Used car safety, rank #12 of 188
Volkswagen Atlas 2WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Volkswagen Atlas 2WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionIIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Volkswagen Atlas 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 5 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 79% below the class average. That places it #12 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 89.5/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation.
What the Volkswagen Atlas death rate means
At 5 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24 by 79%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 16, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 94 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Volkswagen Atlas. Its 95% confidence interval is 36β151. It is higher than the Volkswagen Atlas's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. 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 2WD highlighted. It ranks 1 of the 9 shown.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 16) | 89.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (1 to 13) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 16) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Telluride 2WD | 2020-23 | 8 (0 to 22) | 84.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Bronco 4WD | 2021-23 | 10 (1 to 19) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2022-23 | 10 (0 to 23) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 11 (1 to 20) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4WD | 2022-23 | 11 (0 to 25) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E electric 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 26) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 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 | 94.3 |
| 2026 | Volkswagen Atlas | TSP | 91.8 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 89.5 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD
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.
5 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering service brakes, air bags, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic.
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Service brakes
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, 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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Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk: 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.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: 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.
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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.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. 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 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Volkswagen Atlas 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 5 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Volkswagen Atlas 2WD, 79% below the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 89.5 out of 100 and rank #12 of 188 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD driver death rate?
5 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 16. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Volkswagen Atlas died at a rate of 94 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD sits at 5. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 1 by safety score.