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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2018 | SEATS | WE HAVE A FRONT FACING CHILDSEAT INSTALLED IN THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER CAPTAIN SEAT AND A REAR FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE THIRD ROW. THIS CONFIGURATION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE INFANT SEAT HAS A BRACING BAR THAT IS DIFFICULT TO RAISE AND LOWER PROHIBITING THE CHAIR FROM ANGLING FORWARD FOR CLIMBING IN AND OUT OF THE THIRD ROW. HOWEVER, WE HAVE LEARNED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WITHIN THE FIRST MOMENTS OF DRIVING/ACCELERATING, THAT THE 2ND ROW CAR SEAT MAY SPRING FORWARD FORCEABLY, SMASHING THE FACE AND BODY OF OUR RESTRAINED 4 YR OLD CHILD INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT IS TOO HEAVY AND LOCKS IN THE FORWARD POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH BACK, TRAPPING THE CHILD UNTIL AN ADULT IS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND PULL THE SEAT BACK FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SEAT INITIALLY APPEARS TO BE LOCKED IN THE CORRECT PLACE, OR IS AT LEAST STABLE ENOUGH FOR THE CHILD TO CLIMB INTO HER SEAT, BUCKLE IN, AND THE TRIP TO BEGIN. AT SOME POINT THEREAFTER THE SEAT PROPELS FORWARD. WE ARE UNCLEAR WHETHER THE LATCH FAILS OR IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ENGAGED. THE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SCARY, AND HAS RESULTED IN A BLOODY LIP, AND ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS TO OUR CHILD'S FACE. IN THESE SITUATIONS, UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO SAFELY RESPOND, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO SEE OUR CHILD'S TERRIFIED EYES AND HEAR HER CRYING. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHER HEAD AND NECK INJURIES AS THE SEAT ROCKETS FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST AND WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE. WE ARE UNSURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENT WE SWITCHED HER SPOT WITH AN INFANT SEAT INSTEAD. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 3,500 |
| Oct 2018 | STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION AT TAKE OFF; PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR WEATHERING SEAL COMING OFF; NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEN TURNING SOUNDS LIKE UPPER SUSPENSION MOUNT FAULTY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 135 |
| Oct 2018 | SEATS | WE PURCHASED OUR VW ATLAS ON AUGUST 24, 2018. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE SECOND ROW SEAT HAS HINGED FORWARD WHILE OCCUPIED BY OUR SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT WITH THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. IN BOTH CASES IT HAS BEEN THE SECOND ROW SEAT ON THE RIGHT. IN BOTH INSTANCES, OUR DAUGHTER WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING DOWN HILL AT A SLOW SPEED TOWARD A STOP SIGN. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN MOVING FASTER AND COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT SEVERE INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURRED INSTANTLY TO HER. WE FEEL THAT THE POP UP INDICATOR LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE SEAT IS AN INADEQUATE MEANS TO INFORM THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FLOOR. WE MISSED THIS VERY IMPORTANT INDICATOR ON TWO OCCASIONS NOW. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WENT THROUGH ALL NOTIFICATIONS ON THE CAR WITH THE SALESPERSON, THIS WAS NOT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. AT MINIMUM, THIS VERY TECHNICAL VEHICLE SHOULD ALERT THE DRIVER BEFORE DRIVING (SIMILAR TO THE SEATBELT NOTIFICATION) WITH BOTH AN ORAL AND VISUAL ALERT THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR DAUGHTER WHO IS TRAPPED AGAINST THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE DRIVER CAN STOP THE CAR AND MOVE THE SEAT BACK. SHE NO LONGER WANTS TO SIT IN THAT SEAT. THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE A POSSIBLY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE TO VALIDATE A SAFETY RECALL. WE HOPE THAT ACTION IS TAKEN TO KEEP ALL PASSENGERS SAFE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 950 |
