2019 Volkswagen Atlas: common problems and reliability
One of the weaker Atlas years.
480 owner complaints, most about air bags. 12 recalls.
Should I buy a 2019 Atlas?The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas has 480 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and service brakes. Owners most often flag forward collision avoidance system malfunctions: an nhtsa investigation was noted for inadvertent braking in 2018-2019 models.
Safety record for the 2019 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Atlas years only. How we score it
Is 2019 a good year for the Atlas?
Across the 9 Atlas model years we track, complaint volume runs from 133 (2020) to 637 (2021). With 480 complaints, the 2019 Atlas sits above the model's median of 254.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2019 Atlas
fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Campaign 19V614000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas vehicles. The suction jet in the fuel tank may have been welded in the incorrect position allowing fuel to leak. Additionally, the vehicle may stall due to uneven fuel distribution.
suspension:rear:springs:coil springs
Campaign 18V904000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
exterior lighting:headlights
Campaign 19V389000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Campaign 18V824000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Show 8 more recalls
air bags:side/window
Campaign 19V218000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.
tires:sidewall
Campaign 21V142000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
equipment:other:labels
Campaign 22V086000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
air bags:side/window
Campaign 22V152000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.
tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Campaign 22V815000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Campaign 23V215000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
air bags:side/window:curtain
Campaign 23V671000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas vehicles. The driver's side impact air bag may be missing a weld at the side air bag housing.
steering
Campaign 26V590000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
What owners say across generations
Mixed to negative sentiment overall, with a sharp divide between satisfied and dissatisfied owners.
- IsolatedForward Collision Avoidance system malfunctions
An NHTSA investigation was noted for inadvertent braking in 2018-2019 models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Atlas. See the full Atlas owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Atlas listings typically run $20,420–$31,521.
Other Atlas model years
Compare every Atlas year side by side to see how 2019 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Atlas against its rivals
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