Complaint volume
456 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
2019 Volkswagen Atlas Complaints
456 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas, grouped by component category.
456 Total complaints
7 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
9 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, forward collision avoidance, service brakes. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 7 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 9 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 135 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 20,040 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to air bags, forward collision avoidance, service brakes?
- 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 2019 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.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas complaints?
7 Crash
0 Fire
9 Injury
0 Fatality
7 Towed
4 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Volkswagen Atlas complaint categories?
AIR BAGS 110
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 36
SERVICE BRAKES 26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26
STEERING 21
ENGINE 19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 12
POWER TRAIN 12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8
456 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE FALSE(UNPROMPTED) ACTIVATION- CONDITIONS-4 LANE ROAD WITH CENTER TURN LANE, WEATHER DRY, DAYLIGHT, TRAFFIC MODERATE. DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 30 MPH STEADY SPEED WITH NO CARS AHEAD IN CLOSE PROXIMITY THE CAR DETECTED AN OBSTACLE AND ENTERED AUTONOMOUS BRAKING ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND I SCANNED ALL DIRECTIONS FOR A POTENTIAL HAZARD. THERE WERE CARS IN THE CENTER TURN LANE BUT NONE ENTERING OR EXITING FROM EITHER DIRECTION OR EVEN MAKING SLIGHT STEERING CORRECTIONS THAT THE SENSORS COULD HAVE INTERPRETED AS A IMPENDING COLLISION THREAT. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE CLOSE BEHIND US THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST EVENT FOR OUR ATLAS OUR FRIENDS ATLAS HAS HAD MULTIPLE SIMILAR EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO RECREATE THE SCENARIO WITH NO SUCCESS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY FAULTS WITH THEIR CAR. WE HAVE YET TO BRING OUR ATLAS IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,300 |
| Oct 2019 | STEERING | AT DELIVERY (4400 MILES) AS THIS WAS A PROGRAM CAR, THE STEERING COLUMN CREEKS, POPS, AND CRACKLES WITH AT TIMES PRODUCES A LOW PITCH HIGH FREQUENCY MOAN/GROWN. THIS IS MOST NOTABLE AT LOW SPEEDS FOR THE CRACKLING NOISE, THE MOANING SOUND IS EVIDENT AT 60 MPH OR SO. I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND TOWED IT TO DEALERSHIP. STEERING FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR, BUT THE NOISES CREATED SAFETY CONCERN. THE SALESMAN CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS A OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,800 |
| Oct 2019 | POWER TRAIN | YOU HEAR WOSSHING SOUND WHEN YOU START SLOW ACCELERATION FROM ALMOST STOP, NOT COMPLETELY STOP, LIKE 5MPH. IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME. THE ISSUE IS THAT VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT TO 2ND GEAR, STAYS IN 3RD WHEN IT'S AROUND 5MPH. THIS LOAD IS CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER AND PUMP TO WORK HARDER TO GET VEHICLE ROLLING. I BELIEVE IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENS IN 3RD GEAR AROUND 1500 TO 2000 RPMS. FOR ME, I HEAR IT THE MOST WHEN I AM ACCELERATING AFTER COMING TO A "STOP". ONCE I HEAR THE NOISE, I FLIP THE CAR INTO MANUAL MODE AND IT IS ALWAYS IN 3RD GEAR. ALTHOUGH YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ALMOST STOPPED, THE CAR IS STILL IN 3RD GEAR. DO THE SAME "STOP" WHILE IN MANUAL MODE AND DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND, AND THERE ISN'T A NOISE. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TRIED OTHER NEW ATLAS' ON THE LOT AND FOUND SAME ISSUES. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. HONESTLY, MY NOISE SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND LOUDER EACH DAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,100 |