| Sep 2018 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | THE MOST CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE IS THE MALFUNCTIONING AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, IT HAS SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, IT SHUT-OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE STOPPING TO PAY THE PARKING ATTENDANT BUT FAILED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND MANUALLY RESTART THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES WHEN I HAVE TURNED OFF THE AUTO START/START WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE ONLY TO HAVE IT REACTIVATE ITSELF AND SHUT-OFF THE VEHICLE WHEN I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. OTHER ISSUES INVOLVE THE "INFOTAINMENT" SYSTEM AND CLIMATE CONTROL ELECTRONICS. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE RADIO HAS TURNED ITSELF ON AFTER I HAVE TURNED IT OFF. AS FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, IT PERIODICALLY DEACTIVATES THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CLIMATE CONTROL AND SHUTS OFF AIRFLOW TO THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY RESET THE SYSTEM THROUGH THE BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. THESE EXPERIENCES INDICATE THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ARE UNSTABLE AND THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUES, AS THEY HAVE RECURRED AFTER THE DEALER CLAIMED TO FIX THE ISSUES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IN THIS MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE. THE DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT EVENT INVOLVING THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN MID-FEBRUARY 2018, APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 250 |
| Sep 2018 | ENGINE | 2ND ATTEMPT AT REPAIRING OIL LEAK OCCURRING FROM ENGINE BAY LOCATED AROUND OIL FILTER HOUSING ON LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE. WAS NOT PROPERLY TORQUED FROM FACTORY ON FIRST OCCURRENCE HOUSING COULD BE TURNED WITH A WRENCH. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE TOOK 2 MONTH AFTER OIL CHANGE TO SHOW SAME SYMPTOMS. THIS OCCURS UNDER ALL CONDITIONS AND VEHICLE RARELY SEES DIRT ROADS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,128 |
| Sep 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TWO MONTHS AND IT HAS NOW BEEN IN SERVICE TWICE. AS OF TODAY THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS. THE AUTONOMOUS BREAK SYSTEM IS WAY TOO SENSITIVE AND THE CAR STOPS GOING DOWN STEEP INCLINES OR GOING OVER POT HOLES WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR HAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AT LEAST 7 TIMES. I TAKE IT TO SERVICE, THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECORD IN THE CARS COMPUTER OF THE INCIDENT. THE FRONT SENSORS ARE ALWAYS BEEPING. I PULL UP TO A STOP SIGN, THE SENSORS GO OFF. I DO A U-TURN AND THE SENSORS GO OFF. SOME DAYS WAY TOO EXCESSIVELY, SOME DAYS NOT AT ALL. IT SCARES ME TO DEATH AND I SLAM ON MY BRAKES BECAUSE I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO HIT SOMETHING. I TAKE IT TO SERVICE, THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECORD OF IT IN THE CARS COMPUTER. FRONT END COLLISION ALERT, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END COLLISION ALERT WENT OFF. I OF COURSE SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC, THANK GOD NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I TAKE IT TO SERVICE, THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECORD IN THE CARS COMPUTER OF IT. SERVICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE WITH THE FRONT SENSORS, BUT SAYS THERE IS NO FIX. THE CUSTOMER CARE REP FOR VW STATED TODAY ON THE PHONE THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSITIVITY OF THE AUTONOMOUS BREAKING BUT HAS NO FIX FOR IT SO I WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. I LIVE IN HOUSTON, I WILL DIE IF I HIT A POT HOLE AND STOP. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. I AM READING ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKING PROBLEMS. IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. I WAS ABLE TO VIDEO THE ISSUE WITH THE SENSORS AND VW HAS THE VIDEO AND RECOGNIZES A PROBLEM BUT STATES THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE CAR IS GOING TO WORK. STATES THEY SEE THE ISSUE THERE TOO, BUT THERE IS NO FIX. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Sep 2018 | ENGINE | AUTO STOP SENSOR MY ATLAS JUST HAVE 1000 MILES AND IT HAS STARTED WITH PROBLEMS | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,100 |
| Aug 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN DESCENDING AN INCLINE AT SLOW SPEED TO TURN ONTO A ROADWAY THE SENSOR PERCEIVES THE ROAD AS AN OBSTACLE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO AUTO-STOP PARTIALLY IN THE ROAD. I THEN HAVE TO DISENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND BEGIN AGAIN. