NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Discovered oil leak after smelling burning oil in garage. I have the 2 liter turbo motor.. Service tech at VW confirms loose cover bolts plus an additional leak. Online search shows recall for same problem with Audis equipped with same motor because of fire hazard. I have video of inspection but was unable to download. Attached are photos
The Digital Display Continues to drop connection to phone when driving. Digital display drops blue tooth - will recycle and not auto connect Will state that it needs wifi connection and action must be taken on phone while driving. VW - has claimed to be working on a fix for over a year. Every dealer visit does not resolve issue.
Driver side door came unlocked while driving. Lock and handle would not engage, had child in the car.
When the vehicle was shifted from park to drive, the vehicle went neutral and began to roll back. Immediately there was a transmission error and warning light illumination. The vehicle was put in park and a shift to drive was attempted again. The car again rolled backwards. The vehicle was turned off and after 30 seconds restarted with warning lights still on the vehicle was shifted to drive, this time the check engine light came on and the vehicle entered “safe mode” indicating it needed service but was safe to drive. The vehicle was driven home. 3 days later when driving to the dealer for repair the warning lights were clear. The car was driven 7 miles without issue when the car was stopped and an attempt to put the car in reverse the transmission warning re-illuminated and warned do not drive and the vehicle began to roll. The vehicle was released to the dealer for immediate service. The shift control sensor was found to be faulty. The vehicle has 9044 miles on it, the repair was covered by warranty, and is a known issue by VW. Had these errors occurred on open roads or intersections this would have caused a major safety concern. If VW knows this is a problem why no recall. The car had to be practically disassembled to repair, dropping the fuel tank, muffler and drive shaft to install the new part. On essentially a brand new car.
While driving approximately 75 mph on an interstate highway, the engine suddenly shut off without warning. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. Power was lost while the vehicle was still moving at highway speed. When the engine shut off, I lost propulsion and had to coast across lanes to reach the shoulder while surrounded by fast-moving traffic. Steering and braking were reduced and required extra effort. This created an immediate and serious safety risk to myself and other drivers. After safely stopping, I was able to restart the vehicle. It drove again, but the cause of the shutdown was unknown. I brought the vehicle to a Volkswagen dealership for inspection. They stated they could not replicate the issue and no fault codes were found, so no repair was performed. The vehicle has not been repaired and remains in the same condition as when the failure occurred. The component that failed is unknown, but it appears to involve the engine, fuel, electrical, or computer control system that caused the engine to shut off while the vehicle was in motion. This event put my life and the lives of others at risk due to sudden loss of power at highway speed. I do not feel the vehicle is safe to drive because the failure occurred without warning and without explanation, and it could happen again.
Vehicle: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport VIN: [XXX] Component: Air Bags – Frontal (Driver) Description of the problem: I am reporting a possible safety issue involving the driver front airbag. I was involved in a frontal collision in my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport that resulted in severe front-end damage. The vehicle was declared a total loss. During the crash, the driver steering-wheel airbag did not deploy. Based on the severity of the impact and damage, airbag deployment would normally be expected. There were no airbag warning lights or alerts prior to the crash that I am aware of. No injuries requiring hospital care occurred. I am submitting this report to document a potential airbag non-deployment issue for safety review purposes. Crash details (if prompted by the form): •Crash type: Frontal collision •Vehicle damage: Severe / Total loss •Driver front airbag deployed: No •Injuries: None requiring medical treatment •Vehicle towed from scene: Yes INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my Volkswagen Atlas. The SOS system is malfunctioning, and as a result, I am unable to use cruise control. The vehicle is displaying system errors, and I have been informed that this issue affects multiple driver-assistance features. This malfunction creates a dangerous driving condition. The SOS system is intended for emergency assistance, and its failure raises concerns about whether emergency services would be contacted in the event of an accident. Additionally, the loss of cruise control impacts safe operation, particularly during highway driving. Given that this is a safety-related system, I believe this issue requires immediate attention and resolution. Please advise: Whether this issue is covered under warranty If there are any known recalls or service bulletins related to this malfunction What steps will be taken to correct the problem promptly I request that this matter be treated as urgent due to the safety risks involved. I expect a timely response and a clear plan for repair.
Acceleration problem upon accelerating passing a vehicle has become a safety issue. Approaching a vehicle and slowing down to pass, upon accelerating to pass, RPM drops drastically to almost a complete engine stall. I am partially in the passing lane with no power. Engine RPM then increases after the stall. I have been to the dealer with this, they cannot find the problem. No codes are set. This is a safety issue to me and other drivers approaching me due to the engine hesitation. Thank you for your consideration in this problem.
Infotainment screen has had issues since the last recall completed on or about July 21st 2025. Currently my Infotainment screen and heads up window is not operational as of October 24, 2025. I keep doing a soft reset which corrects it for may be a day or so. But clearly its only getting worse and it continues to happen even in the middle of driving. I shouldn't have to continuously reset the screen every other day. Amongst this bigger issue I also have issues with car play it doesnt work or just stops working and neither does the car charger/usb ports. They work when they get ready to. I'm also having issues with the remote start. It works when it gets ready to, with a full tank of gas. This car has 12000 miles and not having the safety components working as they should is not good. No radio no safety sensors no backup camera no navigation is a hassle that noone should be experiencing with out a fix. I know this is common I just want a permanent fix because the update recall clearly was not it.
The infotainment center on my 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport went fully dead today. I reached out to VW and this is apparently a widespread issue. Along with the infotainment being dead, many of the safety systems are down, and without access to the screen I have no access to the backup camera. I am unable to adjust the climate control as well.
