Vehicle report

2018 Volkswagen Atlas

Name: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas Recall & Complaint Data
Creator: Official public data sources
License: https://www.usa.gov/government-works

Recalls, consumer complaints, safety ratings, fuel cost estimate, and next steps from official public data sources.

View complaints Check another year

16 Total recalls

Mar 29, 2023 Latest recall date

452 Complaint reports

$2,622 Estimated fuel cost

Quick answer: The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has 16 official recalls and 452 consumer complaints in our database. The latest recall date is Mar 29, 2023. The most common complaint categories include air bags, electrical system, engine. Estimated annual fuel cost is $2,622 based on the current calculator assumptions.

Buyer interpretation

What this record means before you buy

The useful question is not just whether this page has records. It is what those records should make you verify before money changes hands.

Recall homework

There are 16 official recalls listed for this model year. Before buying, use the VIN to confirm which campaigns are still open and ask for dealer repair records on completed work.

Owner complaint pattern

Owner complaints most often mention air bags, electrical system, engine. Scan those categories before the test drive so you know what symptoms, warning lights, or service history to ask about.

Service bulletin signal

688 manufacturer communications are listed. These are not recalls, but they can reveal repair instructions, warranty extensions, software notices, or known service patterns.

Ownership-cost check

The fuel-cost estimate is based on a representative EPA match, not every trim. Confirm the actual engine, drivetrain, and tire setup before comparing this listing with another year or model.

Questions to ask the seller

Can you show the current VIN recall status for this 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
Do you have dealer invoices or campaign paperwork for the listed recall repairs?
Have you noticed any issues related to air bags, electrical system, engine?
Can I review recent maintenance records before the test drive?

Used-car checklist

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2018 Volkswagen Atlas Regular Gasoline

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Safety ratings

Official safety ratings were found for 2 tested variants of the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.

Overall 5/5 stars

Frontal crash 5/5 stars

Side crash 5/5 stars

Rollover 4/5 stars

Displayed variant: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD ; rollover risk 15.9%

Safety ratings can vary by tested body style, trim, drivetrain, or variant. Do not assume every trim has the same rating unless the official record says so.

Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV FWD Default	5/5 stars	5/5 stars	5/5 stars	4/5 stars
2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD	5/5 stars	5/5 stars	5/5 stars	4/5 stars

How many recalls does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have?

Verify with official VIN lookup

16 official recalls on record for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. 105 matched quarterly completion reports are available.

Latest recall: March 29, 2023

Recall data is based on official records. This page is not an official VIN recall check. Always confirm open recalls with an official VIN lookup, the manufacturer, or an authorized dealer. Completion reports are campaign-level, delayed, and not VIN-specific.

Campaign	Component	Summary	Consequence	Remedy	Date	Completion
23V215000	AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 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.	A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.	Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.	Mar 2023	2025-4 91,554 remedied / 143,053 involved (64%)
22V086000	EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."	Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.	Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.	Feb 2022	2023-4 3,058 remedied / 3,648 involved (83.8%)
21V321000	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.	Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.	Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.	May 2021	2023-1 12 remedied / 46 involved (26.1%)
21V142000	TIRES:SIDEWALL	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.	Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44R1.	Mar 2021	2022-4 2,273 remedied / 2,535 involved (89.7%)
20V561000	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.	Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.	Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.	Sep 2020	2022-3 17 remedied / 23 involved (73.9%)
20V057000	AIR BAGS	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrectly manufactured air bag sensor, which can delay or disable air bag deployment when necessary.	In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag crash sensor, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AL.	Jan 2020	2020-4 7 remedied / 7 involved (100%)
19V389000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."	Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.	May 2019	2020-4 443,050 remedied / 662,185 involved (66.9%)
18V904000	SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.	If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.	Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J2/42J3.	Dec 2018	2020-2 5,611 remedied / 6,322 involved (88.8%)
18V824000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."	If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.	Nov 2018	2020-1 65,526 remedied / 73,549 involved (89.1%)
18V537000	AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. During production, the air conditioning system drain tube may have been twisted, causing water to drain into the air bag control module.	The wet air bag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the air bags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube, and if it is twisted, the drain tube and air bag control module will be replaced, free of charge. Some of the affected vehicles have had their drain tube previously replaced but did not receive a new air bag control module; the airbag control module will be replaced in these vehicles. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87F9.	Aug 2018	2019-4 9,044 remedied / 9,685 involved (93.4%)
18V536000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.	The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.	Aug 2018	2019-4 8,114 remedied / 8,416 involved (96.4%)
18V380000	SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswaen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The owner's manuals provided with the affected vehicles do not inform the customers about the child restraint size limitation/restrictions for the second row center seating position. As a result, the center and adjacent outboard seat belt buckles on the second row can become damaged it a child seat base is installed that is wider than 12.6 inches.	A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seat belt buckles, and replace them if necessary, free of charge. Volkswagen will also provide an owner's manual supplement addressing child safety and child restraints. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X1.	Jun 2018	2019-3 51,405 remedied / 54,729 involved (93.9%)
18V375000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.	If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.	Jun 2018	2019-4 735 remedied / 821 involved (89.5%)
18V369000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.	A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.	Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.	Jun 2018	2019-4 10,086 remedied / 10,225 involved (98.6%)
18V284000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank on these vehicles may leak fuel due to a manufacturing error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."	A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AW. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 17V-766.	May 2018	2019-3 268 remedied / 278 involved (96.4%)
17V766000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank may have been manufactured with insufficient wall thickness, potentially resulting in the tank leaking fuel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."	A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AQ.	Nov 2017	2019-2 55 remedied / 58 involved (94.8%)

