2021 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Mazda CX-5 | 2021 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 141 | 451 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 17 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 492 | 615 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–28 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 17,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda CX-5 | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 77 | 80 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 142 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 93 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 11 | 68 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 63 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 59 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 39 |
| Power Train | 16 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 28 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 27 |
| Stalling | 6 | 41 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 21 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
2021 Mazda CX-5
2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Mazda CX-5 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.