Is the 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS reliable?

The 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS has 163 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: above-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS?

Top problems: ENGINE (32 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (24 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (22 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS?

Yes, there are 5 recall(s): AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, SERVICE BRAKES. Contact any Volkswagen dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS?

The 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS gets 22 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2182. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS is approximately $1,586/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2023 Volkswagen ATLAS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS has 163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 265. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: while driving down the road at about 50 mph, the vehicle engine shut off. the vehicle lost all power to the engine, dash board, and steering. the vehicle was unable to be moved as it could not be shifted into neutral so as to push it out of the roadway. after approximately 30 minutes, the vehicle wa. There are 5 recalls issued for this model year.

5 crash reports 7 injuries

163

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

32 complaints

20%

• While driving down the road at about 50 mph, the vehicle engine shut off. The vehicle lost all power to the engine, dash board, and steering. The vehicle was unable to be moved as it could not be shifted into neutral so as to push it out of the roadway. After approximately 30 minutes, the vehicle wa
• Car was returned from VW dealer Friday for door harness replacement. Saturday night around 930pm we were driving on the toll road when the car starts malfunctioning at 75mph. Various warnings flashed and beeped. My husband was trying to keep control and merge over to slower lanes so we could pull ov
• I'm emailing due to issues with my 2023 Cross Sport I purchased. It's a dire situation, as I had issues with my 2021 Cross Sport and VW ended up repurchasing the vehicle from me due a number of safety concerns. During my search for a new vehicle, I could not find anything that I liked so I ended up

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“While driving down the road at about 50 mph, the vehicle engine shut off. The vehicle lost all power to the engine, dash board, and steering. The vehicle was unable to be moved as it could not be shifted into neutral so as to push it out of the roadway. After approximately 30 minutes, the vehicle wa”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS

Based on 12 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 33K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred. This vehicle is under 5 years old, so most of the fleet hasn't accumulated high mileage yet — low-mileage peaks reflect fleet age, not necessarily premature failure.

Recalls (5)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW28/03/2022

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.

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

Fix: 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.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,182

Per month

$182

Per mile

18.2¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,667/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,920/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2023 Volkswagen ATLAS

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,586

Full coverage / month

$132

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-5%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$1586

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Volkswagen ATLAS Service Intervals

Oil change

10K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

10K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

40K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

60K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

40K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

40K mi

TSI turbo engines require VW-approved 502/504 spec synthetic oil. DSG transmission service (if equipped) every 40K miles.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Volkswagen New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

4 yr / 50K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 163 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: While driving down the road at about 50 mph, the vehicle engine shut off. The vehicle lost all power to the engine, dash board, and steering. The vehicle was unable to be moved as it could not be shifted into neutral so as to push it out of the roadway. After approximately 30 minutes, the vehicle wa
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: While driving down the road at about 50 mph, the vehicle engine shut off. The vehicle lost all power to the engine, dash board, and steering. The vehicle was unable to be moved as it could not be shifted into neutral so as to push it out of the roadway. After approximately 30 minutes, the vehicle wa
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I was driving on the highway when suddenly the sunroof shattered, sending broken glass all inside the vehicle right above the passenger seats. Nothing hit the window as there were no cars around us, in broad daylight, with clear skies. It is unknown what caused this other than a manufacturing defect
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: The Airbag warning light turns on/off at random times while operating vehicle. Sometimes the light remains on until the vehicle is restarted. During the events, only the driver was in the vehicle and nothing was on top of the passenger seats. There is also a pop-up Airbag message that displays on t
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 5 recalls have been completed — free at any Volkswagen dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)