2020 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Volkswagen Atlas | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 27 | 471 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 17 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 622 | 619 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–22 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 17,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Atlas | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 | 145 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 93 |
| Engine | 3 | 84 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 68 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 65 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 66 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 41 |
| Structure | 1 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Electrical failures | 5 | 21 |
| Stalling | 0 | 46 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 27 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
| Overheating | 0 | 5 |
2020 Volkswagen Atlas
2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Volkswagen Atlas 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.