2018 Volkswagen Atlas Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
57/100
#4 most-complained of 8 Atlas years
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has a Complaint Index of 57 and ranks 4th worst out of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 462 complaints, 17 recalls, and 8 crashes for this year, with Electrical System issues the top problem area at 26% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 462
- Recalls
- 17
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 18 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 25 hwy
Top 2018 Volkswagen Atlas problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System122 (26%)
- Engine108 (23%)
- Airbags100 (22%)
- Brakes81 (18%)
- Other74 (16%)
- Fuel System35 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras34 (7%)
- Steering24 (5%)
- Structure & Body24 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain15 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report brakes failing to stop the vehicle or the pedal going to the floor at low speed, in some cases resulting in a collision.
- Airbags have erroneously deployed while driving under 5 mph, damaging seat belts and curtain airbags.
- Steering has suddenly become uncontrollable while merging on the highway, causing the vehicle to strike a curb.
- Electrical faults have disabled cruise control, heated mirrors, and cabin cooling, often alongside warning lights such as EPC or tire pressure.
- Excessive oil consumption has been reported early in ownership, requiring added oil and multiple dealer visits.
- The autonomous emergency braking system has activated without any obstacle present, abruptly stopping the vehicle.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas recalls
17 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V590000Sep 11, 2026Steering208,724 vehicles
Steering
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
Risk: A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.
- NHTSA 23V215000Mar 29, 2023Airbags143,053 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 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 March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.
- NHTSA 22V086000Feb 16, 2022Other3,648 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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.
2018 compared with other Atlas years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Atlas has a Complaint Index of 57 and ranks 4th worst of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict rather than the best or worst rating.
- What are the biggest problems with the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints lead at 26% of the 462 total complaints, followed by Engine (23%), Airbags (22%), and Brakes (18%).
- Does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 17 recalls for the 2018 Atlas, including one do-not-drive recall, covering areas like steering, airbags, and electrical systems.
- How does the 2018 Atlas compare to other years?
- The 2018 Atlas (Complaint Index 57) ranks better than 2021 (100, Avoid) and 2019 (71, Caution) but worse than 2022 (29, Good) and 2020 (0, Best).