Complaint volume
452 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Volkswagen Atlas Complaints
452 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, grouped by component category.
452 Total complaints
5 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
12 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are air bags, electrical system, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 5 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 12 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 218 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 23,186 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to air bags, electrical system, engine?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas complaints?
5 Crash
0 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
11 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Volkswagen Atlas complaint categories?
AIR BAGS 78
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 42
ENGINE 41
SERVICE BRAKES 40
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 11
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11
SEATS 11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10
STEERING 9
452 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2019 | AIR BAGS | "ERROR AIRBAG "LIGHT WITH AIRBAG SYMBOL CAME DURING DRIVING ON 2-2-2019, ERROR WILL NOT GO AWAY AFTER TURNING ENGINE ON AND OFF VEHICLE,VW 2018 ATLAS V6 SE E-MAIL: (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,741 |
| Jan 2019 | ENGINE | VEHICLE HESITATES EXCESSIVELY UNDER ACCELERATION AT TIMES, IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS. WON'T BACK UP A MILD GRADE (LIKE A DRIVEWAY) WITHOUT EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH. WON'T ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING BEHIND A TURNING VEHICLE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I WAS SITTING WITH MY CAR PARKED IN A SCHOOL PICK-UP LINE, NO-IDLE ZONE, SO I HAD MY VW ATLAS RUNNING ON IT'S BATTERY. THE BATTERY DIED OUT OF THE BLUE AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING BATTERY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE AS IT HAS HAD A HARD TIME TURNING OVER THIS PAST WEEK. THIS CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD AND SHOULDN'T BE FACING THIS ISSUE. I'M GLAD I WASN'T IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT HAPPENED, AS I'VE READ HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. I'M TAKING IT IN TO VW FOR INSPECTION, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M ONE OF MANY WHO IS RUNNING INTO THE VW BATTERY ISSUE AND I WANTED TO MAKE IT KNOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Jan 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | FRONT ASSIST WITH AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING DOES NOTHING ON MY CAR. I AM NOT RECEIVING ANY AUDIO/VIDEO ALERTS, NOR IT'S TRYING TO SLOW OR STOP VEHICLE. SYSTEM NOT WORKING AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL AND ADVERTISED IN THE OFFICIAL VW VIDEO. I CAN'T RELY ON THE SYSTEM AT THIS POINT, AS I KNOW IT WILL NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP MY CAR AS IT SHOULD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 900 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY RAMDOMLY LOSES CHARGE TO START THE VEHICLE. WE DORVE FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO VEGAS. WE FILLED UP ON GAS WITH SOME OF THE ELECTRONICS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. DASH SAYS BATTERY WAS DRAINED. HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN VACUUMING THE CAR AFTER A WASH. DOORS WERE OPEN AND ELECTRONICS WERE OFF, BUT IT THEN WOULDNT START AGAIN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,000 |
| Jan 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM KEEPS ACTIVATING WITHOUT REASON, SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, WHEN THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN 'FRONT ASSIST' AND 'LANE ASSIST' ARE SWITCHED OFF. DURING OUR TRIP FROM TEXAS TO ARIZONA AND BACK, THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 10 TIMES. IT ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SWITCHED ON, WHILE IN THE LEFT LANE, PASSING A SEMI TRUCK. EACH TIME, THE ATLAS WAS CLEARLY IN OUR LANE AND THE TRUCK WAS DEFINITELY IN ITS LANE, NOT WANDERING OVER THE LANE DIVIDER. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN ON A STRAIGHT AWAY AND ALSO WHEN PASSING A TRUCK ON A LEFT CURVE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. IF ANY VEHICLE HAD BEEN CLOSE BEHIND US WHEN IT ACTIVATED, IT WOULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF US. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,192 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE START/STOP SYSTEM IS TOO MUCH FOR THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY DIES IF WE STOP THE CAR AND IDLE FOR MORE THAN 2-3 MINUTES, WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM RUNNING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,200 |
| Jan 2019 | ENGINE | BATTERY WILL NOT TURN ON, CAR IS ONLY 12 MONTHS OLD, THERE WERE NO ISSUES FOR THE REASONING FOR THE BATTERY TO NOT WORK. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | TRANSMISSION/MOTOR IS MAKING A WHISPPING SOUND WHEN YOU ACCELORATE ON THE GAS. HAVE REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS. IT IS A TERRIBLE SOUND. CAR IS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND RED EXCLAMATION CAUTION WARNING LIGHTS ON VEHICLE COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THESE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON DURING NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THESE LIGHTS USUALLY GO OFF ON THEIR OWN OR AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | LEFT FOG LIGHTS SPORADICALLY BLINK ON AND OFF FOR NO SPECIFIC REASON. THIS HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AS WELL AS EPC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL CITY DRIVING. POWER AND PICK UP OF THE VEHICLE BECAME GREATLY REDUCED MAKING TRAVEL OVER 15-20 MPH IMPOSSIBLE. UPON ARRIVING HOME AND TURNING CAR OFF, VEHICLE WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART. CAR WAS TOWED FROM HOME TO DEALERSHIP WERE IT WAS FOUND THAT ELECTRICAL MECHANISM IN VEHICLES HIGH POWERED FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND QUIT WORKING. HIGH POWERED FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Jan 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | MY CAR BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE NOW IN 2 MONTHS ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 1 YEAR OLD. WITHOUT WARNING AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IT JUMPSTARTED AGAIN. TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BUT HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS OF OTHERS WHO OWN THE SAME CAR THAT HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE VEHICLES BATTERY IS DYING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,500 |
| Jan 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT BARELY STARTED AND THEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD AN INSUFFICIENT CHARGE TO POWER THE COMPUTER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,365 |
| Jan 2019 | SUSPENSION | AT ROUGHLY 5000 MILES 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SE 2.0T BEGAN HAVING A LOT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. NOISE HAPPENED MOSTLY AT LOWER SPEEDS AND WAS A RATTLE AS WELL AS A BOTTOMING OUT SOUND. VEHICLE WAS ALSO PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT AND ALIGNMENT SEEMED TO BE OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. INITIAL REPORT WAS THAT THE FRONT BOOTS WERE LEAKING GREASE AND THOUGHT TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BOOTS WERE REPLACED AND TECHNICIANS STILL NOTED A SOUND COMING FROM THE SAME AREA. STEERING AND AXLE PARTS WERE OVERNIGHTED 4 TIMES, EACH PART NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. AXLE AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO THE VEHICLE BEING PULLED OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAVEL AND CAUSE A WRECK. DEALERSHIP REPORTS THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE BATTERY DIED WHEN THE CAR WAS SIX MONTHS OLD WHILE IN A STORE PARKING LOT. THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD FUEL CELL AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME BATTERY. 8 MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN IN THE SNOW WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE WERE UNABLE TO JUMP IT. THE BATTERY DYING IS NOW A KNOW ISSUE AND THEY WILL REPLACE IT WITH A DIFFERENT BATTERY. BUT THEY ARE NOT RECALLING IT YET EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY FRIENDS ATLAS DIED AT A STOP LIGHT DUE TO THE AUTO SHUT OFF FEATURE. IT IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,500 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IF IT IS REALLY COLD OR IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR DAYS WITHOUT BEING STARTED. I AM TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | HAD THE CAR FOR 18MONTHS AND HAVE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY FAILING FOR NO REASON - CAR GIVES A MESSAGE THAT THE VOLTAGE IS LOW AND WILL NOT START. HAPPENED AFTER VERY SHORT TIME OF THE ENGINE BEING TURNED OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES, NO VALID EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHY SUDDENLY STARTED HAPPENING. HAPPENED ONCE ON A HIGHWAY, ONCE AT HOME. NOW WORRIED THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY DYING ON MY ATLAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE DRIVEN IT, GONE INTO A STORE FOR 5 MINUTES AND COMING BACK OUT AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD. OR THE CAR WON'T START THE NEXT MORNING AFTER SITTING MY HEATED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. IN MY INSTANCE THE CAR HAS BEEN STATIONARY THE ENTIRE TIME BUT I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7-8 TIMES RECENTLY AND ITS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING ON A CAR THIS NEW. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR NOT RESTART IN AN INTERSECTION YET LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD HAPPEN BUT REGARDLESS ITS STILL A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AND VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE READ MANY ITEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEIR CARS INTO THE DEALER TO GET THE BATTERY REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. VW NEEDS TO RECALL 2018 ATLAS'S FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIND A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT AND NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON IT NOW. I CAN'T HAVE MY FAMILY IN VEHICLE THAT THAT I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL OR WILL NOT START. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | EPC LIGHT PLUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT START. DEALER REPLACING BATTERY, BUT CONCERNED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BASED ON CASES I'VE READ IN VW FORUMS: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T73111_DS837472. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | DROVE TO HUSBANDS OFFICE AND PARKED IN LOT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES RECEIVED A WARNING THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE TO CHARGE BATTERY. TRIED TO GO BUT CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT BATTERY WAS DEAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN JULY 2018. READ ONLINE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2018 ATLAS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | VEHICLE, INSIDE OUR GARAGE, WILL NOT TURN ON. BATTERY IS DEAD, RECEIVE ERROR MESSAGE THAT 12V BATTERY IS LOW, LIGHTS FLASH AND SOUNDS HAPPEN, BUT WILL NOT TURN OVER. OUR ATLAS IS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, VARIOUS LIGHTS CAME ON THEN WENT AWAY AND DIDN'T RETURN UNTIL TODAY. ALSO WAITING ON RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT WAS BEFORE CHRISTMAS DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON OVER AND OVER. BEEN AT LEAST 3 WEEKS WAITING FOR THAT PART. DISAPPOINTED IN AN EXPENSIVE NEW CAR HAVING THIS MANY PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE START. CALLING THE DEALER TODAY ABOUT THE BATTERY ISSUE. FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS THE CAR THAT IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR MY HUSBAND'S COMMUTE TO WORK AND KEPT IN THE GARAGE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | INTERMITTENT STALLS, SOMETIMES IN TRAFFIC OR AT BUSY INTERSECTION DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND CAUSED BY DISCHARGED BATTERY AND/OR POOR BATTERY CHARGING | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND WON'T START. TRIED JUMPING WITH OUR PORTABLE CHARGE BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. GIVES MULTIPLE ERRORS FROM AIRBAG TO 12 VOLT BATTERY TO LOW BEAMS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |