I purchased this car new in 2021. Shortly after purchase, the brakes start grinding / squealing very badly. This is an intermittent problem. On multiple occasions, it has startled me so badly that I let up on the brake. This almost caused me to hit the vehicle in front of me. Volkswagen has been unresponsive to dealer's request for a solution. When looking online, it apparently the construction of the brake pads that causes the issue. Ceramic brake pads do not have this same issue. However, Volkswagen will not authorize a payment to replace the OEM brake pads with ceramic pads.

- Marietta, GA, USA

SUV was purchased in May of 2021 at the Chapman VW dealership in Scottsdale, Arizona. Within several days of owning the Atlas, I noticed a grinding, shrieking noise coming from the brakes every time they were applied. I immediately notified the dealer and they said that this was a common occurrence on the Atlas. They were aware of the issue but VW had not come up with a fix at that point in time. I brought the car in and they offered to replace the pads which were done. The problem continued. Most recently, the noise and friction from the brakes has gotten infinitely worse. I contacted VW executives in the US and they once again said that they were aware of the issue but that no reimbursement would be given if I paid for new brakes myself, which I had to do. All participants, including the manager of Chapman VW, agree that this is a problem issue. However, there is no recall as of yet (one person there said one was forthcoming) and that they hear this problem from many Atlas owners. My question is why are they continuing to sell the car with the copper/rotor issue and why are they not fixing it nor reimbursing people like me? Thank you.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

Car has a harsh loud metal grinding sound when brakes are applied. Steering wheel vibration when brakes are applied at medium/high speeds, more notable in declined (down hill) roads. This has been reported to dealership since we got the car brand new and they do nothing about it except to provide a scripted answer stating that the "car is safe" and/or that they cannot reproduce the issue.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

Since I purchased the vehicle the brakes sound like they are bad, yet they are not bad. I was told at Volkswagon that they are aware of the issue in these SUV-??s but the only fix will void out my warranty if I choose to do it. If this is a known problem with volswagon cross sports then why is there not a solution to the problem that will not jeopardize our warranty. I-??m frustrated, the car sounds ridiculous when the brakes are applied and how is one to know when they are actually bad if they always sound that way.

- Las Vegas , NV, USA

I own my car for a 18 months and my brakes make a grinding noise. I have taken in for service and they tell me that's its normal. How can it be normal I have own several new autos and never had I had this problem.

- Horizon City, TX, USA

After having the car for less than a year the brakes started grinding metal on metal as well as an extremely loud screeching sound. I-??ve taken it to a brake center and the dealership and there is nothing anyone can do as the brakes still show they are not ready to be replaced. Volkswagen is aware of the issue specifically with new Atlas models and will not do anything about it.

- El Paso, TX, USA

Brakes are extremely loud and not as good as they should be for such a behemoth of an suv. Leads to a lot of uncertainty especially in wet weather. Any attempt to rectify this issue at the dealer leads to me being without a vehicle for HOURA for them to simply state no issue produced. (Also sound of advice of slamming on my breaks in drive and revers to get rid of the screech) which doesn-??t help unfortunately I gave in and tried it. The TPS system in the ACS is DANGEROUS. Multiple flat tires with not one sign of lost air or change in pressure. Once even on the freeway with my partner and toddler in the car. Reverse camera and screen black outs, infotainment system is frustrating and not dependable.

- Burbank, CA, USA

1) Brakes grinding and squealing 2) Known defects in the 2021 brakes could reduce potential stopping distance for affected vehicles. 3) Dealer replaced brakes at 10,000 miles with exact same part and now we are currently experience the same problems at 23,000 but now dealer says there are unable to replace because the issue will remain due to there not being a fixed replacement. Dealer also recommend contacting the manufacture customer care. There response acknowledge the issue but there was nothing they could do due to there not being a replacment part. 4) Yes, both by dealer and third party mechanics who also explained there are currently no after market brakes that could replace the defective brakes and they would have to replace with the same part. 5) No warning just constant grinding and noise

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Windows open on their own. Emergency Brake engages at low speed, left me in the middle of oncoming traffic as I was about to slowly turn. At times continuously has the alarm bell own. Has Keyless entry, however often times Car Alarm goes off. Eliminating AC lights very dim hard to see. Radio screen sometimes is just blacked out.

