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Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Atlas› 2023
Volkswagen · Compact SUV

2023 Volkswagen Atlas

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
60 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints5 crash · 6 injured reported 159
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
2027202620252024202320222021202020192018

The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Atlas, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 159 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volkswagen Atlas — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volkswagen Atlas · Photo: JustAnotherCarDesigner · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AtlasGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212523$2,900
Atlas Cross SportGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212523$2,900
Atlas 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202422$3,050
Atlas Cross Sport 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202422$3,050
AtlasGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl182420$3,350
Atlas 4motionGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl182320$3,350
Atlas Cross SportGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl182420$3,350
Atlas Cross Sport 4motionGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl182420$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45678, 45679, 45699, 45702, 45680, 45700, 45681, 45701.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Atlas, Atlas 4motion, Atlas Cross Sport3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Atlas Cross Sport 4motion3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Atlas, Atlas 4motion, Atlas Cross Sport5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Atlas Cross Sport 4motion5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.6 L

Engine Output

Horsepower276 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 4Motion SE w/ Tech, 4Motion SEL, 4Motion SEL Premium R-Line, SE w/ Tech w/ Sunroof Pkg.). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length195.7–200.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)78.0–78.3 in
Height67.7–68.9 in
Wheelbase117.3 in
Track, front67.3–67.7 in
Track, rear67.7 in
Curb weight4,251–9,453 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44 to 57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 7 configurations: 4-door SUV 4Motion, 4-door SUV 4Motion 2.0L, 4-door SUV 4Motion 3.6L, 4-door SUV FWD, Cross Sport 4-door SUV, Sport Cross 4-door SUV 4Motion 2.0L …. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2023 Atlas
Other years The 2027 Atlas Recalls Volkswagen recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Suspension

42HX
546 vehicles 85% reported repaired built May 20, 2023 – Jun 12, 2023
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V434000 reported Jun 30, 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

69PZ
271,330 vehicles 74% reported repaired built Oct 1, 2020 – Jun 18, 2024
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. 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. Risk A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V464000 reported Jun 20, 2024 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Suspension

42M2
33 vehicles 85% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Volkswagen Atlas FL and 2022-2023 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to loosen and fall out. Risk Unsecured bolts may cause the trailing arm to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the driver side rear trailing arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 25, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42M2.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V807000 reported Oct 26, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

VW: 13i4, Audi: 13i5
76,515 vehicles 98% reported repaired
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).
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V753000 reported Oct 7, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

47T2
555 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Certain brake lines may leak at the threaded connections. Risk A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T2.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V718000 reported Sep 26, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

97GF
222,892 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. 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. Risk A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V152000 reported Mar 28, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Forward Collision Avoidance — Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking closed

On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limit

Opened Sep 28, 2023 · closed Dec 18, 2024 · action PE23017 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Atlas

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Atlas →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
159complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

23 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 69,906 Atlas built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 51 · 2025: 31 · 2026: 50

Most-cited components

Engine 45
Electrical System 39
Unspecified 28
Air Bags 27
Fuel/Propulsion System 22
Service Brakes 18

