VehicleVerdict

2022 Volkswagen Atlas problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas sits mid-pack among Atlas years: 267 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 241, with 7 recalls and one closed investigation.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (48), engine (48), and electrical system (39), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

267

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

1

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2022 compare to other Atlas years?

Atlas NHTSA complaints by model year, 2022 highlighted724 complaints2018: 654 complaints2019: 695 complaints2020: 49 complaints2021: 724 complaints2022: 267 complaints2023: 163 complaints2024: 240 complaints2025: 63 complaints2026: 8 complaints
Atlas NHTSA complaints by model year, 2022 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Atlas years to avoid →

What are the most common 2022 Volkswagen Atlas problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine4818%
Brakes4818%
Electrical System3915%
Driver Assistance3513%
Airbags3011%
Other218%
Fuel System124%
Lighting114%
Steering62%
Seats52%
Visibility & Wipers31%
Transmission31%
Seat Belts21%
Body & Structure21%
Child Seat10%
Speed Control10%

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

24V464000AirbagsJune 20, 2024 · 271,330 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

22V807000SuspensionOctober 26, 2022 · 33 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

22V753000EngineOctober 7, 2022 · 76,515 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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).

22V657000Trailer HitchAugust 31, 2022 · 3,184 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The trailer hitch bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.

Consequence

Loose bolts may fall out, causing the remaining bolts to break, which could lead to separation of the trailer hitch and trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will tighten the trailer hitch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N8.

22V514000Electrical SystemJuly 20, 2022 · 43,091 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.

22V245000Fuel SystemApril 13, 2022 · 1,382 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters.

Consequence

Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the long fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24iD.

22V152000AirbagsMarch 28, 2022 · 222,892 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.

Consequence

A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“My atlas forward collision system malfunctioned causing the automatic emergency braking to turn on when there was no one and nothing in front of me. I was then rear ended. Which ultimately totaled my vehicle. My car said airbag error as well. I called Volkswagen Perrysburg Ohio, to report the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 15, 2025 · crash

“Driving my car only a few minutes and it caught fire and blew up. Car was completely engulfed in flames. Son was barely able to get out before engine burst into flames. ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 20, 2026 · fire

“While driving, the steering wheel warning light briefly flashed on my dashboard and then disappeared. Later, it came back on and stayed illuminated. A few minutes after that, my car caught fire, which spread to my garage and caused significant damage to my house.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 26, 2024 · fire

“My atlas forward collision system malfunctioned causing the automatic emergency braking to turn on when there was no one and nothing in front of me. I was then rear ended. Which ultimately totaled my vehicle. My car said airbag error as well. I called Volkswagen Perrysburg Ohio, to report the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · July 15, 2025 · crash

“Error: Airbag and the passenger airbag isn’t working. There is a recall for the atlas but my vin isn’t in there. No recall for the brakes but they are in a class action lawsuit and they are squeeling, vibrate and feel like they won’t stop. Dealership claims nothing wrong. But my car I traded…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 1, 2025

2022 Volkswagen Atlas — common questions

Is the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?

It is close to typical for the Atlas: 267 NHTSA complaints, 7 recalls, and 1 investigation on file.

What are the most common 2022 Atlas problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (48 complaints), engine (48 complaints), electrical system (39 complaints).

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Volkswagen Atlas years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Atlas years to avoid are 2021, 2019, 2018. The cleanest record among Atlas years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.