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2024 Volkswagen Atlas

The Verdict

62 Solid Pick

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has 158 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (45 complaints) and electrical (38 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 62/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Atlas, consider the 2020 model year which has 83% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2020 has 83% fewer complaints

View the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas dashboard →

62

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 4

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

25V334000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the...

Risk

A distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswag...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

25V100000 ENGINE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allow...

Risk

A loose engine cover that contacts hot surfaces in the engine compartment can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number fo...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

24V723000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been assembled with an incorrect secondary pi...

Risk

An obstructed brake fluid port can cause a loss of brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2024. Additionally, vehicles that were added to the population on November 21, ...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

23V593000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas PA2 and Atlas Cross Sport PA vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in eng...

Risk

A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, engine failure may cause an oil leak which can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-89...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
201893661571169
2019140721447621
2020541241
20219392154957
2022274248521
2023221039403
20244533382913
2025152757

By Category

Body
45
Electrical
38
Brakes
33
Engine
29
Transmission
13

By Severity

1
80
2
68
3
2
4
8

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

As I was stopping at a stop light the back, passenger seat lock came unlocked causing my son to fall forward into the passenger seat back and be stuck until unlocking and returning the seat to the upright position

9d ago
Electrical 2

Since purchasing my vehicle, the collision sensor lights on my Atlas go off quite often even if there aren’t vehicles near or by my blindspot while driving.

13d ago
Engine 2

It's been about one month since engine light has lit up on the dashboard and stays on now. The first incident occurred about a week ago, as I was driving, I was slowing down to go into a roundabout, the vehicle begin to jerk and pull back, a red triangle exclamation mark light started going off warning me to safely park my vehicle as it had overheated. I assumed it was low on coolant so I topped it off to see if that would fix the issue. Then two days later after the first incident it occurred again. I came to a stop at a set of stoplights and when it was time to go, as I was accelerating I felt it starting to jerk again and again, I started getting a bunch of red warning lights to safely park my vehicle as it had overheated again and a message popped up on the dashboard about the speed. I can't quite remember the wording. I can't say for certain that I've figured out what is happening but I think that it may have something to do with the Auto Start/Stop function. Seems like when it comes to a stop, it turns off and when i'm going to start driving again it's triggering something. I've been disabling it now when I drive my vehicle and these incidents haven't occurred anymore.

13d ago
Body 1

The hood cable has snapped and now we cannot open to access dead battery

15d ago
Body 1

Windshield wipers go off randomly even with rain detection turned off.

16d ago
Engine 2

While driving, the engine light comes on along with a flashing red error message that says error: drive system and then the engine starts overheating and I have to park the car and turn it off. Once I restart the car, the check engine light remains on.

1mo ago
Electrical 1

The front passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) sensor wiring has failed in my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. This failure has disabled the passenger airbag, significantly increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. VW has advised not to allow any passengers to ride in the front passenger seat until vehicles with this error are repaired. Despite this being the same defect addressed in an existing recall, my VIN was excluded from that campaign. I have already paid $205 for diagnosis. The dealer repair estimate is $704.36, for a total out-of-pocket cost to me of $909.36. This unresolved safety issue leaves my family exposed to unnecessary risk despite the manufacturer’s awareness of the defect. I would like assistance in obtaining a full repair at no cost to me, either through an extension of the existing recall or a goodwill repair.

1mo ago
Body 1

The hood release cable snapped while trying to open the hood.

1mo ago
Engine 1

When first purchased the vehicle I would fuel up car with gas and was given 520 miles. Now it only allows me to have 425 Miles of gas. I can drive slow at 30 mph and it will literally take 10 miles while only driving 1 mile distance. I can’t accelerate without it draining the gas. Also Ac is malfunctioning. Blows hot air on passenger side. Every now and then driving assist , the parking assist and the radio screen will shut off by itself. I can’t take it to the dealership because they want to charge me almost $300 for a diagnostic!!!

1mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle hesitated and failed to respond, while driving at 20 mph, contact depressed the accelerator pedal all the way to make it respond. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure damage was approximately 58,000.

1mo ago
Transmission 1

The vehicles Transfer Case Bevel Box Seal) has been leaking fluid. This has been inspected and confirmed by the VW Dealer. There were no warning lights for this issue. The problem was found during oil change and routine maintenance. This issue has occurred twice on this fairly new 2024 vehicle with less than 20, 000 miles. This appears to be an ongoing issue with these vehicles and a recall should be initiated by the manufacturer.

1mo ago
Engine 1

My 2024 Volkswagen Atlas began displaying multiple warning messages involving the engine, drive system, and powertrain. Warning messages included “Engine: error start/stop,” “Drive system, please service vehicle,” and other engine/powertrain alerts. The vehicle has had intermittent check engine lights, shaking, rough operation, abnormal noises, and repeated warning messages that disappear and then return. This is a serious safety issue. The vehicle has lost power, stopped working, failed while in use, and broken down. On one occasion, when I attempted to drive forward, the vehicle moved backward instead. The vehicle displays repeated drive system and engine warnings and becomes unreliable during operation. I have children and regularly transport them in this vehicle, and I do not believe this vehicle is safe to drive. The vehicle is still under factory warranty, but I have been unable to obtain timely warranty service. The Volkswagen dealership in Jackson, Mississippi advised they have severe staffing limitations and limited diagnostic availability, and I was told I need to take the vehicle to another state for service. I was also told by Volkswagen customer service that towing assistance may be available under warranty, but when connected with towing assistance I was advised coverage was only for a very limited distance 6 miles! I was quoted approximately $1,900 to tow the vehicle to the available Volkswagen service location in Louisiana. Because the vehicle is not safe or reliable to drive, I have also been forced to pay out of pocket for a rental vehicle while attempting to obtain warranty repairs. VW refused to help me with a loaner or rental. I am filing this complaint because these issues appear to involve the engine, electrical system, and powertrain and create a serious risk of loss of power, unexpected movement, breakdown, or failure while driving.

