YearToAvoid

2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 Atlas Cross Sport years

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ranks 4th of 6 model years, with a complaint index of 40 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Atlas Cross Sport years. It has 71 NHTSA complaints, 7 recalls, 1 crash, and 1 fire, with Brakes as the top problem area.

Complaints
71
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 24 hwy

Top 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes23 (32%)
  2. Electrical System22 (31%)
  3. Engine20 (28%)
  4. Other12 (17%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (15%)
  6. Airbags10 (14%)
  7. Fuel System7 (10%)
  8. Steering2 (3%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (1%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Parking brake engages unexpectedly while driving or at stops, sometimes at highway speed.
  • Vehicle loses power or the engine shuts off while driving, with a dashboard message to restart manually.
  • Steering wheel locks up on the highway after a Steering Malfunction warning light appears.
  • Windows, sunroof, and door locks operate on their own, and door sensors trigger with no apparent cause.
  • Fuel gauge reads full inaccurately and has been linked to fuel pump replacements and no-fuel breakdowns.
  • Front door misalignment tied to the door wiring harness recall causes electronics and sensors to malfunction randomly.
2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport complaints: complaints filed per month11Dec 2021Jun 2022Mar 2023Sep 2023May 2024Oct 2024Aug 2025Mar 2026
111 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2022 (11).

2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V464000Jun 20, 2024Airbags271,330 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 22V807000Oct 26, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 vehicles

    Suspension:critical fasteners

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 22V753000Oct 7, 2022Engine76,515 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

    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.

    Remedy: 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).

See all 7 recalls for the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport →

2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2022 compared with other Atlas Cross Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020Caution6010611 !19.5
2021Avoid10016514 !21
2022Good4071721
2023Best018621
2024Avoid8096822.5

All Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport reliable?
Relative to other Atlas Cross Sport model years, 2022 ranks 4th of 6 with a complaint index of 40 and a "Good" verdict, based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What is the top problem area for the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport?
Brakes lead with 23 complaints, 32% of the total, and a median failure mileage of 18,285 miles, followed by Electrical System issues at 22 complaints.
Does the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport, covering airbags, suspension trailing arm bolts, engine connecting rod bearings, trailer hitch bolts, infotainment software, and fuel injectors.
How does 2022 compare to other Atlas Cross Sport years?
2022 (complaint index 40) fares better than 2021 (100, Avoid), 2024 (80, Avoid), and 2020 (60, Caution), but worse than 2023 (0, Best) and 2025 (20, Best).
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport?
EPA rates it at 21 mpg combined (19 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.