10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 2,929 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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.
- Columbus, OH, USA
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.
- Madison, MS, USA
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.
- Northridge, CA, USA
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.
- Zionsville, IN, USA
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.
- Edmond, OK, USA
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.
- Kent, WA, USA
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.
- Litchfield Park, AZ, USA
My battery died while driving and I had no control of brakes or wheel
- Milltown, NJ, USA
- Salisbury, MD, USA