2018 Volkswagen Atlas Engine Problems
NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 11/01/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How engine ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 467 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas overview page.
What owners report
“TWICE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART. BOTH TIMES IT WAS IN THE…”NHTSA complaint 11181601 — filed 02/21/2019
“SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, MY START/STOP FUNCTION WOULD NOT TURN MY CAR BACK ON. THE DASH HAD ALL SORTS…”NHTSA complaint 11174633 — filed 02/05/2019
“1/28/19 CAR STARTS FINE,DRIVE 15 MIN, RUN 3 ERRANDS, THEN CAN'T START CAR. ELECTRONIC DISPLAY HAS ALL WARNING ICONS FLASHING. BATTERY TEST 50% POWER.JUMPSTART CAR,EPC…”NHTSA complaint 11173831 — filed 02/03/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Engine complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have engine problems?
Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas: 100 of 467 complaints on file (21.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have in total?
467 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 11/01/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's engine category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
