Used car safety, rank #41 of 181
Volkswagen Atlas 4WD Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 Volkswagen Atlas 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2019-20 Volkswagen Atlas 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 20 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24.9, which is 20% below the class average. That places it #41 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 74.1/100.
What the Volkswagen Atlas death rate means
At 20 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24.9 by 20%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 52, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 19 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Volkswagen Atlas. It is no higher than the Volkswagen Atlas's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder 2WD | 2018-20 | 0 (0 to 22) | 93.2 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $26,000 |
| Nissan Murano 2WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 12) | 90.8 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $25,000 |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 13) | 88.1 | 3.0/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 88.1 | n/a | $22,000 to $32,000 |
| Ford Edge 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 15) | 88.1 | 3.5/5 | $17,000 to $28,000 |
| Honda Pilot 2WD | 2019-20 | 7 (0 to 20) | 84.2 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $32,000 |
| GMC Acadia 2WD | 2017-20 | 10 (2 to 19) | 81.9 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| GMC Acadia 4WD | 2017-20 | 11 (3 to 20) | 81.1 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD (this page) | 2019-20 | 20 (0 to 52) | 74.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Volkswagen Atlas
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Volkswagen Atlas we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | TSP | 96.8 |
| 2026 | Volkswagen Atlas | TSP | 94.3 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 74.1 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Do not drive
NHTSA says to stop driving this vehicle until that repair is done. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
11 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering air bags, tires, equipment, visibility, steering, exterior lighting, seats.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
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.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
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.
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Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge.
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Air bags: side/window
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.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge.
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Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Risk: A water leak may damage the air bag control module, causing an inadvertent air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the drain tube and replace the air bag control module, as necessary, free of charge.
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Steering
Risk: A fractured steering knuckle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace one or both steering knuckles, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2021.
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Steering Do not drive
Risk: A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2020.
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Tires: sidewall
Risk: Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air pressure or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect DOT date code and mold number on the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2020.
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Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk: A headlight aimed incorrectly aimed reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will adjust the driver's side headlight, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2020.
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Seats
Risk: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Volkswagen Atlas 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 20 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 Volkswagen Atlas 4WD, 20% below the class average (24.9 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 74.1 out of 100 and rank #41 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD driver death rate?
20 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 52. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Volkswagen Atlas died at a rate of 19 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24.9 driver deaths per million; the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD sits at 20. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD with a death rate of 0.