Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Atlas› 2025

Volkswagen · Compact SUV

2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

73 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5

Complaints1 crash reported 76

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Atlas Cross Sport, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 76 complaints, most often about the electrical system. 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

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Atlas Cross Sport	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	20	26	23	$2,900
Atlas	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	20	26	22	$3,050
Atlas Cross Sport 4motion	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	19	26	21	$3,200
Atlas SE 4motion	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	19	26	21	$3,200
Atlas SEL 4motion	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	18	25	21	$3,200
Atlas 4motion Peak Edition	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	18	25	20	$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 48525, 48524, 48548, 48547, 48546, 48278.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Atlas, Atlas 4motion Peak Edition, Atlas Cross Sport, Atlas SE 4motion, Atlas SEL 4motion	4 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Atlas Cross Sport 4motion	4 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 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 style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

269 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, 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 Peak Edition SE, 4Motion SEL, 4Motion SEL Premium R-Line, 4Motion SEL R-Line). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	195.7–200.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	78.0–78.3 in
Height	67.7–68.9 in
Wheelbase	117.3 in
Track, front	67.3–67.7 in
Track, rear	67.7 in
Curb weight	4,442–4,594 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44 to 57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door SUV 4Motion 2.0L, 4-door SUV 4Motion 3.6L, Sport Cross 4-door SUV 4Motion 2.0L, Sport Cross 4-door SUV 4Motion 3.6L. 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.

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.

Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

91TV

57,851 vehicles

Problem 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V473000 reported Jul 22, 2026 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Suspension

42HX

546 vehicles 85% reported repaired built Sep 18, 2024 – Feb 4, 2025

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 PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V434000 reported Jun 30, 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

91QE

171,381 vehicles 91% reported repaired

Problem 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V334000 reported May 21, 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine

10X5

177,493 vehicles 95% reported repaired

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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V100000 reported Feb 17, 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Power Train

38CX

19 vehicles 100% reported repaired

Problem 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V081000 reported Feb 12, 2025 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.

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 2025 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 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

76complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

8.3 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 91,188 Atlas built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2024: 1 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 53

Most-cited components

Electrical System 30

Power Train 20

Unspecified 20

Forward Collision Avoidance 15

Engine 13

Lane Departure 5

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.

The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving, there was oil leaking from the engine nearby the exhaust. The contact became aware of the oil on the driveway. The contact raised the hood and smelled an oil odor. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 21-26-02.

Engine at 9,000 miles Oct 21, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11772622

Hi, I have been an owner of 2025 Atlas Cross Sport Premium R line for over 8 months now. Since June 2026 I have 2 incidents of cracked front windshield. All VW manufactured glass for Atlas CS are made paper thin and prone to sudden damage upon small impact my road debris or rocks.

Visibility/Wiper Sep 24, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766637

I keep having issues with the entertainment screen where it stops working. When this happens there are multiple issues: I can not control the temperature and my gps shows I’m in a different town causing my heads up speed limit telling me the speed limit is 50mph in my 25mph neighborhood.

Electrical System Sep 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11765470

When using adaptive cruise/lane keeping feature the vehicle when passing over another roadway will erroneously "see" a sharp curve and suddenly and unexpectedly apply significant braking force to slow the vehicle down and try to turn the car to the phantom curve

Forward Collision Avoidance Jun 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11746872

Vehicle turned on and quickly shut off. Vehicle health report sent a warning of the engine and transmission and powertrain needing to be serviced immediately

Power Train Feb 16, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11718223

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE, VIN . The vehicle repeatedly experienced shaking, hesitation, warning lights, loss of power, and engine shutdowns. On approximately XXX, the engine shut off while the vehicle was idling in Drive at approximately 48,582 miles.

Fuel/Propulsion System Sep 18, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11765193

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: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 11 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 8.8 per 100,000 built. Every Atlas model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	14%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 399

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-23

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 261 service bulletins, 130 others, 4 service campaigns

Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Service Brakes.

VIN4APIN20260923 Other
2026-09-23 · Unknown Or Other
Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, Low coolant level, Visible coolant leak, or Coolant warning message in instrument cluster; Customer states error for Dynamic Cornering Light in MFI; Customer states no start condition; Customer states no start condition; Customer states wind noise and or water ingress; Customer states there is a leak from the front of t
V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
2026-09-17 · Engine
Suggested fuel additive
TT 96 26 01 Other
2026-09-17 · Lane Departure — Assist
Heat Sensative Trouble Shooting Explanation.
SM 39-2026 Other
2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
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.
VIN4APIN20260902 Other
2026-09-02 · Unknown Or Other
Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, Low coolant level, Visible coolant leak, or Coolant warning message in instrument cluster; Customer states error for Dynamic Cornering Light in MFI; Customer states no start condition; Customer states no start condition; Customer states wind noise and or water ingress; Customer states there is a noise when pressing the
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.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0442 P0442 on Volkswagen →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Unknown Or Other · Gas cap →	44 bulletins
U04A1 U04A1 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	34 bulletins
U04A5 U04A5 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	34 bulletins
U04A9 U04A9 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	34 bulletins
P0456 P0456 on Volkswagen →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Unknown Or Other · Gas cap →	22 bulletins
P04F0 P04F0 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	22 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Volkswagen →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Unknown Or Other · Fuel pump →	16 bulletins
P2080 P2080 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	14 bulletins
P055F P055F on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	10 bulletins
P0068 P0068 on Volkswagen →	Air flow, manifold pressure and throttle position do not add up — often an intake leak.	Unknown Or Other	6 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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.23%

failed the safety inspection

3,007 initial inspections of 2,985 vehicles.

Measure	The 2025 Atlas	Every 2025 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the safety inspection	0.23%	0.36%	3,007
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.13%	0.16%	3,007
Miles driven a year	8,646	8,354	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	12,680	12,194	odometer at inspection

New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. 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 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 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 mpg 2026 B 2 11 Do not drive 2025 this page C 5 76 23 mpg 2024 D 8 276 23 mpg 2023 D 6 159 23 mpg 2022 F 7 259 23 mpg 2021 F 17 645 Do not drive 2020 F 11 134 Do not drive 2019 F 12 483 22 mpg 2018 F 17 466 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2025 Atlas

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas. The most serious on file is 25V434000, covering Suspension. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

NHTSA gave the 2025 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 C (73/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 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 2025 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: 4,442–4,594 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 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, most often about electrical system, power train, unspecified. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas is 4 out of 10. 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 ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

The manufacturer has filed 399 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, most often covering unknown or other, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-23. 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 2025 Volkswagen Atlas do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas failed the safety inspection on 0.23% of first inspections — lower than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. 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.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	6 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	5	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	76	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	399	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No 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 NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We 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.

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.

JSON for this page · API

2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

The cheapest ownership win

Recalls (5)

Back Over Prevention

Suspension

Back Over Prevention

Engine

Power Train

Whether any of this applies to one specific Atlas

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed the safety inspection

Atlas by model year

Common questions about the 2025 Atlas

Does the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?

How safe is the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

What are the dimensions of the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

How clean is the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas?

How does the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method