Volkswagen Atlas Engine Problems
Owners have filed 374 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Volkswagen Atlas across 9 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (100). The words owners use most often: “start stop” (16% of reports).
- 374engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 25%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 58 of 374 complaints (16%)
- Put park: mentioned in 57 of 374 complaints (15%)
- Restart engine: mentioned in 19 of 374 complaints (5%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 19 of 374 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 67 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 374 complaints, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.
Volkswagen Atlas engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Atlas | 4 | 36% | — |
| 2025 Atlas | 7 | 14% | 10,000 |
| 2024 Atlas | 30 | 17% | 18,227 |
| 2023 Atlas | 35 | 26% | — |
| 2022 Atlas | 50 | 27% | — |
| 2021 Atlas | 85 | 18% | 15,000 |
| 2020 Atlas | 3 | 11% | — |
| 2019 Atlas | 60 | 12% | 5,545 |
| 2018 Atlas | 100 | 21% | 18,488 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Engine
Model years: 2024, 2025
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2024
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas PA2 and Atlas Cross Sport PA vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, engine failure may cause an oil leak which can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 13i6.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2022, 2023
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
COMPONENT: Engine In XXX at 35,750 miles, the check engine light illuminated. Fault codes P0301 (Cylinder 1 misfire) and P130A (ECM "hide cylinder" â fuel injector shut off due to severe misfire) were stored. The dealer ([XXX] Volkswagen, [XXX]) diagnosed the concern per VW TSB #XXX, added a fuel…
My wife was operating the vehicle when the check engine light suddenly came on and alerts on the dash stating that the car was overheating. She was unable to pull over as she was in the road, the car then flashed more alerts and limited her speed to under 20 mph only operating in first gear and…
This vehicle has too many issues. Electrical, enhine, suspension, seat release latches, EPC. Water pump was replaced a week after buying the vehicle.
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…
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V590000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer. Additionally, the vehicle shut off while driving…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volkswagen Atlass have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 374 owner complaints about engine 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 engine?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Volkswagen Atlas?
The most frequent phrase is “start stop”, in 58 of 374 complaints, followed by “put park” (57).
Other Volkswagen Atlas problems
See all Volkswagen Atlas problems.