2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Safety Report
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (6) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (16) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2025 | Compare against the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport with 12 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2021 | Check the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport before buying across this generation. |
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 81 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 68 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 12 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 146 | 14 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 92 | 11 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Volkswagen onlyUnknown Or Other
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Volkswagen onlyService Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Volkswagen onlyService Brakes,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes,Engine issues Volkswagen onlyElectrical System,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Volkswagen onlyVehicle Speed Control
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Vehicle Speed Control issues Volkswagen onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Reliability Score
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags Volkswagen is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport models due to potential issues with air bags. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Volkswagen is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas and 2022 Atlas Cross Sport models due to potential issues with service brakes. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Volkswagen is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, and 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport models due to potential electrical system issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel/Propulsion System Volkswagen is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, and 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport models due to potential fuel/propulsion system issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:
Issues with these systems have been reported, leading to potential safety hazards.
Recalled due to potential issues that can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior.
Recalled due to potential issues that can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior.
Recalled due to potential issues that can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior.
Recall Details for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Unsecured bolts may cause the trailing arm to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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).
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
Our VW Atlas Cross Sport 2023 was involved in an accident on August 3, 2025 where the Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning did not work. Firstly, we reported issues with our brakes several times and took the vehicle to Rick Case VW in Weston/Davie more than once to rectify this problem. However, the problem has never been fixed, and persisted up until the time of the accident....
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact ...
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had ...
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool co...
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experien...
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALSO I HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES. GRINDING NOISE AND LOUD NOISE. THEY RELACED THE BRAKE PADS THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR BECAUSE MANUFACTUR PADS WOULD HAVE CAUSE THE SAME ISSUE. NOW MY CAR IS SHAKING WHILE I BRAKE. THEY SAID I NEED NEW ROTORS. WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING IS MY MAIN CONCERN. IT HAS SHUT OFF A TOTAL OF 8 TIME SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. SHUT OFF RADOM...
My car cuts off while driving. For instance, I was at a red light, in the left turning lane, and the light turned green. I pressed the gas and it started going and then just cut off. Luckily there was no car behind me. However, I was halfway in the intersection as cars were coming towards me. I had my 3 year old in the car. This is very dangerous. This is just one incident. When backing out of a p...
When car came to a stop at a red light I put my foot on the gas once the light turned green. When I tried to proceed through the light my car was at a complete stall. I had to then place the car in park, power the car off and then power the car back on. The other car behind me almost ran into the back of my car due to the light was green. When I contacted the dealership the service department they...
The vehicle simply shuts off with no warning or reason. I should NOT have to explain to anybody how this is a safety hazard to the driver and others around the vehicle. It shuts down while in a car wash and the vehicle is in Neutral. Thus, I have to brake, place the trans in Park then manually restart. The same happens at Stop Lights. All the time this is happening, the vehicle's "Auto On/Aut...
UNKOWN Brakes on brand new vehicle are exhibiting behavior that is not normal for a car of this size and relatively young age (miles). Measurably loud brake noise based on manufactures choice of materials in components leave concern on overall safety of brake system based on generally considered (except by dealer / manufacturer of course) unexpected behavior of vehicle braking system.
This vehicle when using the Navigation system will suddenly show the vehicle 50 to 100+ miles from its actual location, often in the middle of a field or just offroad! I returned to the dealer who installed the recommended "fix" from a technical service bulletin. The software fix did bring the locations closer when the system failed, and instead of 50 to 100+ miles off course, it shows 5 to 15 m...
The components that failed or malfunctioned was the fuel pump & fuel system components. During the 1st incident, while driving at approx. 50 mph, I quickly lost acceleration, which caused me to slow down very quickly until I had no acceleration power - this took a matter of 10 seconds or less. After losing power, the smell of gas consumed the cabin, & the engine was unable to start, resulting in ...
The car will stop suddenly at a red light or when slowing in traffic without warning. I have to stop the car, put in park, and restart the engine often when the light turns green and I'm not moving The ACC eco-feature is typically off/disabled, so it isn't the issue. A few scary times being in traffic at a red light and then the car stops working. Not an engine problem. Earlier versions have had ...
While driving on the freeway, the panoramic sunroof exploded. This time, the vehicle has not been repaired and is available for inspection. The explosion could have been caused by the excessive heat. The sunroof cover was closed at the time, but if it was open, the glass from the sunroof exploding could have injured my daughter who was sitting in the back seat. The glass could have flown and injur...
Multiple issues since purchasing the vehicle in 01/2023. - First evening in the driveway all of the windows went down. The vehicle was not running. This has happened two other times. - I went out to me vehicle one day and the back tailgate had opened on its own. - One day I went out to the vehicle to put something in the back. Opened the hatch and the vehicle started "bucking" and would not st...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Has the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT been recalled?
Yes, the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT has 6 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT have?
The 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT has 16 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
The 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT involve air bags (5 complaints), unknown or other (2 complaints), service brakes,forward collision avoidance (1 complaints). Other affected components include service brakes,engine, electrical system,engine, vehicle speed control.
How many crash reports does the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT out of 16 total complaints (6.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT have?
There are no fire reports for the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
Should I buy a 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT is acceptable with caveats. It has 16 complaints, 6 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
The components with the most failures on the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT are: 1. AIR BAGS (5 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints), 3. SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints), 4. SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE (1 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (1 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 5 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
Ensure all recalls are addressed promptly to avoid potential safety hazards. The 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT has 16 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
The 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 16 owner complaints, 6 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air Bags and Service Brakes.
What are the known issues with the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT?
Known issues with the 2023 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT include: Air Bags, Service Brakes, Electrical System, Fuel/Propulsion System. These are based on patterns found across 16 NHTSA complaints. 6 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport?
Yes, there are recalls for air bags and service brakes. Ensure all recalls are addressed promptly.
What are the common issues reported with the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport?
Common issues include air bag and service brake recalls, electrical system and engine problems.
Can the vehicle's navigation system be inaccurate?
Yes, the navigation system has been reported to show the vehicle 50 to 100+ miles from its actual location.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Ensure all recalls are addressed promptly to avoid potential safety hazards.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The data includes 16 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 6 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16