2023 Volkswagen Atlas: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas: 5 recalls, 135 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #22V152000 · 2022 · 222,892 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #22V718000 · 2022 · 555 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 model year atlas fl and atlas cross sport vehicles. Certain brake lines May leak at the threaded connections.
Why it matters: A brake fluid leak May increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 23, 2022.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #22V753000 · 2022 · 76,515 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022.
Airbags Vehicle recall #24V464000 · 2024 · 271,330 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: 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.
Brakes, Suspension Vehicle recall #25V434000 · 2025 · 546 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 atlas, atlas cross sport and 2023-2024 id.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles May not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Why it matters: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (35): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (28).
- Electrical (33): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (17), warning light on (6).
- Other / unknown (24): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (9), warning light on (3).
- Airbags (22): the most common themes are warning light on (3).
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas has 135 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 9 Atlas model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 222). Complaints peaked in 2024 (42 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 1 year old, at a median of 33,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2022 (183 complaints, 7 recalls), 2024 (171 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 25 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems?
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (35), electrical (33), other / unknown (24).
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.