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

After noticing an oil leak and blue smoke in my 23 VW atlas, I took it to my local dealership in Tupelo, MS. I realized there was an open recall for the PCV Valve / Oil separator under code 10LP. However, the bad PCV valve also caused the timing chain cover to go bad. The dealership called me back and said VW would not cover this issue.
Engine Jul 20, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11751639
Our VW Atlas Cross Sport 2023 was involved in an accident on August 3, 2025 where the Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning did not work. Firstly, we reported issues with our brakes several times and took the vehicle to Rick Case VW in Weston/Davie more than once to rectify this problem.
Service Brakes Sep 17, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11687902
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Air Bags Feb 3, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11640455
The vehicle simply shuts off with no warning or reason. I should NOT have to explain to anybody how this is a safety hazard to the driver and others around the vehicle. It shuts down while in a car wash and the vehicle is in Neutral. Thus, I have to brake, place the trans in Park then manually restart. The same happens at Stop Lights.
Electrical System Feb 18, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11572589
Daytime Running Lights Failure - 2023 Model with 82,000 miles. Found numerous instances in online forums and social media post about problem. Daytime running light doesn't work which puts at risk Yes, problem has been confirmed. No component has not been inspected. No warnings or messages. Noticed daytime running light was not working
Exterior Lighting Sep 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767981
Booster seat in high back mode has a seatbelt threader that causes the seatbelt to lock inappropriately trapping the child in the seat and/or rendering the seatbelt dysfunctional for use. The seatbelt positioner on the carseat and overall design impede proper use of the vehicle's seatbelt.
Chest Clip Apr 24, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11584994

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volkswagen itself: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 13 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 16 per 100,000 built. Every Atlas model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 33k

miles, typically

Half the 13 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 20,000 and 48,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 13 on file: 2 under 10k, 1 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 3 30k–40k, 1 40k–50k, 2 50k–60k, 1 100k–150k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 663
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 585 service bulletins, 54 others, 14 warranty extensions

Most often about: Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Equipment, Seat Belts.

  • V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Engine
  • Suggested fuel additive
  • 2026-09-17 · Lane Departure — Assist
  • Heat Sensative Trouble Shooting Explanation.
  • 2026-09-10 · Unknown Or Other
  • Remove Key FOB battery for 20 seconds to restore proper operation.
  • 2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
  • Email 91OL Over-the-air update
    2026-09-07 · Unknown Or Other
  • This OTA update provides improvements to connectivity stability and OCU module diagnostics, which will reduce OCU module replacements due to false DTC detection. This software update is also a prerequisite for future updates.
  • VOS-26-52 Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Air Bags
  • This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct airbag basic settings programming.
  • V4622022067177_5 Service bulletin
    2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
  • Repair or Replace Information
  • V4619022015173_35 Service bulletin
    2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
  • Brake rotor resurfacing

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0442
P0442 on Volkswagen →		A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Engine · Gas cap →134 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Volkswagen →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Engine · Gas cap →82 bulletins
P0463
P0463 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other34 bulletins
P2402
P2402 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →32 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0462
P0462 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other30 bulletins
P04F0
P04F0 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →30 bulletins
U04A1
U04A1 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other14 bulletins
U04A5
U04A5 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other14 bulletins
U04A9
U04A9 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other14 bulletins
P0087
P0087 on Volkswagen →		Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Engine · Fuel pump →8 bulletins
P0148
P0148 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine8 bulletins
P0322
P0322 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →8 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas failed the emissions check on 0.85% of first inspections — lower than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 0.85%

failed emissions

2,370 initial inspections of 2,334 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 AtlasEvery 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.85%1.6%2,364
Failed the safety inspection1.4%1.1%2,370
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.25%0.16%2,370
Miles driven a year11,52710,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer37,96832,673odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Atlas by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 25 mpg2026 B 2 11 Do not drive2025 C 5 76 23 mpg2024 D 8 276 23 mpg2023 this page D 6 159 23 mpg2022 F 7 259 23 mpg2021 F 17 645 Do not drive2020 F 11 134 Do not drive2019 F 12 483 22 mpg2018 F 17 466 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2023 Atlas

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V807000, covering Suspension. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (60/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?

Transport Canada measured it at 195.7–200.8 in long, 78.0–78.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 67.7–68.9 in tall, on a 117.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,251–9,453 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?

Owners have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, most often about engine, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 6 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?

The manufacturer has filed 663 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, most often covering engine, electrical system, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas failed the emissions check on 0.85% of first inspections — lower than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations8 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates8 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints159NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins663NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA10 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Atlas The Atlas model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Volkswagen recall on file All campaigns filed against Volkswagen vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Atlas by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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