Used car safety, rank #79 of 188
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 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 Cross Sport 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 26 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 8% above the class average. That places it #79 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 59.5/100.
What the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport death rate means
At 26 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD is 8% worse than the midsize SUVs average of 24. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 54, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 48 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Its 95% confidence interval is 15β80. It is higher than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport'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 Cross Sport 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD | 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 |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 26 (0 to 54) | 59.5 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 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 59.5 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 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.
6 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering service brakes, air bags, suspension, 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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Suspension: critical fasteners
Risk: 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.
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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 Cross Sport 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 26 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD, 8% above the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 59.5 out of 100 and rank #79 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD driver death rate?
26 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 54. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport died at a rate of 48 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4WD sits at 26. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD with a death rate of 5.