The mid-sized SUV category is not as crowded as some other vehicle types, so buyers in this segment have more room to nitpick. Reliability is always a concern when purchasing a new vehicle, and the 2021 VW Atlas is no exception to that.
How reliable is the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
That’s uncertain as of November of 2020. To date, JD Power, Edmunds and other popular car review companies have not given the 2021 (or 2020) model years of the Atlas a reliability score to judge the vehicle by.
Adding to the question is the fact that we have no owner reviews here at VehicleHistory on 2021 Atlas (yet). In this article, we’ll do a deep dive into Volkswagen’s track record and reputation, as well as the total lack of complaints or safety recalls on both the 2020 and 2021 models to help set your mind at ease regarding the 2021 VW Atlas’ reliability.
VW Atlas History
The Volkswagen Atlas is still a relatively new vehicle. Production of the vehicle in Chattanooga, TN only began in 2017. The fact that the German-owned Atlas is produced in the US means it is easier for dealerships to obtain repair parts than owners of some “imports” experience. In other parts of the world, the Atlas is marketed as the “Teramont.”
The relative youth of the VW Atlas is part of the reason why there are no long-term reliability ratings for it. The hefty crossover hasn’t been around long enough.
VW’s Reliability Reputation
Volkswagen is an iconic brand and the company takes user complaints extremely seriously. One reliability factor to consider when purchasing any vehicle is, “How does the automaker treat its customers?”
The answer in this case is that Volkswagen has possibly the single best reputation in the industry for dealing with customer complaints and safety recalls. The Dealership Experience category of rating from JD Power typically puts all VW vehicles in the “Great” category, with a score in the 80s (out of 100).
Volkswagen has always responded promptly to safety recalls and the company makes sure to treat its customers extremely well.
VW Atlas Warranty
A vehicle’s warranty is another major reliability factor to take into consideration. Volkswagen’s warranty package on the Atlas is actually much better than the industry standard:
- Limited Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary Maintenance: 2 years or 20,000 miles
The majority of automakers offer a 3 year or 36,000 mile warranty on new vehicles. The fact that Volkswagen extends this by 1 year or 14,000 miles for the VW Atlas speaks to the company’s high degree of confidence in its reliability.
Zero User Complaints
The NHTSA tracks official user complaints and issues safety recalls whenever an automaker makes a major mistake. Production errors that endanger the lives or safety of motorists or pedestrians almost always trigger a safety recall. Automakers are obligated under federal law to comply with safety recalls.
To date, there has never been a safety recall issued against either the 2020 or 2021 VW Atlas. Here is an extraordinary fact: No owner of a 2020 or 2021 VW Atlas has ever logged an official complaint about these two model years.
This is highly unusual. Cars ordinarily rack up hundreds of official complaints which can at least trigger an NHTSA investigation.
VW Atlas Reliability Verdict
Vehicle History will continue to track the reliability ratings of every vehicle on the market, so be sure to check back for updates. While we cannot predict the future, the fact that no VW Atlas owner has ever issued a complaint about their vehicle since 2019 suggests that the 2021 model year may be highly reliable.