Are there federal defect investigations for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?

Official records show 4 federal defect investigations matched to the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.

0 open 4 closed

Investigations are not recalls. They show official defect reviews and may close without a recall, or may reference a related campaign when one exists.

Action	Status	Component	Subject	Opened	Related recall
PE23017	Closed	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING	Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limitations. However, many consumer complaints alleged that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or Volkswagen dealerships informed the consumers that this braking is considered normal Front Assist operation. ODI's analysis shows that MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles have the highest rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation when compared to their Volkswagen peers.The rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation in MY 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles was comparable to their Volkswagen peers. To date, ODI has received a total of 69 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of Front Assist in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. In total, ODI reviewed 264 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include eight reports of incidents involving an alleged injury and two reports involving a crash. PE23017 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.	Sep 2023 Closed Dec 2024	None
PE23017	Closed	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limitations. However, many consumer complaints alleged that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or Volkswagen dealerships informed the consumers that this braking is considered normal Front Assist operation. ODI's analysis shows that MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles have the highest rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation when compared to their Volkswagen peers.The rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation in MY 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles was comparable to their Volkswagen peers. To date, ODI has received a total of 69 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of Front Assist in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. In total, ODI reviewed 264 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include eight reports of incidents involving an alleged injury and two reports involving a crash. PE23017 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.	Sep 2023 Closed Dec 2024	None
PE21008	Closed	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS	Fuel Injector Leak On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-008 to investigate instances of fuel injectors leaking in the engine compartment in model year (MY) 2018 through 2020 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. These vehicles are equipped with either a 3.6 or 2.0 liter engine. The subject investigation concerns vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. Prior to opening the investigation, ODI also observed that warranty data for the fuel system from TREAD reporting was an outlier for the MY 2018 Atlas.The allegation involved fuel injectors leaking fuel near engine compartment components that operate at high temperatures. Consumers allege a fuel leak, fuel odor, and/or an illuminated check engine malfunction indicator light (MIL) on that alerts them to the condition. Fuel leaking in the engine compartment has a higher potential risk of fire as nearby components are operating at higher temperatures compared to other areas of the vehicle. No fires have been connected to this issue to date.The 3.6L engine is a VR6 type engine. Due to its specific design, the VR6 has two types of injectors with different designs installed. Cylinders 1, 3, and 5 use long injectors and cylinders 2, 4, and 6 use short injectors. Unlike the short injectors, the long injectors require an extension pipe necessary to reach cylinders 1, 3, and 5. Volkswagen stated that the potential root cause for a leaking injector is typically either a damaged, misaligned, or missing supporting ring or a damaged O-ring. These rings assist in connecting the injector to the extension pipe. If one of these conditions is present in a vehicle, the O-ring has difficulty withstanding fuel pressure over time.Volkswagen stated that an analysis of warranty data related to leaking injectors in vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines showed that the vast majority of leaking allegations were related to internal leaks. Fuel can leak into the cylinder causing misfiring in the affected cylinders. This condition would not cause fuel to enter into the engine compartment. Volkswagen states that these internal leaks pose no unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition is an early-life failure with a relatively low failure rate. The average failure mileage calculated from all data sources was determined to be approximately 14,000 miles. Only two failures were reported outside of the vehicles' warranty coverage period. The average time to failure for the subject vehicle population is approximately 12 months in service (MIS). The majority of failures were below the average of 14,000 miles or 12 MIS. Analysis of reported failures showed that the failure rate is approximately 0.08% or 0.8 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV).To date, there have been no reported fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. In view of the low rate of failure, the nature of early-life failure, and low potential hazard to drivers, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the following identification numbers:11446833, 11438403, 11382958, 11298402, 11291955, 11218819, 11218780	Mar 2021 Closed Oct 2022	None
PE21008	Closed	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	Fuel Injector Leak On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-008 to investigate instances of fuel injectors leaking in the engine compartment in model year (MY) 2018 through 2020 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. These vehicles are equipped with either a 3.6 or 2.0 liter engine. The subject investigation concerns vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. Prior to opening the investigation, ODI also observed that warranty data for the fuel system from TREAD reporting was an outlier for the MY 2018 Atlas.The allegation involved fuel injectors leaking fuel near engine compartment components that operate at high temperatures. Consumers allege a fuel leak, fuel odor, and/or an illuminated check engine malfunction indicator light (MIL) on that alerts them to the condition. Fuel leaking in the engine compartment has a higher potential risk of fire as nearby components are operating at higher temperatures compared to other areas of the vehicle. No fires have been connected to this issue to date.The 3.6L engine is a VR6 type engine. Due to its specific design, the VR6 has two types of injectors with different designs installed. Cylinders 1, 3, and 5 use long injectors and cylinders 2, 4, and 6 use short injectors. Unlike the short injectors, the long injectors require an extension pipe necessary to reach cylinders 1, 3, and 5. Volkswagen stated that the potential root cause for a leaking injector is typically either a damaged, misaligned, or missing supporting ring or a damaged O-ring. These rings assist in connecting the injector to the extension pipe. If one of these conditions is present in a vehicle, the O-ring has difficulty withstanding fuel pressure over time.Volkswagen stated that an analysis of warranty data related to leaking injectors in vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines showed that the vast majority of leaking allegations were related to internal leaks. Fuel can leak into the cylinder causing misfiring in the affected cylinders. This condition would not cause fuel to enter into the engine compartment. Volkswagen states that these internal leaks pose no unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition is an early-life failure with a relatively low failure rate. The average failure mileage calculated from all data sources was determined to be approximately 14,000 miles. Only two failures were reported outside of the vehicles' warranty coverage period. The average time to failure for the subject vehicle population is approximately 12 months in service (MIS). The majority of failures were below the average of 14,000 miles or 12 MIS. Analysis of reported failures showed that the failure rate is approximately 0.08% or 0.8 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV).To date, there have been no reported fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. In view of the low rate of failure, the nature of early-life failure, and low potential hazard to drivers, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the following identification numbers:11446833, 11438403, 11382958, 11298402, 11291955, 11218819, 11218780	Mar 2021 Closed Oct 2022	None

