2021 Ford Escape vs 2021 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 | 2021 Ford Escape | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 330 | 451 |
| Recall campaigns | 19 | 17 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 202 | 615 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 9 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–41 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 39,000 mi | 17,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 | 142 |
| Service Brakes | 40 | 93 |
| Engine | 40 | 80 |
| Structure | 90 | 20 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 68 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 26 | 39 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 59 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 63 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 16 | 41 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 7 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 27 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 5 |
| Shifting problems | 6 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 21 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 13 |
2021 Ford Escape
2021 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.