, causing loss of the rearview backup camera, windshield defroster controls, and…
Malfunctioning Component/System: The vehicle is experiencing two separate, severe safety malfunctions: Issue 1 (Engine Stalling): The engine completely shuts off while the vehicle is actively in "Drive." Issue 2 (Unintended Lockout): The vehicle automatically locks all doors with the keys inside…
Drivers side daytime running light failed under normal use.
Even after the most recent recall âupdateâ has been completed, my reverse cameras freeze. Infotainment system crashed and goes black. Infotainment system had been issue ever since buying car. Has to be hard reset every other week to make functions work. Dealer says âno issuesâ.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volkswagen Atlass have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 487 owner complaints about electrical system for the Volkswagen Atlas. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volkswagen Atlas electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Volkswagen Atlas?
The most frequent phrase is “start stop”, in 63 of 487 complaints, followed by “parking brake” (53).
Other Volkswagen Atlas problems
- Air Bags problems (375)
- Engine problems (374)
- Service Brakes problems (350)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (241)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (144)
- Exterior Lighting problems (125)
- Power Train problems (114)
See all Volkswagen Atlas problems.