10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,167 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #20

Jun 122024

Atlas

  • miles
While driving down the road the vehicle automatically shuts off without power brakes or power steering. Must come to a complete stop put the vehicle into park and the vehicle will then restart. Has happened twice in one week.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #19

Nov 302023

Atlas

  • miles
Vehicle displays -??Brake booster faulty-?? and all warning lights trigger. Vehicle auto brakes itself and stops with little ability to steer. No warning/fault codes were stored when brought into the repair shop to address the issue and they could not duplicate it. It is an intermittent problem but looking at online forums it is NOT ISOLATED AND IS DANGEROUS.

- Milton , WI, USA

problem #18

Apr 122019

Atlas

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated regarding the passenger-??s side air bags. The steering wheel button functionality was inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel failure was repaired under an unknown recall campaign; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #17

Feb 092023

Atlas

  • miles
Front steering knuckles fractured on the vehicle while driving, causing me to lose control of the vehicle. Other Volkswagen Atlas' have been recalled for this same issue, but not my specific model. If this is a problem for similar vehicles, people will be at risk of serious injury or death if not fixed immediately. I currently am on a military assignment in Germany and am having difficulty working with the dealers here to confirm the issue. Luckily I was in a parking lot when my steering knuckles failed and was able to park the vehicle safely. There were no warning indicators on the vehicle before I lost control. The vehicle did have a few symptoms of failing steering knuckles, like grinding and shaking sounds.

- Ft Huachuca, AZ, USA

problem #16

Jul 012022

Atlas

  • 66,880 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving approxi8mately 25 -30 mph the vehicle's brakes suddenly activate causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. The contact stated a warning light stating a failure with the brakes would illuminate. The contact would be able to continue operating the vehicle as normal. The vehicle had not been taken to a certified mechanic or dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,880.

- Middletown, DE, USA

problem #15

Jan 252022

Atlas

  • miles
I tried to merge to the left lane on the highway I-55 S (Chicago, IL), but the steering wheel was out of control and cannot be operated functionally all of sudden, which hit on the right side curb. There was no ice or water on the road. The weather is clear.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #14

Mar 142021

Atlas

  • 0 miles
Two weeks ago, our 2018 Atlas displayed faulty steering lock. Vehicle was disabled and towed to dealership. After $1,300 in repairs with new steering module, the vehicle displays this again, and won't move. Vehicle is at dealership again and is dangerous because if this happens when driving, the vehicle won't steer and is going inoperable.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #13

Jan 022021

Atlas

  • 30,000 miles
Atlas is on its 3rd battery in 30,000 miles. When the battery fails it will die in an intersection during auto start stop. After boosting electronic steering, brakes, adaptive lighting, regular lighting, blinkers all fail and often limits to 15 mph

- Springvale, ME, USA

problem #12

Jan 012020

Atlas

  • 25,000 miles
I've had scary problems with brake assist and lane assist. With lane assist the vehicle has made sudden violent turns to stay in a lane. Sometimes if there's a gap in the road lines (such as a turn lane) lane assist can be unpredictable. Adaptive cruise control works fine but I've had several instances when traffic ahead stopped abruptly where it wouldn't have stopped in time to avoid a collision.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #11

Jul 152020

Atlas

  • 30,000 miles
Car was parked in driveway, turned car on and lights indicated low voltage and turned car off. Turned car back on so car could charge battery but A/C wasn't working and power steering wasn't working so put in reverse to see if it was a fault and start driving and everything died instantly and car had to be towed from spot.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #10

Jan 202020

Atlas

  • 49,800 miles
On many occasions, the automatic braking system and blind spot detection systems have engaged at inappropriate times. Most recently, the automatic braking system engaged when safely merging with proper signaling from the right lane, which was ending, to the next to the left lane when the only vehicle in the vicinity was fully in the left turn lane. There was enough space between our vehicle and the vehicle behind to avoid a rear end collision but the hard braking was unnecessary and could have caused damage or more serious injuries than those sustained by the driver and passenger caused by the seatbelt locking on the collarbone and chest because of the sudden application of brakes. Another recent incident was on the freeway when safely changing lanes with proper signaling from the far left lane to the center lane and the blind spot detection system prevented changing lanes when the closest to the right vehicle was in the far right lane, one lane further than attempting to change into. If this had occurred while changing lanes to avoid a collision with debris or another vehicle, it could have caused damage or injuries.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #9

May 292019

Atlas

  • 9,900 miles
Check engine light came on before 3,000 miles. Cylinder 2 misfire. Dealership fixed it on the 3rd try after getting VW involved. It was a faulty gas tank, leaking fuel into the lines. They replaced the tank and the charcoal canister. Lane assist feature severely malfunctions since day 1 of owning this car. Nearly every time I drive it, the vehicle steers itself into medians, into curves or intersections, into oncoming traffic, always while I'm actively driving straight. I contacted VW; they recommended having the system inspected. Dealership could find no problems with it, stating it was just a characteristic of the car. I will not just turn that feature off when I'm paying for it. I asked VW to buy the vehicle back, as it has increasingly become more dangerous for myself and my children. They denied my request. I have contacted the better business bureau in hopes of getting a more sensible outcome, but VW has only offered to settle my concerns for $2,500, which is not acceptable. This is an accident waiting to happen.

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #8

Aug 012018

Atlas

  • 30,000 miles
At around 40-50 miles an hour the lane assist will periodically jerk the steering wheel to one side when there is a break in the lines painted on the road. I have had the car to the dealership over 8 times for this issue and they are unable to du[plicate the problem and therefore unable to do anything about it. They tell me to either turn the lane assist off (but I paid extra for the capability) or get used to it because that car is working within the manufacturers specifications.

- Lake Villa, IL, USA

problem #7

Nov 122018

Atlas

  • 2,400 miles
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.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #6

Oct 182018

Atlas

  • 15,000 miles
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.

- Monte Sereno, CA, USA

problem #5

Oct 022018

Atlas

  • 135 miles
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.

- West Hartford, CT, USA

problem #4

Nov 272017

Atlas

  • 17 miles
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.

- Concord, OH, USA

problem #3

Jun 012018

Atlas

  • 1,500 miles
Driving straight on a 2 lane highway with lane assist on, the wheel began to pull towards the center line as another vehicle was approaching from the opposite lane. This happened 2 different times during this particular drive.

- Apo, AP, USA

problem #2

May 242018

Atlas

  • 1,700 miles
The driver side, front wheel suspension system has been replaced twice due loud vibration noises, rattling noises, and repeated steering issues. The steering wheel violently jerks to the right or left and pulls the car out of the desired direction of travel. The VW Atlas is at the dealership service department for a third time since date of pirchase (Feb 2018) for the same steering issues and noise issues. The 'auto-braking' system that's designed to prevent rear end collissions has malfunctioned on two separate occasions. Both malfunctions were when pulling out of a parking lot with a downgraded slope toward the street. On both occasions, as I was pulling out of the parking lot to merge into moving traffic, the electronic braking system engaged as the car was moving down the sloped parking lot exit leaving the VW Atlas frozen in place as street traffic was rapidly approaching. I had to put the VW Atlas in 'park' and back in 'drive' in order to release the electronic break system. This auto-breaking feature has created to safety situations where my VW Atlas was completely stopped while attempting to merge with moving traffic, nearly causing accidents in both situations.

- Bethel, CT, USA

problem #1

Oct 262017

Atlas

  • 1,000 miles
Lane assist has jerked car towards oncoming traffic on several occassions, making it a useless and dangerous feature. Adverse weather and inadequate road lines/markings exasperate the issue, but I have had instances where neither of these conditions were present and lane assist still jerked the car into oncoming traffic. In order to avoid an accident while using this feature, one must keep ahold of the steering wheel much stronger than what is typical, otherwise it will pull out of your hand. When it has occurred, I had to actively fight against the pull. This has occurred on city streets as well as on the highway. I keep this feature turned off due to the risk that it poses while left on.

- Clarksville, TN, USA