YearToAvoid

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 15 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, 3% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 4,100 miles. No related recall is on file for this component.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
15
3% of 462
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
4,100 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2018 Volkswagen Atlas transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 6, 2018, latest Jul 16, 2026.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2018Nov 2018Nov 2019Dec 2020Jan 2023Nov 2023Jul 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2018 to Jul 2026; peak Aug 2018 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Atlas model year

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

  1. 201815 (3%)
  2. 201934 (7%)
  3. 20202 (7%)
  4. 202115 (3%)
  5. 20224 (2%)
  6. 20237 (5%)
  7. 202420 (12%)
  8. 202512 (26%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
NHTSA has 15 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Atlas, which is 3% of the 462 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2018 Volkswagen Atlas transmission issues?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this component for the 2018 Atlas.
At what mileage do transmission issues typically show up on the 2018 Atlas?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2018 Atlas is 4,100 miles.
Did transmission complaints lead to any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires and 0 injuries linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2018 Atlas.
How does the 2018 Atlas compare to other model years for this issue?
The 2018 Atlas had 15 complaints in this area (3% share), while 2019 had 34 complaints (7% share) and 2025 had 12 complaints but a 26% share of that year's total complaints.

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.