2018 Volkswagen Atlas problems and complaints
Owners have filed 467 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (110), Engine (100), Air Bags (100).
Key takeaways
- 467 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 18 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 110 | 24% |
| Engine | 100 | 21% |
| Air Bags | 100 | 21% |
| Service Brakes | 75 | 16% |
| Unknown Or Other | 73 | 16% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 32 | 7% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 31 | 7% |
| Steering | 27 | 6% |
| Seats | 17 | 4% |
| Power Train | 16 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 3% |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-11-02
My 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SEL has experienced recurring engine stalling, fluctuating RPMs, hesitation, and surging associated with repeated failures of the EVAP charcoal canister and related components. The vehicle has unexpectedly stalled while reversing, approaching stops, and operating in traffic, creating a serious ...
Steering - filed 2026-10-28
Months ago I heard a knocking noise under my steering wheel/near the driver's side wheel. I took the car in and reported what I was hearing. I had services completed but it didn't stop the noise. The noise was inconsistent and hard to duplicate for the dealership on test drives. It was most pronounced when going over ...
Suspension,power Train,engine - filed 2026-10-04
This vehicle has too many issues. Electrical, enhine, suspension, seat release latches, EPC. Water pump was replaced a week after buying the vehicle.
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More for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.