2mo ago
Engine 1

Safety recall issued in November 2025 for the engine cover. The dealership removed the faulty engine cover for safety reasons. VW customer care informed me that the part is not in production. Under federal recall law, manufacturers must provide a remedy within a "reasonable time". Seven months with no production date for the repair is my complaint. The engine cover is designed to reduce engine noise.

2mo ago
Brakes 1

Component/System Failure: The braking system, specifically the brake rotors (and possibly pads), appears to be malfunctioning. The vehicle experiences severe vibration during braking. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: While braking at highway speeds (approximately 50–70 mph), the steering wheel shakes violently and the vehicle vibrates rapidly. This reduces control and creates a serious safety risk, especially when driving downhill or in traffic. It increases stopping distance and makes the vehicle feel unstable. Reproducibility / Dealer Confirmation: The issue has been reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. The dealership inspected the vehicle and acknowledged brake/rotor-related vibration but classified it as normal wear and tear and declined warranty repair. Inspections by Others: The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Volkswagen dealership. No police or insurance inspections were involved. Warning Lamps or Prior Symptoms: No warning lights or dashboard messages were displayed prior to or during the issue. The only symptom is severe shaking and vibration during braking, which began around 33,000 miles for 2024 ATLAS. Additional Details / Suspected Cause: Given the low mileage, this appears to be premature failure of brake components rather than normal wear. Similar complaints have been reported by other owners, suggesting a potential defect or design issue.

2mo ago
Engine 1

Repeated concerns involving the reliable response to pressing the gas pedal. Directly after purchase notified dealership the vehicle felt unsafe to drive. That pressing the gas pedal did not guarantee the vehicle would predictably move forward. Response ranges from high rpm with no forward propulsion, delayed response with eventual slow or regular movement, high rpm with no forward movement when taking tight turn, feeling of incorrect gear. Most important when passing and accelerating or moving into traffic from stop you do not know how the vehicle will respond. Two Volkswagen dealers have inspected and state there is nothing wrong. Vehicle has recently had vacuum seals replaced which gave a temporary improvement of response feel but has degraded and left vehicle with a rough idle at stopping. Dealership has replaced based on check engine light: Faulty Breather Valve EVAP Solenoid Vavle Upper Timing Cover Safety is put at risk when car presents an unpredictable response in entering traffic or initiating a maneuver requiring acceleration. Check engine light has appeared only on the most recent repair.

2mo ago
Body 2

Car shakes aggressively when going downhill and has been occurring since buying the vehicle. Vehicle was bought brand new has had three vehicle services to fix problem and none of the vehicles services from vermicelli dealership have fixed the vehicle problem. This causes difficulty steering and breaking.

3mo ago
Brakes 2

am filing a complaint regarding my 2024 Volkswagen due to ongoing safety concerns and the dealership’s refusal to properly address them under warranty. Since early ownership, I have experienced abnormal brake behavior (including a “spongy” or inconsistent pedal feel) and suspension-related issues. At under 16,000 miles, the vehicle has already shown irregular tire wear (feathering), which indicates a potential alignment or suspension defect. These issues raise serious safety concerns, particularly regarding braking reliability and vehicle stability. Despite multiple visits, the dealership has repeatedly stated that “no issues were found,” while simultaneously recommending services such as wheel alignment at my expense. This is contradictory, as the premature tire wear and drivability concerns suggest an underlying defect that should be covered under warranty. Additionally, there is a known recall involving similar models for brake system components (master cylinder), yet my VIN was excluded despite exhibiting similar symptoms. The dealership has not made a good-faith effort to investigate whether my vehicle is affected by a related defect. I believe the dealership is avoiding warranty responsibility by minimizing or dismissing legitimate safety concerns. I am requesting that this matter be formally investigated, including potential defects in the braking and suspension systems, and whether this vehicle should be covered under recall or warranty provisions. This situation presents a potential safety risk not only to myself and my family but also to others on the road.

3mo ago
Brakes 2

Brakes are constantly grinding and squeaking Seat belt sensor has an issue - Seat belt noise will continuously go off if no one is sitting in the seat If you give the SUV more gas going uphill then it gets stuck in that gear, which means there is a transmission issue. Car also randomly jolts The safety of my family is put at risk each day I drive the SUV. The dealer has not confirmed the issue and told me the brake squeaking is because of the materials used to produce the SUV. There has been no resolution after the vehicle has been inspected 3x by the Dealer. No warning messages before the issue appeared

3mo ago
Electrical 2

The same airbag error mentioned in recalls for other VINs of this vehicle is happening to this one. I think this VIN also needs to be included.

4mo ago
Body 2

When you move from reverse to drive in short spurts to park the car, the vehicle's emergency brake system turns on when nothing is in the way and causes car to lock up - beep loudly and vibrate. This is very disruptive when you try to park and scary as the car is over-reacting.

4mo ago

158 total

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