| Oct 2019 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN MOVING AND UNDER A LOAD AT LOWER RPMS THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A SCREECHING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS GRINDING. HAVE BROUGHT THIS IN TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR VW ATLAS VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL AND DO NOT TRUST THIS ANSWER FROM VW ESPECIALLY AFTER WE WERE LIED TO ABOUT THE DIESEL EMISSIONS PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY AND MAY GIVE OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I WERE TO BE STRANDED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WOULD HELP ME BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND BEING STRANDED COULD BE A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Sep 2019 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. HAS MULTIPLE GAS LEAKS AND DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE GAS TANK AND LINES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Sep 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | AUTOMATIC BRAKING STOPS CAR WHEN EXITING PARKING LOT ONTO MAIN ROAD, COULD NOT PULL STRAIGHT OUT OF PARKING LOT. EMERGENCY BRAKING DEPLOYED 3 TIMES. ON COMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNIT I TURNED SYSTEM OFF. MULTIPLE CARS WERE BEHIND ME AND COULD NOT BACK UP ENOUGH TO NOT BLOCK TRAFFIC. NO OBSTRUCTIONS WHERE IN FRONT OF ME JUST SLIGHTLY STEEPER ANGLE EXITING PARKING LOT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Sep 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | UPON ACCELERATING MY 2019 VW ATLAS DOWN AN EMPTY STREET BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR THE AUTONAMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP JOLTING US FORWARD. IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED THAT MY HANDS SLIPPED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND LANDED ON THE DASH BOARD. THE HALT CAME WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE. AS I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN AND VW CORPORATE OFFICE REGIONAL CASE MANAGER, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS, ANIMALS, OBSTACLES, ETC. ON THE ROADWAY. THE DAY WAS SUNNY AND THE GRILL EMBLEM THAT HOUSES THE SYSTEM SENSOR WAS UNOBSTRUCTED AND CLEAN. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VEHICLE BEHIND ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT "THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE" AND PER CORPORATE ENGINEERS THE SENSOR IS WORKING PER SPECIFICATIONS AND NO FAULT CODES WERE FOUND WITH THE SENSOR. IMAGINE RECEIVING THIS EXPLANATION AFTER THAT SCARY INCIDENT HAPPENS TO YOU OUT OF NO WHERE. NOW I CAN'T GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THINKING WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. TOO HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN SEEKING A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. MY THOUGHT IS THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR'S SOFTWARE CODE AND VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION. PLEASE I ASK THAT THIS ISSUE BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL BE ISSUED. THE INTERNET HAS INFO ON OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE ALONG WITH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED IN CALIFORNIA AGAINST VW FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THANK YOU. *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,900 |
| Sep 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE GAS CONSUMPTION IS BELOW WHAT VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS AND ADVERTISES. OUR CAR AVERAGES 14 MPG INSTEAD OF 19 MPG. ON USER FORUMS, OTHER ATLAS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT AVERAGING 14 MPG. WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, IT STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS WHILE DRIVING. SINCE WE GOT THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AN EVAP LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP "FIXED" IT. HOWEVER, SEVERAL HOURS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| Sep 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | ENGINE LIGHT IS ON... INTERIOR SMELLS LIKE GAS AND GAS GAGE IS SHOWING LOW LEVEL VERY FAST. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,200 |
| Sep 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND TURNING TOWARDS AN OPEN PARKING SPACE. NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DEPLOYING. THIS LEFT THE VEHICLE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF PARKING LANE AND COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY CROSS TRAFFIC. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2019 | ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES | THE CAR IS 6 MONTHS OLD. WE HAVE 5 DOCUMENTED CASES OF THE VEHICLE STOPPING/BRAKING ON IT'S OWN FOR NO REASON. THE DEALER AND VW CORPORATE DO NOT HAVE A FIX AND SUGGESTED WE KEEP DRIVING IT TO GET MORE DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCES. THE VEHICLE POSES AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK AT THIS TIME DUE TO FAULTY BRAKING ASSIST MECHANISMS. 2 OF THE 5 OCCURRENCES INVOLVED IT THROWING THE PARKING BRAKE ON BY ITSELF AND THE OTHER 3 WERE DRASTIC SLOW DOWNS WITH NOTHING AROUND. ALL INCIDENTS REPORTS ARE ATTACHED AND ARE EXACTLY WHAT WAS TURNED INTO THE DEALER AND VW CORPORATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Aug 2019 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINED ROAD AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM BEEPED WHILE ERRONEOUSLY SENSING SOMETHING WAS AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE BACK-UP CAMERA DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DISPLAY THE PERSON WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE PERSON WAS NOT DISPLAYED ON THE CAMERA UNTIL THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. NORM REEVES VOLKSWAGEN (20 AUTO CENTER DR, IRVIN, CA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Aug 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLAM ON ITS BRAKES ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPING. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO OCCUR (E.G. SOUND OR DASHBOARD ALERT). FURTHER THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME, NO PEDESTRIANS, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FRONT COLLISION AUTOMATIC BRAKING TO ENGAGE. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME OR THEY WOULD HAVE SURELY CRASHED INTO ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 375 |
| Aug 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | VEHICLE AUTO LOCKS WITH RFID KEYS IN THE CAR WHICH LOCKED CHILD IN THE CAR. DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE USING RFID KEY FOB (USING TOUCH SENSOR ON DOOR), PLACED 1.5 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE 2D ROW SEAT INTO AN APPROVED 5PT CAR SEAT AND SHUT THE DOOR. DRIVER PLACED PURSE WITH KEY FOB INTO PASSENGER SEAT AND SHUT THE DOOR. WALKED AROUND TO PLACE OLDER CHILD INTO DRIVER SIDE 2D ROW SEAT THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED. ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED DUE TO A 45 SECOND TIMEOUT FEATURE. THE KEYS AND CHILD WERE LOCKED INTO THE CAR REQUIRING FIRST RESPONDERS TO BREAK THE DRIVER'S WINDOW TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE. THE ALARM SOUNDED UPON BREAKING THE GLASS, AND WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DRIVER DOOR WAS PRESSED, THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND THE KEY FOB WAS RETRIEVED TO SILENCE THE ALARM. THE CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 20 MINUTES IN A CA DESERT. THIS OCCURRED ON AN AIR FORCE BASE, WHERE FIRST RESPONDERS LOGGED AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 480 |
| Aug 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | AUTOMATIC COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES IN SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED BRAKING WHEN THERE IS NO OBSTACLE (OR CARS) NEAR VEHICLE. AUTOMATIC BRAKES HAVE STOPPED CAR TO A HALT WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING ON OR TURNING ON SLIGHT SLOPE CITY STREET THAT LEVELS OUT TO THE ROAD. THE SUDDEN BRAKING HAS ALMOST CAUSED COLLISIONS AS VEHICLE STOPS FOR NO REASON WITHOUT WARNING IN MIDDLE OF STREET/TRAFFIC. VERY CONCERNED AS NO WAY TO TURN OFF SYSTEM AND AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE FOR FEAR IT WILL STOP AUTOMATICALLY FOR NO REASON IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC OR ON BRIDGE WHERE ANGLE OF ROAD/BRIDGE MAY SLOPE. THE SUDDEN BRAKING HAS OCCURRED TWICE THIS WEEK AT LOCATION I HAVE TO DRIVE TO EVERY DAY AND CANNOT BYPASS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 200 |
| Aug 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | AUTO BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSES CAR TO BRAKE WHEN EXITING A DRIVEWAY. ALERTS TO THE ROAD AS AN OBSTACLE WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE. THE SYSTEM READS ROAD AS AN OBSTACLE, LIKE A PERSON OR CAR. BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSES CAR TO BRAKE LEAVING DRIVEWAYS. CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE CUTS OFF WITH CAR IN TRAFFIC - ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE BRAKE MANUEVERING SYSTEM - READS ROAD AS A HAZARD CAUSING THE CAR TO AUTOMATICALLY APPLY THE BRAKES. BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUDDENLY AND THE FORCE IS AS IF I AM BEING HIT AT A HIGH SPEED FROM BEHIND. THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT HAPPENED. TAKES 15-20 SECONDS TO RESTART THE CAR, DURING WHICH TIME I 'M IN TRAFFIC OR HALF IN TRAFFIC AND HALF IN THE DRIVEWAY SUBJECT TO GREAT BODILY HARM FROM OTHER CARS THOSE THAT DO NOT EXPECT ME TO BE STOPPED THERE OR FROM CARS BEHIND ME THIS PLACES ME, MY FAMILY, PASSENGERS AND OTHER DRIVERS AT GREAT RISK OF HARM. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND AT NUMEROUS DIFFERENT SPEEDS. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED BEING HIT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED AND THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS EXCEPT TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM WHICH ALSO TURNS OFF THE SYSTEM SHOULD A HAZARD APPEAR BEFORE MY VEHICLE. I WAS REQUIRED TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM MYSELF BECAUSE VW HAS STATED IT IS A LIABILITY FOR THEM TO TURN IT OFF. THE DATE LISTED IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED BUT IT HAS HAPPENED CLOSE TO A DOZEN TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TWICE ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. VW HAS TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM CANNOT DIFFERENTIATE AND TO ENSURE THE BRAKING DOES NOT GO ON (ALTHOUGH IT WILL STILL BEEP AND ALERT) I MUST EXIT ALL DRIVEWAYS NO FASTER THAN 3 MPH. WHEN EXITING INTO HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, SUCH AS WHERE I LIVE THIS WILL PLACE ME AT GRAVE DANGER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |
| Aug 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | THIS IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE AND I'M WORRIED POWERTRAIN DAMAGE IS OCCURRING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOPPED OR AT LOW SPEED THERE IS A VERY LOUD SCREENING / GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE POWERTRAIN / TRANSMISSION - POSSIBLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IS IS VERY NOTICEABLE, USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE OR INCREASES ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEED THEN IT USUALLY GOES AWAY. I DESCRIBED THE TO TWO VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND BOTH SAID "THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THAT ONE." I WAS IN FOR OTHER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SOUND, HOWEVER IT SCREECHED WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP! THE VW ATLAS FORUMS HAVE MANY POSTS ON THIS ISSUE. AND LOTS OF FOLKS LIKE MYSELF ARE NOT GETTING ANY INFORMATION AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. I DID NOT GET ANY MEANINGFUL HELP FROM VW OR THEIR DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I AM ALSO WORRIED THIS IS CAUSING ISSUES OR DAMAGE AND IS NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED OR ADDRESSED BY VW AND THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITIES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Jul 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FRONT FACING CAMERA THAT HAS OR HAD A DATA ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP WITHOUT WARNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE TO ENGAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOM WOOD VOLKSWAGEN WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE ISSUE, AND SAID IT HAD HAPPENED SOME PLACE ELSE AS WELL. THIS WILL EASILY CAUSE REAR IMPACT CRASHES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,800 |
| Jul 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | FROM THE PARKING LOT OF A LARGE SHOPPING CENTER WE TRIED TO TURN ONTO THE MAIN ROAD. WE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE, WENT A FEW FEET AND THEN THE CAR SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ITSELF WHEN WE WERE ABOUT HALFWAY INTO THE LANE. WE THEN HAD TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR A FEW TIMES AND IT FINALLY KICKED IN AND STARTED MOVING AGAIN. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS COMING IN THAT LLANE AS WE WERE STOPPED HALFWAY IN IT. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY AND THEN IT ALSO HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Jul 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ON THE TENTH DAY OF OWNING OUR BRAND NEW VEHICLE, WE WERE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 74 AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND IN THE LOW 90S. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND THE FRONT PANEL OF OUR PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. THE SHADE WAS OPEN AND THE TEMPERED GLASS FELL ON OUR ENTIRE FAMILY INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN AGED 7 AND 4. THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM AN OUTSIDE OBJECT. THE INITIAL PICTURE SHOWS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE FROM INSIDE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS OCCURRED. WE CLOSED THE SUNSHADE TO STOP GLASS FROM FALLING INTO THE VEHICLE UNTIL WE COULD GET TO A SAFE SPOT. THE TWO PICTURES FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE ARE AFTER THE SUNSHADE WAS CLOSED. THE FINAL PICTURE SHOWS GLASS INSIDE THE VEHICLE NEXT TO MY SON'S FEET. | Crash: No Fire: No | 325 |