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE. IT HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES WHEN LEAVING MY OWN DRIVEWAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Aug 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE 'LANE ASSIST' FEATURE MISINTERPRETS FREEWAY ON RAMPS AND OLD TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION LINES AND VEERS THA CAR AWAY. THIS DRAMATIC SUDDEN TURNING CAN SWERVE THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER LANE, OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY DAY DURING NORMAL DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2018 | SERVICE BRAKES | THE AUTONOMOUS BREAKING SYSTEM AND PEDIATRIAN WARNING SENSORS ARE MALFUNCTIONING MAKING MY CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE IT'S PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2018, THE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP AT LEAST 10 TIMES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I CAN RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM WHEN I AM MOVING SLOWLY ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. IN ADDITION, AS I SLOW DOWN TO APPROACH A STOP SIGN OR A RED LIGHT, THE ALARMS GO OFF SUGGESTING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE ROADWAY AT LEAST HALF OF THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY LOCAL VW SERVICE STATION THAT THERE ARE NO ERRORS BEING RECORDED BY THE CAR'S SYSTEM THAT CAN BE CORRECTED AND AT THIS TIME ALL ATLAS CARS THAT THEY HAVE TESTED ON THE LOT ARE HAVING DOING THE SAME THING. THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE AUTO-BRAKING ON A HILL ON THEIR LOT, BUT HAVE NO WAY TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING. ON SATURDAY, 8/18/2019 WHILE I WAS SLOWLY PULLING OUT OF A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN DOWN AN INCLINE THE CAR BRAKES LOCKED UP AFTER I ENTERED THE ACTIVE ROADWAY- AS A RESULT I WAS NEARLY T-BONED BY A CAR THAT HAD JUST MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO THE SAME ROADWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THAT DRIVER WAS MOVING SLOW ENOUGHT TO STOP. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED VW CAR NET, I WAS CONNECTED TO MY DEALER, AND THEY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, AFTER 5 DAYS THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE INITIATED A COMPLAINT WITH VW OF AMERICA AND AM WRITING TO TELL YOU THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT WILL STOP ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD WAY. I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY TO BE THE VICTIMS OF A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT AND WANT THIS PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE THERE IS A CATASTROPHE FOR ME OR ANOTHER ATLAS OWNER. PLEASE ME KNOW HAVE OTHER INFORMATION I CAN GIVE YOU SO THAT YOU CAN PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,500 |
| Aug 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY AND SHUTS OFF. SLOPED DRIVEWAYS. VEHICLE IN MOTION APPROACHING END OF ANY DRIVEWAY WITH CERTAIN ANGLES WILL SUDDENLY SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND SHUT DOWN, LEAVING STRANDED UNTIL RESTART. POSSIBLE TO BE REAR ENDED OR HIT FROM ANY DIRECTION WHERE TRAFFIC MAY BE COMING FROM. SENSORS BEEP QUICKLY RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. THE VEHICLE HAS PLENTY OF GROUND CLEARANCE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 831 |
| Aug 2018 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS | AT AROUND 60 TO 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHICH SHAKES THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL. ALONG WITH VIBRATION THERE IS A SLIGHT FLUTTERING NOISE AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THREE DIFFERENT TIMES BUT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THIS IS JUST HIGHWAY NOISE. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS VIBRATION AND NOISE IS ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF HIGHWAY SURFACE. I BROUGHT THE NEW ON NOVEMBER 27, 2017 AND DROVE IT HOME FROM CINCINNATI OH TO MY HOME IN NEWARK OH ABOUT 150 MILES. I NOTICED THE VIBRATION AND NOISE ON THE TRIP HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS NEW CAR. THIS CAR 18 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY ON NOVEMBER 27, 2017. I HAD MOVED TO MICHIGAN IN JUNE 2018 HAD TAKEN TO WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN HAD TWICE TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND EACH TIME CLAIMED IT WAS REPAIRED SATISFACTORY. THE FIRST TIJE I TOOK IT TO WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CLAIMED I HAD HIT A POT HOLE. I TOLD HIM IT WAS THAT WAY WHEN I PURCHASE THE CAR. THEY BALANCE ALL WHEELS AND CLAIMED IT WAS REPAIRED. I TOOK BACK AGAIN AND THEY DID A "FORCED" BALANCE AND REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED. I CONTACTED WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE MANAGER AND HE ADMITTED HE ALSO HEARD AND SEEN THE VIBRATION IN THE CAR BUT CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS, NOT THE CAR. I AM CONCERN THERE COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MAYBE WITH THE STEERING AND OR WHEELS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 17 |
| Aug 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP FOR STOPPING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT STOP. WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL APPLY THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LEAVING ME AND THE SUVOUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Aug 2018 | SERVICE BRAKES | I BOUGHT A VW ATLAS 2018 EXPECTING THE FRONT ASSIST FEATURE, WHEREBY IF THE SUV DETECTS AN OBSTACLE IN ITS PATH, IT WILL ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A COLLISION. UNFORTUNATELY I AM EXPERIENCING A SITUATION WHERE THE FEATURE COULD CAUSE A COLLISION. FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH VM SERVICE, THE SENSOR THAT DETECTS OBSTACLES POINTS FROM THE GRILL, DIRECTLY OUT, AND PARALLEL TO THE ROAD. WHEN DRIVING ON A DOWN SLOPE THAT LEVELS OUT, THE SENSOR WILL DETECT THE ROAD, AND, ASSUMING IT IS AN OBSTACLE, ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO AVOID COLLISION. AT SPEEDS >10MPH, THERE IS NO DETECTION. BUT, I DISCOVERED (MULTIPLE TIMES) THAT ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A CAR PARK CREATES THE DOWN ANGLE, AND (BECAUSE ITS IS ESSENTIAL TO DRIVE SLOWLY EXITING A CAR PARK TO FULLY OBSERVE THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC) THE SPEED WHEREBY THE FEATURE ENGAGES AND STOPS THE SUV. IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THIS HAS STOPS US IN INCOMING TRAFFIC, WITH THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF A DRIVERS SIDE COLLISION. I HAD STARTED TO DISABLE THE FRONT ASSIST FEATURE BUT DISCOVERED THIS MUST BE DONE ON EVERY TRIP, AND OF COURSE (A) SOMETIMES THIS IS FORGOTTEN AND (B) OTHERS DRIVING THE SUV MAY NOT REMEMBER OR EVEN KNOW. I FEEL THAT THIS FEATURE (ACKNOWLEDGEDLY A GREAT SAFETY FEATURE WHEN DRIVING ON A LEVEL ROAD), IS ACTUALLY A POTENTIAL COLLISION HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Aug 2018 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES | THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP ON A CITY STREET AFTER FULL APPLICATION OF BRAKES CAUSING COLLISION AND DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER . I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM WALKS WAGON THAT CERAMIC COATING ON THE BRAKES NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY BRAKE ISSUES PRIOR TO THE COLLISION .THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 4100 MILES AND CURRENTLY AT THE COLLISION CENTRE . | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 4,100 |
| Jul 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | I?M CONTACTING YOU WITH AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE VW ATLAS WE LEASED 2 MONTHS AGO. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DEPLOYS AT UNEXPECTED AND INAPPROPRIATE TIMES PRODUCING A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAS ACTIVATED, DANGEROUSLY AND INAPPROPRIATELY, SEVERAL TIMES, USUALLY WHEN PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A LANE. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION OR RISK OF COLLISION, THE CAR SENSES THE INSIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN SLOPE FROM DRIVEWAY TO ROAD AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE ALL CONTROL. THE CAR IS THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. RECENTLY, MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR LOCAL SUPERMARKET AND MADE A LEFT TURN. THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND SHE WAS LEFT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ANOTHER DRIVER BARELY AVOIDED COLLIDING INTO OUR REAR SIDE DOOR WHERE OUR 3 YEAR OLD SON?S CAR SEAT IS LOCATED. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS ISSUE TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CHECKED THE SYSTEM, AND TOLD US ?IT IS PERFORMING AS THE MANUFACTURE INTENDED IT TO?. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND I CAN ONLY PRAY THAT MY YOUNG CHILDREN ARENA?T MAIMED OR KILLED. THE VW SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN US A COMPLICATED WAY TO TURN OFF THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE CAR, HOWEVER THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR. I FEEL ITS INEVITABLE THAT A BUSY MOTHER DOING CHORES WITH TWO TODDLERS WILL FORGET TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM AT SOME POINT. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE DISABILITY OR LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO FIX THE SYSTEM OR PERMANENTLY DISABLE IT. WE ASKED VW TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THE SYSTEM BUT THEY DECLINED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT REPLY THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Jul 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE 2018 VW ATLAS IS THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTEM IN THE INSTANCE THAT A CRASH MAY OCCUR. WITH THIS THE FRONT SENSORS OF THE VEHICLE WARN PRIOR TO BY EITHER BEEPING OR IN SOME CASES SLAMMING ON THE AUTOMATIC BREAKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN I AM ON A HILL OF A CERTAIN GRADE, THAT THE SENSOR SYSTEM RECOGNIZES THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AS AN OBSTACLE AND MANY TIMES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OFF THE HILL TURNING ONTO THE NEXT ROAD THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTEM GOES INTO EFFECT STOPPING ME DEAD INTO CROSS TRAFFIC AND IN SOME INSTANCES GIVING NO WARNING TO SOMEONE BEHIND ME THAT I MAY BREAK URGENTLY WHEN I SHOULD BE ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION/FROM A HILL. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT 3X WITH THESE ISSUES AND NOW FIND THAT I HAVE A LOT OF STRESS WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE OFF HILLS THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE TRIED TURNING OFF THE FRONT VEHICLE WARNING (WHICH NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU RESTART THE CAR) AND THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. TO THIS SAME NOTE, WHEN I AM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY FRONT SENSORS CONTINUALLY GO OFF WHICH IS A COMPLETE DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Jul 2018 | SEAT BELTS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY CANNOT RELEASE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT FIXING THE 69X1 SEAT-BELT RECALL ISSUE. THEY STATE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NO ETA ON THE FIX, EFFECTIVELY LEAVING ME WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR SOME UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2018 VW ATLAS SEL PREMIUM HAS ACTIVATED THE BRAKE MANEUVERING SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS AN AGGRESSIVE BRAKING COMBINED WITH A LOSS OF CONTROL OF ACCELERATION. TYPICALLY, THIS OCCURS WHEN EXITING A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS, I WAS MERGING INTO HEAVY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE SYSTEM LEFT ME STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY IF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THERE IS CURRENTLY ONE OTHER ATLAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. MULTIPLE SOURCES ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER OWNERS HAVE ANNOUNCED SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. MANY HAVE REPORTED THAT THE SERVICE CENTER SIMPLY TELLS THEM TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. WELL, THAT IS NOT A FIX... IT IS A TEMPORARY WORK AROUND. MANY HAVE STATED THAT VW ENGINEERS HAVE REPORTED BACK THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS AS INTENDED AND NO FIX IS REQUIRED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IF THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS INTENDED AND IS ACTIVATING DURING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THERE IS NO ACTUAL NEED FOR COLLISION AVOIDANCE BRAKING MANEUVERS, THE SYSTEM MAY NEED TO BE REDESIGNED. I HAVE NOT VERIFIED PERSONALLY AS TO IF VW DENIES ANY FAULT BUT I WILL CERTAINLY DO SO IF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT IT IS OPERATING NORMALLY AND I SHOULD JUST DISABLE THE FEATURE. I PAID EXTRA FOR THAT FEATURE, ALONG WITH OTHER SAFETY FEATURES AVAILABLE BECAUSE I WANT THEM FOR ADDED SAFETY SHOULD I, OR MY FAMILY, NEED THEM. THE FEATURE ITSELF SHOULDN'T PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,500 |
| Jul 2018 | AIR BAGS,SEATS,ENGINE | RECALL 20AH IS COMPLETELY UNNACEPTABLE. THERE ARE 8 DIFFERENT POSSIBLE REPAIRS THAT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. THESE REPAIRS RANGE FROM AIRBAG SOFTWARE UPDATES TO SUNROOF REPAIRS. HOW IS IT LEGAL FOR THEM TO COMBINE THESE REPAIRS? AS A MECHANIC AND A CONSUMER IT IS BAD FOR BUSINESS AS THE VARIOUS PARTS/ INSPECTIONS NECCESSARY MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMODATE THE REPAIRS. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2018 ATLAS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SHAKES WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS FROM STOP WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS HOW THE ESP WORKS. I EVEN TALKED TO VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I RECEIVED A LETTER THAT MY VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. I'VE DRIVEN FRONT WHEEL DRIVES BEFORE AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A HIDDEN ISSUE THAT IS HIDING RIGHT NOW AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. I'VE SEARCHED THE ATLAS FORUMS AND NO ONE IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Jul 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | THE AUTO BRAKING AND WARNING SENSORS GO OFF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING FROM AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY TO A ROADWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US MULTIPLE TIMES, THE MOST RECENT WAS ON 7-2-2018, AND IT BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE THAT WAS AN EXTRA COST, BUT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A CRASH IF NOT RECTIFIED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS ISSUE, AND MULTIPLE OTHER ISSUES AND ALL I GET BACK IS ' SYSTEM IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.' IF THE SYSTEM IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED, THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY ISSUE IN ITSELF. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS ON MESSAGE BOARDS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND HAVING THE SAME ANSWERS FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. ON ONE OF THE MESSAGE BOARDS, THERE IS ACTUALLY A VIDEO OF THE VEHICLE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP DRIVING FROM A BANK PARKING LOT TO A MAIN ROAD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Jul 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | VEHICLE HAS A MANEUVER BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS FAULTY. THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO DETECT IF THERE IS A VEHICLE OR OBJECT THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO HIT AND AUTO BRAKE. WHEN I PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME OR WORK THE SYSTEM AUTO BRAKES AND ACTIVATES THE MANEUVER BRAKING WHEN THERE IS NO VEHICLE OR OBJECT PRESENT. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR ON DRIVEWAYS THAT HAVE A SLIGHT DECLINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN THE MANEUVER BRAKING IS ACTIVATED THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR NO REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,486 |
| Jul 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES | AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. WHEN I PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING LOTS THE SENSORS ARE ACTIVATING AND THE MANEUVER BRAKING IS APPLIED AND THE CAR COMES TO AN ABRUBT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVERYTIME THIS HAS OCCURED THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OBJECT OR CAR PRESENT. THIS SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND THIS MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY WHEN I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. VW SERVICE IS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AND HAS GIVEN ME A LOANER ATLAS THAT IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE OCCURING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,446 |
| Jul 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2018 VW ATLAS MANUAL, REAR TEMPERATURE CONTROL PANEL HAS A DESIGN OVERSIGHT WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE TARGETED THE AMERICAN FAMILY CAR MARKET WHICH SHOULD HAVE ASSUMED REAR PASSENGERS WERE TOO YOUNG TO REACH THE MANUAL REAR TEMPERATURE CONTROLS FROM THE 2ND ROW SEATING AND PROVIDED A MEANS FOR THE 1ST ROW PASSENGERS TO CONTROL WHETHER THE REAR VENTS BLOW HOT OR COLD. THIS FUNCTION WAS INTENTIONALLY REMOVED FROM THE FRONT PANEL MANUAL CONTROLS. THE UPGRADED TECH PACKAGE FOR THE ATLAS PROVIDES FRONT AND REAR ZONE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLS AS WELL AS THE ABILITY OF 1ST ROW OCCUPANTS TO OVERRIDE THE REAR SETTINGS. THE MANUAL CONTROLS ONLY ALLOW 1ST ROW OCCUPANTS TO ENABLE OR DISABLE THE REAR CONTROLS WHEREAS MINIVANS / FAMILY SUVS EXPERIENCED INCLUDE REAR OFF, REAR CONTROL, AND REAR SYNC TO FRONT. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT IF A CHILD STRAPPED IN A CAR SEAT IN THE REAR SAYS THEY ARE COLD, THE 1ST ROW PASSENGERS ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THIS INVOLVES REACHING BLINDLY BEHIND THE CENTER CONSOLE TO FEEL AROUND FOR THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS AND MAY EVEN RESULT IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO REMOVE THEIR EYES FROM THE ROAD TO PEER OVER THE CONSOLE TO SEE WHAT THE SETTINGS ARE. THE ONLY CHANGE A FRONT ROW OCCUPANT CAN MAKE TO THE REAR TEMPERATURE SETTING FROM THE FRONT PANEL IS TO DISABLE IT WHICH IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION IN MOST CASES. IN OTHER WORDS THIS DESIGN FLAW ENCOURAGES A DRIVER TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD OR BE DISTRACTED BEYOND WHAT HOLDING A CELL PHONE FOR A VOICE CALL DOES. IF MOST STATES CONSIDER IT ILLEGAL TO DRIVE/ TALK NON-HANDS FREE, THIS DESIGN FEATURE SHOULD BE CORRECTED WITH A VOLKSWAGEN FIRMWARE CHANGE. AFTER 9 MONTHS OF ATTEMPTING TO DO EXACTLY THAT, VW HAS RESPONDED FLATLY THAT THEY WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DESIGN. DEALERS AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THE BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO WARN CUSTOMERS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |