Our 2023 Volkswagen Atlas complete Infotainment system stopped working and went blank/black back around XXX. This includes all lights, back up camera, and parking collision warnings especially when backing (vehicle in reverse). It has been a safety concern operating the vehicle without the rear back-up camera along with no navigation and other important information contained on the infotainment screen. We have 3 children and often carpool other children to and from their school and it has been stressful operating the Volkswagen without the rear back up camera, having no music, infotainment lights, no Bluetooth available to make calls safely as we are a hand free state here in [XXX] as it pertains to cellphone usage in the car. We took our car to a local VW dealer in [XXX] and it was diagnosed with the control module 005f not working and it could not communicate with the vehicle. The service advisor said this is 005f control module has been a common issue recently in VW Atlas and Tiguans. The part is on back order in [XXX] and out of the safety of our family and especially the children we drive in our VW Atlas we gave in an ordered the 00f5 module. We have yet to receive it and have it installed and still drive with a complete non-working infotainment system including no back up camera, warning notifications, no Bluetooth, no lights, etc. There was no warning really that this would go out but we are in dire need to get it repaired and get the safety standards back in the vehicle. Lastly, in addition our vehicle just went past the warranty mileage and this module and its installation are very costly. This is a huge safety concern that could arise for many other families across [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2023 Volkswagen Atlas problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical39
- Engine39
- Airbags22
- Fuel system21
- Lights17
- Brakes15
- Driver assistance15
- Transmission8
- Steering3
- Visibility2
- Wheels2
- Acceleration1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
Stalling 25Backup camera 9Check engine light 9Headlights 8Screen failure 6Airbag light 5Grinding brakes 5Collision warning 5Misfire 5
Recalls 5
Service brakes
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
- Risk
- A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
Recall number 25V434000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 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.
- Risk
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Recall number 24V464000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 1‑800‑893‑5298 and Audi's customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
Recall number 22V753000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Certain brake lines may leak at the threaded connections.
- Risk
- A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T2.
Recall number 22V718000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen 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.
- Risk
- A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.
Recall number 22V152000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
Defect investigations
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 292 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles.Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limitations.  However, many consumer complaints alleged that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or Volkswagen dealerships informed the consumers that this braking is considered normal Front Assist operation. ODI's analysis shows that MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles have the highest rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation when compared to their Volkswagen peers.The rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation in MY 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles was comparable to their Volkswagen peers. To date, ODI has received a total of 69 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of Front Assist in MY 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. In total, ODI reviewed 264 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include eight reports of incidents involving an alleged injury and two reports involving a crash. PE23017 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE23017
Technical service bulletins for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas 358
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This supporting FAQ is for the Turbocharger Limited Warranty Extension Class Action Settlement
- For applicable Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 50%...
- Supporting FAQ for the VWP-25-07 Atlas Second Row Seat Latching Mechanism
- For applicable 2018-2024 Volkswagen Atlas Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty has...
- This Supporting FAQ is for the Atlas Front Door Wiring Harness Class Action Settlement for vehicles...
- Volkswagen is extending warranty coverage for the Front Door Wiring Harnesses on certain 2019-2023 Atlas...
- These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the...
- Prevent Sporatic Misfire Faults.
- Checking engine oil level.
- Reprogramming Control Module process
2023 Volkswagen Atlas fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21 | 25 | 23 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | AWD | 20 | 24 | 22 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 23-24 | 20 |
What 2023 Volkswagen Atlas owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle lunged forward and accelerated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an alternate dealer, and the contact was informed that the failure was associated with the battery. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
front passenger headlight daytime running light went out right around 70k miles. paid $1200 to have it repaired, left one went out shortly after. can't afford to replace it. saw there's a lawsuit with these. makes it hard to drive at night with less light.
Backup camera screen and all related screen safety features unexpectedly stopped working. Safety features including backup / rear facing camera, parking assist, and blind spot warnings no longer function and put people and property at risk while maneuvering the vehicle. There was/is no warning that the systems do not work. Additionally, the health of children in the backseat is at risk as there is no way to control heating and cooling for backseat passengers. The failure to use safety equipment was confirmed by Ken Ganley North Olmstead VW dealership service department. Service department staff acknowledged other VW Atlas customers with similar problems. Service stated they could not provide a timely resolution or accurate estimate for when replacement parts would be available. Service department staff could not provide loaner vehicle. VW Corporate Customer Care center acknowledged the issue and denied ability to help fix the problem or expedite a solution.
A manufacturer-pushed OTA software update failed, completely bricking the 5F Infotainment Module. This has caused a total loss of the rearview backup camera, parking sensors, and safety alerts, creating an immediate, severe blind-spot safety hazard.