| Jul 2019 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1) RADAR AUTO-BRAKE: WHEN PARALLEL PARKING AND BACKING ( GOING IN REVERSE ) PARALLEL TO THE CURB, AT MAYBE 2 MPH AND 10 INCHES FROM CURB, I GOT YELLOW STOP, STOP !!!!!!! MESSAGE FOLLOWED BY SENSATION OF HITTING AN OBJECT AND BEING THROWN INTO THE SEAT. ONLY THERE WAS NO OBJECT. RAN OUT OF A CAR, NOTHING AND NOBODY THERE, AT LEAST FOR 50 YARDS. AN AUTO-BRAKE ENGAGED. THAT IS REALLY BROKEN. INTERFERENCE CAUSED IT TO DO THAT ? OVERHEATED COMPUTER IN 90 DEGREE SUN ? 2) TRANSMISSION LOGIC: UNRELATED TO ABOVE, WHEN GOING IN SLOW TRAFFIC 2-10 MPH, PRESSING GAS SHIFTS TRANSMISSION INTO HIGHER GEAR INSTEAD OF LOWER, RESULTING IN HIT-LIKE ENGAGEMENT AND ACTUAL INABILITY TO REV THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATE. SLOW AND DEEP PEDAL MOVEMENT DOES DOWNSHIFT AND ACCELERATE BUT TOO MUCH. ALL CARS ARE LIKE THAT AND I TEST DROVE SEVERAL. 3) TRANSMISSION LOGIC: RELATED TO (2) ABOVE, PARADOXICALLY IN SPORT DRIVING MODE, WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND MERGE HIGHWAY FROM 10 MPH, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED UP SEVERAL GEARS, NOT ALLOWING TO REV THE ENGINE, AND RESULTED IN RPM DECAY /POWER LOSS -- VERY SCARY. THAT LAUNCH WAS TIMELY ABORTED, AND DRIVER LATER MERGED THE ROAD IN MANUAL "TIPTRONIC" MODE. 4) IMPROPER GAS PEDAL CALIBRATION: COMPARED TO OTHER GERMAN, JAPANESE AND AMERICAN CARS, VW ATLAS HAS ABNORMAL AND UNSAFE GAS PEDAL CALIBRATION. FROM A STOP, ONLY LIGHTLY FEATHERING THE PEDAL RESULTS IN CIVILIZED CONTROLLED MOTION. NORMAL GAS PEDAL PRESSURE RESULTS IN A CAR ROCKETING FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. VW HAS TO TALK TO SOME OTHER MANUFACTURERS AND GET THEIR GAS CALIBRATION CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CARS, SO IT CAN BE DRIVEN STEADY AND SAFELY AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN NECESSARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Jun 2019 | POWER TRAIN | ONE WEEK AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE DURING THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS: ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED / TAKING OFF FROM A STOP / AFTER VEHICLE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SOUND ON FIRST ATTEMPT. VEHICLE HAS AGAIN BEEN DROPPED OFF AT DEALER AS GRINDING NOISE CONTINUES AND GETS LOUDER AT TIMES. HAVE SEARCHED IN DIFFERENT FORUMS AND SOME STATE THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING PROPERLY PROGRAMMED TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. INSTEAD IT SKIPS 2ND GEAR (NOT A PROFESSIONAL OPINION AS I AM JUST QUOTING WHAT I'VE READ). SOME HAVE STATED IT COULD BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. STILL NO SOLUTION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50 |
| Jun 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2019 VW VOLKSWAGEN SEL-P WITH 1600 MILES. STARTED THE CAR TO COME HOME FROM THE PARK 2 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND HALFWAY HOME THE CAR STARTED CUTTING OUT, HAD VERY LIMITED POWER, EPC LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY THE ENGINE LIGHT AND A FUEL SMELL. BY THE TIME I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE FUEL SMELL WAS VERY STRONG. SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT WHILE SOMEONE WAS LOOKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY SEEN THAT A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS DUMPING FROM THE FUEL RAIL/INJECTOR AREA AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. RAW GAS WAS ALSO SEEN DRIPPING ONTO GROUND. FUEL IS ONLY DUMPING WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AND RUNNING. LUCKILY DRIVE WAS A SHORT DISTANCE OR IT IS VERY LIKELY IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LEAK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,650 |
| Apr 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | CAR BRAKES BY ITSELF THINKING THERE IS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS OK DONT FOLLOW TO CLOSE. THEY SEEM TO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF OUR CAR. THIS COULD BE A PRETTY BAD SITUATION IF THE VEHICLE DESIDES TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WITH A SEMI TRUCK BEHIND YOU. | Crash: No Fire: No | 700 |
| Apr 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SAFETY FEATURE ENGAGED WHEN DRIVING ON AN INCLINE OR OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE SAFETY FEATURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AREA EMITTED A BEEPING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK, THEN REVERSE, AND THEN RESTART THE ENGINE TO REGAIN NORMAL FUNCTION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH LARRY H. MILLER VOLKSWAGEN (10205 WEST PAPAGO FWY, AVONDALE, AZ 85323, (480) 865-3991) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY AND THE SAFETY FEATURE ENGAGED WHEN IT SENSED AN INCLINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANEUVER BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BE DISENGAGED TO STOP THE INCLINE DETECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |