Model year guide

2022 Volkswagen Atlas

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 129 on record.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas — representative photo
Representative photo

2022 Volkswagen Atlas at a glance

Safety recalls7
Owner complaints183
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined20–23 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas recalls 7

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger NHTSA Campaign #24V464000 · manufacturer #69PZ · 20/06/2024

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.

Fix: 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 Volkswa…

Suspension:critical Fasteners NHTSA Campaign #22V807000 · manufacturer #42M2 · 26/10/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Volkswagen Atlas FL and 2022-2023 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to loosen and fall out.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver side rear trailing arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 25, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42M2.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical NHTSA Campaign #22V753000 · manufacturer #VW: 13i4, Audi: 13i5 · 07/10/2022

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.

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 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this …

Trailer Hitches NHTSA Campaign #22V657000 · manufacturer #66N8 · 31/08/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The trailer hitch bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the trailer hitch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N8.

Equipment:electrical:infotainment:software NHTSA Campaign #22V514000 · manufacturer #91DV · 20/07/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor…

Fix: Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors NHTSA Campaign #22V245000 · manufacturer #24iD · 13/04/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The long fuel injectors may have been assembled without filters.

Fix: Dealers will replace the long fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24iD.

Air Bags:side/window NHTSA Campaign #22V152000 · manufacturer #97GF · 28/03/2022

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 183 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 15.9% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas MPG & running costs

Combined20–23 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,125
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
TransmissionAutomatic (S8)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Engine start-stopYes
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$3,625 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,625
Fuel only$15,625
Per mile$0.21

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
195.7–200.8 in
Width
78.0–78.3 in
Height
67.7–68.9 in
Wheelbase
117.3 in
Curb weight
4,442–4,594 lb
Front track
67.3–67.7 in
Rear track
67.7 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking Closed

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 su…

NHTSA #PE23017 · Forward Collision Avoidance · opened Sep 2023 · closed Dec 2024

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 460

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 460.

Heat Sensative Trouble Shooting Explanation.

Bulletin TT 96 26 01 · Lane Departure · Sep 2026

Suggested fuel additive

Bulletin V0116152014815_20 · Engine · Sep 2026

Remove Key FOB battery for 20 seconds to restore proper operation.

Bulletin TT 57 23 01 · Sep 2026

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.

Bulletin SM 39-2026 · Sep 2026

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct airbag basic settings programming.

Bulletin VOS-26-52 · Air Bags · Sep 2026

Repair or Replace Information

Bulletin V4622022067177_5 · Service Brakes · Aug 2026

Warranty Alignment Worksheet

Bulletin V4418012043620_10 · Steering · Aug 2026

Replacement instruction

Bulletin V4015022033347_8 · Power Train · Aug 2026

Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order

Bulletin TT 00-13-04_7 · Aug 2026

Differences between a leak and seepage

Bulletin V0026012081638_2 · Aug 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ATLAS FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 7

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off"…

Transport Canada #2024354 · Jun 2024

Suspension

Issue: On certain vehicles, the bolts for the left-rear trailing arm may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts may loosen over time and fall out. If this happens, the trailing arm may break and cause a sudden loss of vehicle control. Safety Risk: A loss of control could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and…

Transport Canada #2022612 · Oct 2022

Engine

Issue: On certain vehicles, the connecting rod bearings may become damaged. If this happens, the engine could make abnormal noises and a warning light may turn on. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail and/or an oil leak could occur. Safety Risk: An engine failure can cause a sudden loss of power, which could increase the risk of a cras…

Transport Canada #2022576 · Oct 2022

Structure

Issue: On certain vehicles, the trailer hitch bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts could loosen, and the hitch could detach from the vehicle while towing a trailer. Safety Risk: A trailer hitch that detaches from a vehicle could create a risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle…

Transport Canada #2022489 · Aug 2022

Visual System

Issue: Under certain conditions, the rearview camera image may not appear on the center screen. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a cras…

Transport Canada #2022382 · Jul 2022

Fuel System

Issue: On certain vehicles, the long fuel injectors may have been assembled without a filter element. As a result, fuel could leak into the engine compartment. Safety Risk: A fuel leak in the engine compartment can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the long fuel i…

Transport Canada #2022182 · Apr 2022

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Volkswagen Atlas

The Volkswagen Atlas is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. Developed mainly for the American, Chinese, and Middle Eastern markets, the vehicle is based on the MQB platform. In China, Mexico, the Middle East, and Vietnam the vehicle is marketed as the Volkswagen Teramont. It is positioned above the Tayron and in China, below the Tavendor and Talagon.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas trims & engines on record

Engines
3.6L · 206 kW

2022 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles on record

Other Volkswagen Atlas model years

2022 Volkswagen Atlas — frequently asked questions

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas?

Across all 183 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, service brakes, electrical system.

What is the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas get?

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas has U.S. EPA estimates of 20–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.