- Plantation, FL, USA

This is a well known issue but their has now been several incidents where my forward braking should have activated and did not and now stela-??s on 4 different occasions 2 of which were on the highway where the emergency brake was triggered and i have lost control of the vehicle, yet in completely empty parking lots now two separate times i have been able to catch on video that it told me i was within 12 inches of something and there is nothing. I-??ve had this issue starting 10/21 and happened as recently as 8/7 and it-??s almost gotten me killed, never, one the known recall for airbags not being deployed during two pretty significant accidents. PLEASE HELP ME AS VW IS AWARE OF THIS AND WILL DO NOTHING IM IN A 50,000$ death trap. Pre knowing it was my car ( former finance director at quirk vw ) They told my body shop to not let me drive the car as my car is effected by this deadly issue, then after the fact reaching out myself i was not only denied service but threatened by the gym and vw executive is acting like it is not a big deal, this is horrible and after 1 yr ago 5 months having been given a coupon for 20% off any morphine due to not buying back a vehicle that should have been bought back and the cpa, told me they do that to bribe people so they do not / HAVE 100S OF UPLOADS ON MY LAPTOP WONT LET ME LOAD FROM THIS IPAD

- Hanson, MA, USA

While driving on numerous occasions, the emergency brake has engaged making my Atlas stop short. My Atlas has been back to the dealership twice. Most recently (yesterday), they drove my car 2 miles and told me the car has no issues. My concern is that if my brake engages and someone hits me, someone can get hurt or killed. The dealership, service, and corporate refuses to acknowledge the safety concern and will not issue me a loaner until this is fixed. Before the brake engages, the car will make noises as if I'm about to hit something even though there is nothing around me. I believe this is due to the harness recall.

- Colonia, NJ, USA

Received an error message about driver door contact fail as I was driving down the highway. Next thing I knew my car was rolling down the back window and emergency braking. I was doing 65 down a highway. I had no control over my car. My passengers were freaking out. I was finally able to turn it off and back on and regain control. This is unsafe. I could-??ve wrecked and been seriously injured today.

- Altavista, VA, USA

VW atlas R line sle multiples stops in the midle of the traffic the automatic brakes on, 3 windows roll down, alarms on beeping and iluminating

- Homestead, FL, USA

Stop/start error, park brake engages, constant warning signal beeping, windows roll down, can not drive car at all without it constantly applying the park brake

- Craig, CO, USA

Started with the driver door sensor not unlocking. Happened once before, errors and lights came on. Next day everything was fine. Yesterday, the driver door sensor would not unlock. All other doors unlocked, so I unlocked the driver door from the inside. Error messages started showing up such as, "Error: Start/Stop, " "Attention: The engine is running, " which i happened to get pictures of. The check engine light and the triangle with exclamation light came on. A door error message and brake message showed up as well. The windows will not go down. When I come to a complete stop at a red light or stop it puts the Park Brake on immediately.

- Irving, TX, USA

The vehicle on numerous occasions has had a series of electronic warning illuminate on the dash board. The windows both driver and rear passanger go down on their own, hill assit failuer displays, adaptive collision system failure, electronic parking prake failure, auto start failure, start stop failure all alternate with error messages. The vehicle has also applied the parking prake on its own while approaching either a stop sign or red light on numerous occasions.

- Holbrook, NY, USA

Faulty door harness per VW service department in Valdosta, GA. This has caused over several near missed rear end collisions as the car will automatically activate the emergency brake while driving. Multiple error messages pop up. Windows roll down automatically. Vehicle has been sitting at dealership for 30+ days and dealership will not provide loaner vehicle, rental or hold payments with VW Credit. This has affected my way of life tremendously as I now have no vehicle to get to work and no vehicle to take my kids to school in. Dealership said I could still drive the vehicle, completely disregarding the fact that a car had to completely run off the road to prevent from hitting me after my emergency brake randomly activated while I had my kids in the back. So here-??s to making payments for my car to sit at the dealer with no help, no eta on repair, NOTHING!

- Live Oak, FL, USA

driving at low speed in parking lot, alarms sounded, engine and hazard lights came on and then driver's side windows rolled down partially. a few seconds later, the emergency brake automatically engaged, stopping the vehicle. i was able to disengage the emergency brake and continue driving, but dashboard lights remained on. very scary.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

car came to an abrupt stop

- Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA

While sitting in a drive thru the car completely turned off while in drive as I was waiting to move up in line. Then when I went to start the car the next day, the dashboard lit up and all of the windows started going up and down out of now where. After speaking with a service rep about the issue I was informed that it was a door harness issue which is a huge safety risk because it is tied to the electrical components of the vehicle. My vehicle stayed in the shop a little over 2 months and then the issue was repaired. After completing an update, I keep getting a message to reset my trip each time I start the car and then I received a warning that my front assist is not available. When I read more into this I found that the car can brake unexpectedly thinking that a collision is going to take place when it is not, therefore causing a driving risk. This warning came on 3 separate occasions. My car was just purchased in December 2021 and I am concerned about all of the issues that I am experiencing so early on. Two weeks after purchasing my car it was in the shop starting January 7th until March 12th, this was to repair the door harness, then a week later I am receiving the sensor notification. My sensor notification has come on 3/19, 3/22 and 3/23. I am concerned about the overall safety and reliability on this vehicle. My car was in the shop for over 2 months and now I have a new issue.

- Chicago, IL, USA