Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

46 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
15

Most reports here involve transmission slipping.

transmission slipping 7sudden stalling 6software faults 1
A recent report: The vehicle has approximately 15,000 miles and it’s less than two years old. It has a pretty significant oil leak from the oil inlet tube. This leak was appearing from the rear differential despite…
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The vehicle has approximately 15,000 miles and it’s less than two years old. It has a pretty significant oil leak from the oil inlet tube. This leak was appearing from the rear differential despite starting at the turbo. I took the car to two different dealerships and after 3 visits and multiple hours of time, a dealership found a TSB related to my issue (212602). The oil leak is a known defect and VW does not authorize any repair or fix. I have contacted VW customer service multiple times using multiple methods and have not gotten a resolution. I have owned many vehicles from many different manufacturers and the customer service from VW customer care has been abysmal. I have all of the records and notes and attempts to remedy.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764206 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
15

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 13sudden stalling 1
A recent report: I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a defective vehicle I purchased new, a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, on April 7, 2025. Since the time of purchase, the vehicle has experienced persistent and…
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I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a defective vehicle I purchased new, a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, on April 7, 2025. Since the time of purchase, the vehicle has experienced persistent and significant issues with the infotainment system that substantially impair its usability, safety, and value. The infotainment system repeatedly disconnects from both wired and wireless connections to my cellphone. When the system disconnects, it does not reconnect at all during the drive. This results in loss of GPS navigation and hands-free phone functionality, creating a safety concern. I have made extensive efforts to have this issue resolved. The vehicle has been taken to two authorized dealerships on ten separate occasions for service on the following dates: June 11, 2025 October 20–21, 2025 October 27–29, 2025 November 17–21, 2025 December 17–18, 2025 February 9, 2026 April 21–23, 2026 June 29-30, 2026 July 28, 2026 August 24-25, 2026 I have also contacted Volkswagen customer care regarding these issues; however, the matter remains unresolved despite my good-faith efforts to address it through authorized service channels. A case number with Volkswagen is available upon request. Multiple service representatives have verbally acknowledged that the infotainment issue is affecting other drivers and has been a known issue for years. This information was never disclosed by any sales representative at the time of purchase. I believe this represents a misleading and potentially predatory sales practice. Had I been informed of these known and ongoing issues, I would not have purchased this vehicle. Despite these repeated repair attempts, the issue remains unresolved, with the latest disruption occurring on September 3, 2026.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11762596 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
6

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 3loss of braking 1
A recent report: Grinding plus vibration when you turn the wheels slightly and brake hard. Could be a stuck or dragging caliper, uneven pad wear, or a bent dust shield rubbing the rotor. Might be bolts that weren’t…
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Grinding plus vibration when you turn the wheels slightly and brake hard. Could be a stuck or dragging caliper, uneven pad wear, or a bent dust shield rubbing the rotor. Might be bolts that weren’t tightened right on the brake and suspension parts.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764205 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
3

Most reports here involve loss of steering.

loss of steering 1
A recent report: tire size 245/60/R18/105T car was purchased new in 2025, after 4750 miles of driving i reported having 5 flat tires . It appears to me that these tires are soft ( maybe for sales purposes ) but are…
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tire size 245/60/R18/105T car was purchased new in 2025, after 4750 miles of driving i reported having 5 flat tires . It appears to me that these tires are soft ( maybe for sales purposes ) but are not correct for vechicle weight and class plus perhaps Flordia heat and temperatures . each time a screw or nail was found . i can understand 1 or 2 but 5 in only driving limited miles as I am retired I asked to get a partial refund so I could purchase a better tires and they are not responding or telling me to contact the tire company. Its not the tires per say but the selection VW has made to sell their cars

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11731477 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: I am writing to formally escalate a serious safety concern regarding my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, purchased in March 2025 from Prestige Volkswagen in Turnersville, NJ. The middle row left seatbelt has…
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I am writing to formally escalate a serious safety concern regarding my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, purchased in March 2025 from Prestige Volkswagen in Turnersville, NJ. The middle row left seatbelt has demonstrated an intermittent failure on multiple occasions over the past month. Specifically: At times, the seatbelt will not latch At other times, it appears to click, but can then be pulled out without pressing the release button This issue has been personally experienced by myself, my husband, and my mother, on separate occasions. Because the failure is intermittent, it does not occur every time the seatbelt is used — which is exactly what makes this defect concerning. I brought the vehicle to Prestige Volkswagen Turnersville, where the service department and service manager stated they cannot replace the seatbelt unless they can duplicate the problem. Their assessment consisted of manually tugging on the buckle until it appeared to function properly. I explained that testing a stationary seatbelt in a service bay is not equivalent to real-world forces during a motor vehicle collision, and that an intermittent failure of a federally required safety restraint presents a significant risk of injury should the buckle disengage during an accident. Despite this, the dealership has refused to replace the seatbelt assembly. I also opened a Volkswagen Customer Care case, which was escalated to a manager Aaron. I was informed that after speaking with the dealership, Volkswagen would not authorize replacement because the issue could not be duplicated. I am requesting Volkswagen of America’s direct assistance in resolving this safety concern. A seatbelt that fails intermittently is not operating as designed, regardless of whether the defect can be reproduced on demand. I respectfully request authorization to replace the affected seatbelt assembly under warranty to ensure the safety of all passengers.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11707868 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
5

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 5
A recent report: Windshield cracked a singular crack from the top to the bottom of windshield after lifting car with spare tire jack.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11752001 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: STEERING WHEEL RACK

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11690594 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 46 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2024 and 2026, roughly 26 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.