2018 Ford Escape vs 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Ford Escape | 2018 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,755 | 460 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 16 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 173 | 814 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 20–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,000 mi | 18,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,116 | 97 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 339 | 3 |
| Power Train | 265 | 15 |
| Electrical System | 53 | 111 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 100 |
| Service Brakes | 24 | 74 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 42 | 30 |
| Steering | 32 | 24 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 546 | 24 |
| Overheating | 466 | 10 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 341 | 0 |
| Stalling | 150 | 28 |
| Vibration / shaking | 126 | 9 |
| Loss of power | 81 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 56 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 20 | 8 |
2018 Ford Escape
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Ford Escape vs Volkswagen Atlas years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.