Are there manufacturer notices for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?

Official records show 688 manufacturer communications on record for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.

6 warranty 0 service campaigns 0 software/OTA

Common components: EQUIPMENT (188), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (94), ENGINE (92), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (90), EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL (68)

Manufacturer communications are not recalls. They can include service bulletins, repair instructions, warranty extensions, software updates, service campaigns, and other notices.

Date	Type	Component	Summary	ID / document
Apr 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	AIR BAGS	This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue with Airbag - J706 - Seat Occupant Detection System Control Module Basic Setting error message ODS5001E & ODS5003E.	11032221 VOS-26-23
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	Moisture Accumulation	11030845 V9419012011521_21
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	ENGINE	This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, SVM updates for any control module(s) etc.	11030847 VOS-26-21
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING	customer reports that the vehicle performed an unwarranted Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).	11030842 V4521012062957_7
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting	11030841 V0018092053065_6
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Damage Inspection of Park assist sensors	11030838 V9422022066761_4
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct multiple test plans: All basic settings test for the following components - Fill and bleed cooling system issue, N493, J338, Camshaft, V465 etc. Use this test for all the basic setting. You will need to select the component you need to run the basic settings. But there are also stand-alone tests for each of those components.	11030829 VOS-26-15
Mar 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Paint color and/or finish of the engine compartment may not match the exterior paint color	11030828 V5515032021354_9
Mar 2026	Other	AIR BAGS	The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used vehicles.	11030826 DC_VW_CF_Airbag
Jan 2026	Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct a test that is not reading any information from the battery data module (BDM) and will output:	11028490 VOS-26-01

What are the most common 2018 Volkswagen Atlas complaints?

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE

SERVICE BRAKES

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

SEATS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STEERING

452 total complaints on record

How much does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas cost in fuel?

Estimated annual cost $2,622 $219/month at 12,000 miles/year

Effective efficiency 20.6 MPG

Energy used 583 gal/yr

Price assumption $4.50 $/gal

Annual miles Typical U.S. driver default. Fuel price ($/gal) Edit for your local price. Driving mix 55% city / 45% highway

Assumptions: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG · Regular Gasoline · efficiency ratings from official public data when available · fuel price default: official public data (U.S. average, Jun 3, 2026)

438 g/mi CO2Fuel score 4/10Smog 5/10

Model-year comparison

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022