Model year 2026 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2026 Volkswagen Atlas: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas at 21–23 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 12 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

21–23

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as ATLAS CROSS SPORT.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Volkswagen dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2026 Volkswagen Atlas recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas, newest first.

Back over prevention: Software

NHTSA 26V473000 Reported Jul 22, 2026

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. 91TV)
Units affected: 57,851 (estimate)
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 28, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Wheels: Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

NHTSA 25V835000 Reported Dec 3, 2025 Do not drive

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. 44BW)
Units affected: 27 (estimate)
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2026 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 vehicles. The incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed during vehicle manufacturing.
Risk: Incorrect wheel bolts can allow a wheel to detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wheel bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44BW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 5, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2026 Volkswagen Atlas fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2026 Volkswagen Atlas EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Atlas	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/27/23 mpg	$2,900	390
Atlas 4motion Peak Edition	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/25/21 mpg	$3,200	421
Atlas Cross Sport	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/27/23 mpg	$2,900	390
Atlas Cross Sport 4motion	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/26/22 mpg	$3,050	407
Atlas SE 4motion	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/26/22 mpg	$3,050	407
Atlas SEL 4motion	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/25/21 mpg	$3,200	417

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2026 Volkswagen Atlas crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2026 Volkswagen Atlas NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT SUV N/A AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	15.1%	Standard
2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT SUV N/A FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	16.9%	Standard
2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV N/A AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	15.9%	Standard
2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV N/A FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	13.6%	Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2026 Volkswagen Atlas owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas, most recently on Oct 22, 2026. 0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2026 Volkswagen Atlas complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Electrical system	4
Engine	4
Unknown or other	2
Back over prevention: Warnings	1
Exterior lighting	1
Forward collision avoidance: Adaptive cruise control	1
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings	1
Fuel/propulsion system	1
Power train	1
Seats	1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Volkswagen Atlas model years

Volkswagen Atlas by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2027 Atlas	23–25 mpg	—	—	—
2025 Atlas	20–23 mpg	5	76	5/5
2024 Atlas	20–23 mpg	8	277	5/5
2023 Atlas	20–23 mpg	6	160	5/5
2022 Atlas	19–23 mpg	7	263	5/5
2021 Atlas	18–22 mpg	17	647	5/5
2020 Atlas	19–22 mpg	11	135	5/5
2019 Atlas	19–22 mpg	12	484	5/5
2018 Atlas	19–24 mpg	17	466	5/5

All Volkswagen Atlas years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2026 Volkswagen models

2026 Volkswagen GLI 2026 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 2026 Volkswagen ID.4 2026 Volkswagen Jetta 2026 Volkswagen Taos 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Volkswagen.