I own a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, purchased new in March 2023. The vehicle has experienced two incidents of sudden loss of propulsion. The first incident occurred around June 2026 while stopped near a roundabout entrance. The vehicle became inoperable and required multiple restart attempts over approximately 4–5 minutes before normal operation resumed. I do not recall whether any unusual noise occurred during this first incident. The second incident occurred on [XXX], at approximately [XXX], while driving at approximately 20–35 mph and entering an intersection in Madison, Alabama. The vehicle suddenly lost propulsion, and pressing the accelerator produced no response. The vehicle continued coasting forward due to momentum. The dashboard remained illuminated, and the transmission remained in Drive (D). When I attempted to restart the vehicle, the system instructed me to shift into Park (P). During the restart attempt, I heard an abnormal grinding or ratcheting noise. After following the restart instructions, the vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. The unexpected loss of propulsion while entering an intersection created a serious risk of collision with surrounding traffic. Fortunately, no collision or injuries occurred. The vehicle was brought to Hiley Volkswagen of Huntsville on [XXX]. The dealership reported finding no fault codes and has not identified the cause of the problem. No repairs have been performed to my knowledge. The vehicle remains at the dealership, and the dealer has indicated that it is working to open a technical assistance case with Volkswagen. The failed component is UNKNOWN. The incidents occurred approximately four months apart, making the problem difficult to reproduce during short test drives. I am concerned that this sudden loss of propulsion could happen again while driving and potentially cause a serious collision. I am requesting that this safety concern be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the center entertainment panel blacked out, and the rearview camera display remained active while shifted into drive. The check engine, caution, and SOS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an engine misfire, and ignition coils were replaced. The battery was tested, and no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure progressed; the vehicle lost motive power, the power window rolled up when the down button was pressed, and roadside assistance provided a battery jump-start. The vehicle was taken to an AutoZone store where the battery was replaced; however, the check engine, caution, and SOS warning lights remained illuminated. The failure mileage was approximately 48,157.
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Volkswagen Atlas due to the complete failure of the infotainment/electronic display system, including loss of the rearview backup camera. The system initially malfunctioned intermittently over several months before failing completely. The screen is now entirely black and nonfunctional. Most concerning, the rearview camera no longer displays an image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. This creates a significant safety concern, particularly when backing up near children, pedestrians, or other vehicles. The loss of the camera is not simply an inconvenience; it is the failure of an important safety feature. My vehicle has slightly over 70,000 miles and was evaluated by an authorized Volkswagen dealership. I was advised that the repair would cost approximately $3,300. After goodwill assistance, my responsibility was reduced to $1,481. The dealership initially advised that the replacement part was backordered with no estimated arrival date. The part has now arrived, and I remain in a rental vehicle while the repair is pending completion. I am aware that Volkswagen issued the federal safety agency Safety Recall 24V‑480 / VW Recall 91US for certain 2024 Atlas vehicles due to infotainment issues that could delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. My 2023 Atlas is experiencing a similar safety-related symptom, although I understand the underlying defect may differ. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review whether 2023 Atlas vehicles may also be affected by a related defect, whether similar complaints exist, and whether further investigation or recall action is warranted.
No warning lights or under car oil leakage noted (due to "belly pan" under engine/oil pan). NY inspection [XXX] with private mechanic oil noted on belly pan ("diaper"); referred to dealer for oil change and inspection of seals leaking front crankcase. [XXX] dealer changed oil and initially stated no seal replacement needed in spite of "seepage" until informed of private mechanic's concern then dealer recommended warranty replacement (parts ordered) of front crankcase seal; work completed April 10 2024@5400 miles. Oil change [XXX] mechanic again noted oil about crankcase seal; taken to dealer where I was told front crankcase seal "leaking oil badly, damaged serpentine belt will need to be replaced" and needed to be replaced again (warranty). If I had had oil change done at first in 2024 at dealership I would not have been informed of warranty work indicated for crankcase seal; this is a recurring problem as also noted chat rooms on line and may warrant recall for reworking of parts/extended warranty consideration before engine failure/costly repairs in the future (twice in 3 years already). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On 8/7/26 after idling while waiting in line for a car wash, while in Drive I pressed the accelerator, the vehicle does not move forward as expected, then the vehicle prompts me to restart the engine while roll backwards at the same time. The exact cause of the malfunction has not been confirmed to me. The vehicle is currently in the dealership's possession and should be available for inspection through the dealership. The malfunction creates a safety risk because the vehicle can become unable to move when I am attempting to drive forward or reverse. If this occurs while entering traffic, crossing an intersection, or backing out of a parking space, I could be left in a dangerous position and unable to move the vehicle out of harm's way. The unexpected loss of normal vehicle operation creates a risk to me and other motorists. The vehicle has been at the dealership for an extended period for inspection and service. On October 9, 2026, I received a video inspection and a multipoint inspection. The video referenced the issue I reported but showed only a general vehicle inspection and did not demonstrate the malfunction occurring. I have not been provided with confirmation that the specific malfunction has been reproduced or a definitive diagnosis of its cause. The vehicle has been in the dealership's possession for inspection and service. The dealership previously indicated that it was awaiting Volkswagen's approval. On October 9, 2026, I received a video inspection and a multipoint inspection. The video referenced my reported concern but did not show the actual malfunction. The vehicle displays a message prompting me to restart the engine while it is in Drive or Reverse. When this occurs, pressing the accelerator does not result in the expected movement of the vehicle. The issue first occurred shortly after I purchased the vehicle on August 2, 2026. The problem has required dealership service and has left me without my vehicle for an extended period.
Compare the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
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Other model years
Questions about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas reliable?
Owners have filed 145 complaints about the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, fewer than a typical Atlas model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas?
Electrical system, with 39 complaints, typically around 26,500 miles. Next is engine (39).
How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas have?
5 recalls, covering service brakes, air bags and engine and engine cooling.
What year does the Volkswagen Atlas have the most electrical problems?
The Volkswagen Atlas model years with the most electrical complaints are 2021 (149 complaints), 2018 (111 complaints) and 2019 (76 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas get?
Official estimates for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas range from 20 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 25 highway.
VIN decoder
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