Midsize SUVs · CA1 generation
Think twice Well below average
It scores 19 out of 100 for reliability compared with other midsize SUVs. Over the next 5 years we expect it to cost about $19,826 to own, including $3,987 in repairs.
Early estimate: this rating uses our own sales estimate for the Volkswagen Atlas.
Reliability
19/100
Well below average
Repairs, 5 years
$3,987
at 12,000 mi a year
Fuel, 5 years
$8,870
23 mpg, $3.40/gal
Price today
$26,657
$23,459 – $29,856, estimate
Recalls
6
on record
Owner complaints
162
filed with NHTSA
These are estimates, not guarantees. They come from public NHTSA complaint and recall data and EPA fuel economy, assuming 5 years of ownership and 12,000 miles a year. Change the assumptions or see how it works.
Expected over 5 years, by area of the car.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Check whether a specific car still has open recalls with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
These links go to independent sites. We don't earn anything from them.
Of the years we rate, the 2020 scores best (65/100) and the 2024 worst (2/100).
| Year | Reliability |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated yet |
| 2026 | Not rated yet |
| 2025 | Not rated yet |
| 2024 | 2/100 |
| 2023 | 19/100 |
| 2022 | 14/100 |
| 2021 | 4/100 |
| 2020 | 65/100 |
| 2019 | 27/100 |
| 2018 | 29/100 |
Yes. It scores 19 out of 100, among the least reliable midsize SUVs of 2015–2024. The 2020 Atlas scored much better.
It scores 19 out of 100 against other midsize SUVs from 2015 to 2024, which is well below average. Based on 162 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, we expect about $3,987 in repairs over the next 5 years at 12,000 miles a year.
About $19,826 over 5 years: $6,969 in lost value, $3,987 in repairs and $8,870 in fuel at $3.40 a gallon. A typical one sells for about $26,657 today.
Of the years we rate, the 2020 scores best (65/100) and the 2024 worst (2/100).
6 recalls on record with NHTSA.