Complaint volume
465 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
465 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas, grouped by component category.
465 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, unknown or other. 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 137 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 20,914 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, unknown or other?
- 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 111
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 36
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 28
SERVICE BRAKES 26
STEERING 21
ENGINE 19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 12
POWER TRAIN 12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8
465 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Apr 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | BOUGHT MY ATLAS ON 3/24/19, A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT THE LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOPPED IT OFF AND SAID, "OH THEY COME TO THE DEALER SOMETIMES A LITTLE LOW." NOT SURE WHY THEY DON'T CHECK WHEN PREPPING THE CAR FOR DELIVERY. ON 4/3, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 4/4, NO VISIBLE LEAK UNDERNEATH OR BY THE TANK. A POSSIBLE LEAK WAS FOUND BEHIND THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL, I CAN SEE SOME PINK POOLING ON SOMETHING SILVER (ENGINE OR TRANS WHATEVER IT IS). THEY DETERMINED THAT THE COOLANT HOSE HAS FAILED AND CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT ISSUE BEFORE. THEY ORDERED THE WRONG PARTS AND COULDN'T FIT. THEY ARE ORDERING MORE PARTS AND IT COULD BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE I GET IT BACK. I HAVE ALSO ENGAGED VW OF AMERICA. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR YET ALONE THE DEALER TAKE SO LONG TO FIX IT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 400 MILES ON IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Mar 2019 | AIR BAGS | AIR BAG ERROR LIGHT SHOWED UP WHEN I TURNED ON MY CAR, UNDER 3,000 MILES ON CAR CAR WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AND DRIVER REPORTED AIR BAG ERROR LIGHT FLASHING AND THEN REMAINED STEADY ON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,585 |
| Mar 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WATER COLLECTING ON FRONT PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. A/C DRIP LINE PINCHED OR DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY IS THOUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE | Crash: No Fire: No | 700 |
| Mar 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | MY BATTERY DIED WHILE DRIVING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF BRAKES OR WHEEL | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2019 | SEAT BELTS,SEATS | WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A SLOW STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE MIDDLE ROW RIGHT SIDE SEAT DISENGAGED WHILE CHILD AND CAR SEAT IN THE SEAT AND FLUNG FORWARDED AND INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Dec 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DEFECT IN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. ALSO, INCORRECTLY CODED DATA CONTAINER WHICH FAILS TO PROVIDE AUDIBLE WARNING WHEN THE DRIVER OPENS THE DOOR WHICH INCREASES RISK OF VEHICLE THEFT. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |