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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE BATTERY ON MY VEHICLE HAS DIED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS ONLY A YEAR OLD BUT IT HAS DIED WHILE DRIVING IN THE AUTO START/STOP MODE AND AFTER PARKED AT WORK AND IN MY GARAGE. TODAY IT WAS -25 DEGREES F AND IT COMPLETELY DIED ON ME AFTER BEING AT WORK FOR 4 HOURS, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. ALSO, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, MY AUTO START ON MY KEY FOB DOESN'T WORK EITHER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I HAD 2 INCIDENTS WHEN USING THE START-STOP SYSTEM. THE FIRST TIME WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK. I WAS DRIVING TO MY WORK. WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT (VERY BUSY AVENUE AT MATHILDA AVE, SUNNYVALE WITH 4 LANES TRAFFIC IN ONE WAY), WHEN I TRIED TO START, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE AGAIN TO START THE CAR. THE SECOND TIME, 12/2/2018 5:50PM. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND TWO OF OUR KIDS (ONE INFANT UNDER 1). WE STOPPED FOR THE RED LIGHT AT THE CROSS ROAD OF JACKSON ST AND MEEK AVE, HAYWARD (VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH 3 LANES TRAFFIC IN ONE WAY). WHEN I TRIED TO START, THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED THERE AND WOULD NOT IGNITE AT ALL. WE HAD TO CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT IS VERY HIGH AND IT PUT MY FAMILY INTO A RISK OF BEING HIT. THE BATTERY COMPLETELY FAILED AND I CAN NOT EVEN PUT IT TO A N GEAR TO PUSH THE CAR MANUALLY. WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE OFFICERS TO COME AND HELPED TO STOP THE TRAFFIC. THE OFFICER HELPED US TO JUMP START THE CAR AND WE WERE RESCUED. I CAN NOT IMAGINE THAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WERE A HIT ACCIDENT. WE WERE STUCKED THERE FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR. NOW THAT I AM FEELING VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN LET ALONE THAT IT PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY INTO A RISK OF BEING HIT BY RUNNING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD LOW VOLTAGE READING AT 62%, AND BATTERY DEFECTIVE WAS FOUND. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED 2 DAYS AFTER. I GOT THE REPLY FROM VW CUSTOM CARE THAT THE 2018 ATLAS SHOULD BE GOOD TO DRIVE WITHOUT BEING RETURNED OR REPLACED. I FEEL THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. FROM THE MANUAL OF 2018 ATLAS, THE START-STOP SYSTEM WON'T SWITCH OFF THE VEHICLE IN CASE O THE BATTERY VOLTAGE IS LOW. WHY DID THE START-STOP SYSTEM SHUT DOWN THE CAR IN CASE OF A KNOWN LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE AT 62% ? *DT*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,700 |
| Dec 2018 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES | THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN RECALLS ON THE 2018 ATLAS LAUNCH EDITION. COOK VW IN FALLSTON HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR AT LEAST 5 RECALLS. IT'S BEEN MONTHS AND THEY HAVEN'T REPAIRED ANYTHING. WE TOOK FAITH IN THESE PEOPLE AND THEY COULD CARE LESS FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. TODAY WE GOT A RECALL LETTER ABOUT THE IGNITION. THAT MAKES 6 RECALLS THEY WILL NOT FIX. MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. DON'T HAVE DATES BUT THEY SHOULD BE IN THE DATABASE AT THIS DEALERSHIP. THEY ALL HAPPENED IN 2018. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 2 | 21,200 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | CAR AUTOMATIC START/STOP FUNCTION FREQUENTLY FAILS TO RESTART ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER TEN TIMES WITH TWO OF THOSE ALMOST ENDING IN ME BEING REAR ENDED AT HIGH SPEED. DEALER SAYS BATTERY IS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN. NO WAY TO PERMANENTLY DISABLED START/STOP FUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE RANDOM PROBLEMS WE ARE EXPERIENCING ARE ELECTRICAL RELATED ISSUES. WHEN UNLOCKING THE CAR WITH THE FOB THE CAR SOMETIMES DOES NOT ADJUST THE SEAT BASED ON THE FOB, NOR DOES IT RECOGNIZE THE SATELLITE RADIO, THE RADIO GETS STUCK ON THE AM SETTING, ETC. OTHER TIMES THE CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF BUT EVERYTHIING ELSE IS ON JUST LIKE THE AUTO ENGINE SHUT OFF FEATURE. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT DRIVES FINE AND THE ISSUE IS RANDOM BUT FREQUENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.I AM AN IT PROFESSIONAL AND THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS THAT MY ATLAS HAS SOME TYPE OF SOFTWARE/ELECTRICAL BUG. ON SUNDAY MORNING THE RADIO WAS NOT WORKING AFTER I STARTED THE CAR. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RADIO SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY, VERY RANDOM. ALWAYS WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,000 |
| Dec 2018 | ENGINE | I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND I HAD TO MANUALLY TURNED THE CAR ON TO PROCEED. SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I WAS WAITING TO OPEN MY GARAGE. THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF, I HAD TO TURN IT BACK ON MANUALLY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,015 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AT THE TRAFFIC THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, THE BATTERY OF ENGINE DIED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2017 AND THE BATTERY CANNOT MAINTAIN IT'S CHARGE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A DRAINED BATTERY FIVE TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 12/2/2018. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Dec 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE AUTO RAKE SYSTEM ON MY ATLAS SEL IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHEN EXITING DRIVEWAYS/PARKING LOTS THAT ARE STEEP, THE FRONT SENSORS SENSE THE ROAD, START BEEPING AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS STOPPED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BEFORE I COULD GET COMPLETELY ON THE STREET. THIS FORCES YOU TO EITHER TURN OFF THE SYSTEM (THAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR), OR EXIT VERY SLOWLY HOPING THAT THE SYSTEM WON'T BRAKE ALL OF A SUDDEN. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE | MY VEHICLE BATTERY DIED AFTER REFUELING. AND I HAD TO CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A JUMP. VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SHOWED 2 MESSAGES: 1) 12 VOLT BATTERY LOW AND RECHARGE WHILE DRIVING 2) ERROR START/STOP SYSTEM | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,475 |
| Nov 2018 | SERVICE BRAKES | 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SEL HAS A SAFETY SYSTEM CALLED MANEUVER BRAKING. THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKING IS 'MANEUVER BRAKING PROTECTS THE DRIVER FROM A COLLISION. IT PREVENTS UNPLEASANT DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, AND TO ANY OBJECTS NEAR THE VEHICLE,' SAYS DEVELOPER LYNN BRENNECKE. I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC. IT WAS NIGHTTIME, MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ON, CLEAR WEATHER, AROUND 70 DEGREES. THE AREA WAS A RESIDENTIAL/INDUSTRIAL MIX. THE PARKING LOT EXIT HAD A SLIGHT SLOPE. WHEN THE TRAFFIC WAS CLEAR I ACCELERATED TO ENTER THE TRAVEL LANES AND THE ATLAS ACTIVATED THE "MANEUVER BRAKING" THEREFORE BRINGING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I WAS WELL INTO THE SECOND TRAVEL LANE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES SUCH AS OTHER VEHICLES, TRAFFIC CONES, ANIMALS, BRANCHES ETC. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY, WHAT IF THE BREAK IN TRAFFIC WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP COMPLETELY AND RESTART BEFORE TRAFFIC ARRIVED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE ATLAS WILL SUDDENLY DECIDE IT IS TIME FOR A "MANEUVER BRAKING" EPISODE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Nov 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | PURCHASED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2017. IN JULY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FAST FORWARD TO NOVEMBER AND I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, AND IT SEEMS THAT ANYTIME THE DEALERSHIP FIXES ONE ISSUE, ANOTHER APPEARS. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES BETWEEN JULY 25TH AND AUGUST 7TH, IT WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FINALLY REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD OXYGEN SENSOR. AFTER THAT WAS FINALLY REPLACED, ANOTHER ERROR LIGHT CAME ON THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS SOMETHING ELSE, AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR A NEW PART TO COME IN. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL WEEKS, THAT PART CAME IN, REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, AND ANOTHER ISSUE CAME UP. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 21 DAYS STRAIGHT (THIS TIME), AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ETA ON WHEN IT SHOULD BE FIXED. PROBLEMS HAVE MOSTLY BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FRONT ASSIST (COLLISION DETECTION SYSTEM) SENSORS, BUT NOW THE ISSUES HAVE EXPANDED TO MOST OF THE CAR'S INTERNAL COMPUTER SYSTEM IN GENERAL. VEHICLE WAS IN A WRECK IN MAY 2018 WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. FRONT ASSIST ERRORS ARE BEING ATTRIBUTED BY DEALER TO THE WRECK, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE AND OTHER COMPUTER ERRORS, INCLUDING ISSUES WITH ABS CONTROL MODULE (LATEST PROBLEM) ARE NOT AND ARE BEING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,500 |
| Nov 2018 | ENGINE | THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT WENT ON 3 DAYS AGO. WHEN I FIRST START THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING OR AFTER HOURS OF PARKING, THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. AFTER THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GOES UP, I HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN TO HAVE THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED. THIS IS AN ONE YEAR OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS 10500 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN 6 BRANDS OF VEHICLES IN MY LIFE BUT THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME TO HAVE A COOLANT PROBLEM. I CHECKED THAT NO COOLANT LEAKING AND SHORTAGES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,500 |
| Nov 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | THE BATTERY DIED IN THE INTERSECTION SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRING WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT MADE ME IN DANGER. THIS IS A ONE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN 6 BRAND VEHICLES SO FAR IN MY LIFE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BATTERY DIED. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Nov 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | ON OCT 28 THE CAR STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE START-STOP ENGINE SHUT OFF, THEN WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE BATTERY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO CRANK THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK CAR TO THE VW DEALER WHERE 7 RECALLS WERE SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED. 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER DOESN'T KNOW TO AVOID START-STOP BRAKING WHEN POWER IS TOO LOW TO START THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT IT BUT THEY DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER PROBLEM AND COULDN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE WHEN THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS THREAD: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T73111_DS837472 WHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND PUTTING MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITHOUT POWER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,000 |
| Nov 2018 | STEERING | WHILE DRIVING MY VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SE WITH TECHNOLOGU IN THE LEFT LANE OF A TWO LANE ROAD (EACH WAY), THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY AND FORCIBLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. UPON THIS CHANGE IN DIRECTION I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE USING THE 'LANE ASSIST' FUNCTION WHICH I HAVE USED EVER SINCE OWNING THE CAR (4 MONTHS). THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE CORRECT THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING WITH LAB ASSIST ON AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A FORCEFUL CHANGE IN DIRECTION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,400 |
| Nov 2018 | SUSPENSION,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | TAKATA RECALL | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Nov 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 VW ATLAS WITH 8,800 MILES ON IT ON 11/5/18. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR'S ENGINE DID NOT TURN BACK ON FROM IDLING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED GOING OFF TELLING ME VARIOUS THINGS. I DO NOT THINK HAVING AN ECOFRIENDLY CAR IS WORTH IT TURNING OFF TO NOT TURN BACK ON WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO FIXED THE CAR TELLING ME THAT THERE WERE SOFTWARE UPDATES AND THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE PRINTOUT FROM WORKING ON IT SAYS THAT THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM IS GOOD BUT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE INTERNALLY, ON A CAR THAT'S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY, WOULD NOT TURN ON, AND ESSENTIALLY WAS USELESS IN TRAFFIC AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I AM THANKFUL MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR. VW CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS FIXED BUT READING OTHERS COMPLAINTS I AM DOUBTFUL AND AFRAID THAT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS HAPPENS, WITHOUT WARNING, AGAIN. I CANNOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN DUE TO SAFETY REASONS, BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG KIDS, AND I HAD TO ALSO MISS A DAY OF WORK TO DEAL WITH A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THIS PROBLEM HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY CAR HAVING AN OIL SPILL AFTER AN OIL CHANGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID INCORRECTLY IN AUGUST. THEY DID NOT TIGHTEN THE CAP TO THE EXTENT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED AND OIL SPILLED ALL OVER MY GARAGE, STAINED IT, AND IT'S NEVER COMING OUT. VW FIXED THAT AND GAVE A FREE OIL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE? I REALLY HOPE THAT DID NOT MESS UP MY NEW CAR AND CAUSE THIS NEW ISSUE TO HAPPEN. I CANNOT HAVE ANY MORE ISSUES HAPPENING WITH THIS CAR AND THE BATTERY/COMPUTER ISSUES NEED TO BE FIXED SO THAT THEY DON'T EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,800 |
| Nov 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | AFTER MAKING A LEFT U TURN ON A LOCAL ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD "EEEK" SOUND AND THEN THE CAR BECAME DANGEROUSLY SHAKY. THE MECHANICS AT THE VW SERVICE CENTER TOLD US THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE WAS BROKEN. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN 2300 MILES WITH IT SO FAR. VW CUSTOMER CARE HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSURE US THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE, ONLY TOLD US THAT THE REPLACED AXLE WILL HAVE A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. WE HAVE LEFT MULTIPLE VM FOR THE CUSTOMER CARE PERSON WHO'S SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS CASE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. IT HAS BEEN 2 DAYS ALREADY. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN A VW VEHICLE AND THE WAY THEY RESPONDED TO THIS ISSUE SHOWED TRULY HOW LITTLE THEY CARE ABOUT VEHICULAR SAFETY AND QUALITY | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,300 |
| Nov 2018 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 10/31/18 AND ON 11/4/18 WE ARRIVED AT A RELATIVE'S HOME IN WESTCHESTER. THIS AREA HAS NO SIDEWALKS OR PARKING LANE. WE PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE STREET TO PARK. THE STREET IS A SLIGHT HILL AND THE SHOULDER WAS VERY UNEVEN. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS UPHILL. MY HUSBAND HAD CUT THE WHEELS TO TH E ROAD WHEN PULLING IN. ONCE IN PARK AND THE CAR OFF, HE EXITED AND WALKED BEHIND THE CAR TO COME ROUND AND HELP ME GET OUT ON THE ROUGH SHOULDER. BEFORE HE MADE IT TO THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWNHILL INTO THE STREET. I INSTICTIVELY WENT FOR THE SHIFT. THE SHIFT WAS ALREADY IN THE PARK POSITION BUT THE CAR WAS MOVING! BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A VERY STEEP HILL, THE ELEVATION CHANGE AT THE TRANSITION FROM THE DIRT SHOULDER TO THE ASPHALT ROAD STOPPED THE CAR WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL MET THE ASPHALT EDGE. THIS ROAD IS NARROW AND WINDING. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOONE WAS COMING ROUND THE BEND. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP 30-40% INTO THE CAR LANE WITH NO DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL. IN ITS SIMPLEST STATE IT APPEARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PARK GEAR DID NOT ENGAGE, YET IT WAS DEFINITELY IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE A MANUEL PARKING BRAKE. TO BE HONEST, THE HILL WOULD NOT HAVE SEEMED TO WARRANT THE NEED FOR A PARKING BRAKE IF THE PARKING GEAR WERE ENGAGING PROPERLY. WE HAVE JUST CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED IGNORANCE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS EVER EXISTING. HE SUGGESTED WE MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT & HAVE THE AUTO CHECKED OUT. I SUSPECT SO THEY CAN FORMALLY TELL US IT IS OUR IMAGINATION. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON FILE, I AM SORRY WE DID NOT LOOK HERE BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT VW OR ANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURER SEEMS ANXIOUS TO CORRECT DESIGN FLAWS UNTIL THERE ARE SUFFICIENT DEATHS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Oct 2018 | SEATS | AFTER OWNING AN ATLAS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, I PICKED UP MY 2 YEAR OLD AND PUT HIM IN HIS FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT IN THE 2ND ROW. AS I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS WE APPROACHED A RED LIGHT (NORMAL STOP - NOT A HARD BRAKE BY ANY MEANS), THE SEAT THAT MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS SITTING IN SLAMMED FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WITH MY CHILD SCREAMING AND CRYING, I QUICKLY PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED AROUND TO PUSH HIS SEAT BACK INTO THE NORMAL POSITION. MY CHILD HAD A MINOR ABRASION ON HIS FOREHEAD BUT FORTUNATELY, THE HEAD PROTECTION ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS HEAD TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE IMPACT. THE CAPTAINS CHAIR MUST HAVE NOT BEEN LOCKED INTO PLACE. AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER, I FOUND THAT I REALLY HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET THESE SEATS TO LOCK INTO PLACE. SIMPLY PUSHING THESE SEATS INTO PLACE WILL NOT LOCK THEM (I KIND OF HAVE TO SLAM THEM BACK TO GET THEM TO LOCK). IN MY OPINION, THESE SEATS SHOULD LOCK INTO PLACE MUCH EASIER. I COULD EASILY SEE MANY CHILDREN SUSTAINING INJURIES (OR WORSE) IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FLAW. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 150 |
| Oct 2018 | SEAT BELTS | WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING IN OUR WEEK OLD 2018 ATLAS WE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND MY WIFE WHO WAS SECURELY SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE SEATBELT ON ALL OF A SUDDEN HIT THE DASHBOARD. WE PULLED OVER AMEDIATELY AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE FOUND OUT THAT THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNSTITCHED FROM ITSELF BY THE FLOOR ANCHOR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 200 |
| Oct 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN VEHICLE TRAVEL DOWN AN INCLINE LIKE A DRIVEWAY, THE EMERGENCY BREAKING FEATURE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN STOP. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I AM REQUIRED TO CHANGE GEARS AND/OR RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS POSES A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHEN YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PRIVATE DRIVE AND ON TO A ACTIVE ROADWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A SIDE ON VEHICLE COLLISION. ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE MANAGER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. SERVICE MANAGER ALSO TESTED ANOTHER VW ATLAS ON THE SALE LOT WITH THE SAME FEATURE. SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE OTHER ATLAS AS WELL. SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, REPORTING THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." THIS ISSUE POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE NO ONLY TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE, BUT TO OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN GIVEN NOTICE OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OF TAKE ACTION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Oct 2018 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | BATTERY ISSUE- THE START/STOP FEATURE DRAINS THE BATTERY. A 2018 ATLAS BATTERY DIED WHILE THE CAR WAS ON AT AN INTERSECTION. WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. IT CAUSE EVERYTHING TO TRY OFF AND STEERING AND BRAKING WERE IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AT VW AND THERE IS NO RECALL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |