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2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 41 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 37%).
Does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 111 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%), and the largest group is filed under engine (41). For comparison, the 2022 scores 41%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2023 compares with other Volkswagen Atlas years
Of the 6 Volkswagen Atlas years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the worst on engine and transmission share (50%). The best is the 2020 (20%). By volume, the 2023 drew 152 complaints (56 drivetrain), against 255 for the 2022.
Volkswagen Atlas years to avoid and best years →
2018 Atlas problems · 2019 Atlas problems · 2020 Atlas problems · 2021 Atlas problems · 2022 Atlas problems · 2023
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 Volkswagen Atlas? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
Does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 111 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas is engine: 41 of 152 complaints (27%) name it, followed by electrical system (36) and air bags (27). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 50% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Volkswagen Atlas years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 22V753000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Volkswagen Atlas years are better?
Among the Volkswagen Atlas years we track, the 2020 (20%), the 2019 (30%) and the 2021 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (50%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/volkswagen-atlas
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.