Home › Volkswagen › Atlas › Used 2018
Buying a used 2018 Volkswagen Atlas? Check these 16 recalls first
The Atlas's first model year has the longest and most serious record here: two fuel tank leak recalls, airbags that may deploy on their own, and a brake caliper recall carrying a do-not-drive instruction. Rear coil springs that can break, tires that may fail at the sidewall, and a miswired airbag sensor add to it. Owner complaints are high — 461 unverified reports with 8 crashes and 18 injuries — spread across electrical (110), air bags (100), engine (97) and brakes (75).
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Run the VIN for the do-not-drive brake caliper recall and both fuel tank recalls.
- Ask whether the airbag sensor and passenger airbag recalls were done; check the airbag light.
- Inspect rear coil springs and tire sidewalls for cracks or damage.
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Volkswagen dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
What owners have reported to NHTSA
461 complaints filed for this model year, including 8 mentioning a crash, 0 a fire and 18 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 110 | Yes |
| AIR Bags | 100 | Yes |
| Engine | 97 | None found |
| Brakes | 75 | Yes |
| Fuel System | 32 | Yes |
| Driver Assistance | 31 | None found |