2021 Honda Pilot 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 Honda Pilot | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 412 | 451 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 17 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 99 | 615 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–23 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 31,000 mi | 17,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Pilot | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 119 | 142 |
| Engine | 96 | 80 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 92 | 68 |
| Service Brakes | 24 | 93 |
| Air Bags | 30 | 63 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 59 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 21 | 39 |
| Lane Departure | 39 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 33 | 41 |
| Vibration / shaking | 22 | 7 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 27 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 21 |
2021 Honda Pilot
2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Honda Pilot 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.