How many steering complaints does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have?

NHTSA lists 24 steering complaints for the 2018 Atlas, which is about 5% of the 462 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a steering recall for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?

Yes. Recall 26V590000 covers 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles for a right-side steering rack mounting bolt that may corrode and break; dealers will replace the bolt free of charge.

Did the steering problems cause any crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 3 injuries associated with steering complaints on the 2018 Atlas.

At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for steering complaints on the 2018 Atlas is 15,000 miles.

How does the 2018 Atlas compare to other years for steering complaints?

The 2018 Atlas had 24 steering complaints (5% share), while 2019 had 38 complaints (8% share); later years, from 2020 through 2025, had fewer raw complaints though some carried higher shares of that year's total.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 24 steering complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, about 5% of its 462 total complaints, with 1 crash and 3 injuries reported. A related recall (26V590000) covers a steering rack mounting bolt that can corrode and break. Median mileage at failure was 15,000.

Steering complaints: 24; 5% of 462
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 15,000 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical steering symptoms owners report

Owners report the steering wheel suddenly pulling or jerking to one side while the lane assist feature is active, sometimes toward oncoming traffic.
Some describe the steering wheel becoming briefly uncontrollable during a lane change, resulting in a curb strike in one case.
Others report abnormal noise from the steering system when turning, described as coming from the upper suspension mount area.
A few complaints describe loss of power steering assist tied to electrical or low-voltage events, with steering going out along with other systems.
Repeated dealer visits were reported for jerking or pulling steering wheel behavior that technicians could not consistently reproduce.

When 2018 Volkswagen Atlas steering complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 25, 2018, latest Jul 29, 2026.

24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2018 to Jul 2026; peak Oct 2018 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas

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.

Steering complaints by Atlas model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201824 (5%)
201938 (8%)
20205 (19%)
202111 (2%)
20226 (3%)
20233 (2%)
20243 (2%)
20252 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have?: NHTSA lists 24 steering complaints for the 2018 Atlas, which is about 5% of the 462 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?: Yes. Recall 26V590000 covers 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles for a right-side steering rack mounting bolt that may corrode and break; dealers will replace the bolt free of charge.
Did the steering problems cause any crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 3 injuries associated with steering complaints on the 2018 Atlas.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for steering complaints on the 2018 Atlas is 15,000 miles.
How does the 2018 Atlas compare to other years for steering complaints?: The 2018 Atlas had 24 steering complaints (5% share), while 2019 had 38 complaints (8% share); later years, from 2020 through 2025, had fewer raw complaints though some carried higher shares of that year's total.