Infotainment screen reset multiple times while driving. Once parked, I turned the car off and back on again to see if that would fix the issue. The screen now won’t turn on at all and multiple safety features are disabled.
Infotainment screen glitches and constantly reboots rendering these driving systems unusable. Warning lights everywhere.
My windshield developed a crack across the windshield without any impact, no rock chip, debris, or collision. The vehicle was fine when I pulled it into the garage and the next morning, the crack appeared and has continued to expanded. This appears to be a spontaneous failure. After reviewing online forums, I've found multiple reports of similar issues from other Atlas owners. This may indicate a defect in the windshield glass or vehicle design. Sudden windshield cracking could impair visibility and pose safety hazard. I am submitting this complaint in hopes that NHTSA will investigate whether this is part of a broader defect pattern.
This was already fixed by replacing thermostat sensor but now happening again about 1 month since repair. While driving the car has a red alert come up reporting high temp pull over and my car then just loses power, ability to steer and to even be able to pull over safely (rpm’s go way up but little movement steering wheel freezes)- not when I’m at a complete stop but literally middle of driving. Not sure if it’s engine if it’s the thermostat.
Component/System: Electrical system (wiring, control modules, and related software) Availability for Inspection: Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The electrical cutouts and glitching create an unpredictable and dangerous driving situation. Sudden electrical failures can affect critical systems such as power steering, braking assist, instrument cluster, and engine control — putting myself and other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk of an accident. Rear camera would also black out while reversing and once or twice the gas stopped working on the highway. Dealer/Service Confirmation: Yes. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed. The vehicle has been brought in for repair 7 times for the same recurring electrical cutout and glitching issue. Each visit resulted only in essentially a software update, currently no permanat solution to the problem. Inspection by Manufacturer/Others: The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership/authorized service center on all 7 occasions. The manufacturer's representatives (via the dealership) have been aware of this ongoing issue. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: [Describe any warning lights, error messages, or symptoms you noticed — e.g., dashboard warning lights flickering, system reboot messages, loss of display, unexpected shutdowns, etc.] These symptoms have been recurring and have not been resolved despite repeated software updates. Summary: Despite 7 repair attempts, all resulting in software updates only, the electrical cutout and glitching problem persists. The root cause has not been identified or permanently fixed by the dealer. This represents an ongoing safety defect that requires investigation.
Our 2024 Atlas Crossport has been in the shop for 22 days today. The vehicle we purchased NEW in January has been sitting at VW for 3 weeks. We dropped off our 2024 Atlas Cross Sport at 2 pm on Wednesday, August 27. The vehicle was presented for service for: -Oil change -Broken console spring -Remote start not working -Recall work Three weeks later the vehicle is STILL not ready and the service consultant, understandably, does not want to release the vehicle due to safety concerns -- this is literally mentioned in a text message. We have been told the outstanding issue involves Carnet. We have been told that multiple attempts have been made to connect with Carnet. Today we were told they have no idea when it can be fixed.
Steering wheel locks/sticks momentarily while driving, started noticing this after driving long distances (over 60 miles) and now is starting to happen on shorter distance drives. I have taken it to a VW dealership and they "couldn't recreate the problem". When this happens, the steering locks momentarily and when trying to correct the path of the vehicle, you almost have to jerk the wheel to maintain a straight path. This makes the vehicle feel like I am zig-zagging in the lane. It happens throughout the drive, not just one time. No warning lights are shown when this occurs.
See attached document for complaint.
Persistent seat/floorboard vibration at highway speeds (60–80+ mph) on my 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport 2.0T SE w/Tech. Began after 10,000-mile service (June 2025) at Bob Boast VW (FL) and has continued despite multiple dealer visits and repairs, including tire/wheel balancing, alignment, tire replacement, and later axle + bevel box replacement (Sept 2025). Dealers verified the vibration but ultimately labeled it “operating as expected.” This is unacceptable for a new vehicle and undermines comfort, safety confidence, and value. Numerous owners report similar Atlas vibrations (driveshaft/bevel box/mount resonance). I seek formal investigation, case documentation, and relief (compensation or buyback) given repeated, unsuccessful repair attempts
On the afternoon of Wednesday August 6th I was no less that 3-4 miles from my home when the car stopped in the middle lane of a very busy 3 lane highway and never started again. It was 90+ degrees outside and even hotter inside the vehicle with leather seats. I became extremely nervous and my small 10 pound puppy began to have anxiety and overheat. When I pulled away from my home the car was bucking and jerking. The car had just completed an OTA software download and installation a few hours earlier so I assumed it was the after affect of the software update. As I pulled onto the main road the car was still driving very roughly and when I cam to a red light the car started to shake back and forth very roughly and once the light turned green I was unable to accelerate. Error messages where coming up on the screen. I tried to start the car to move out of the middle lane but it would not start. A state trooper had pulled behind me and got out to assist. She noted she saw gray smoke coming from behind the vehicle as I was driving up to the light which prompted her to get behind me initially. She and I both worked to try to get the car into park but it would not shift gears. She noted fluid was running out of the car but we both assumed it was coolant or antifreeze. She radioed the local police to assist since we were in the middle lane of a dangerous highway and I contacted VW roadside assistance. The local police officer arrived on the scene and was able to assist with getting the manual parking brake on. When the tow truck arrived he asked if the car would go into Neutral we advised NO he then stated we were standing in gasoline and if we tried to start the vehicle the car could have exploded or the engine could have caught fire. If someone had rear ended or hit us there would have been a fire because the entire gas tank has leaked onto the ground that was the fluid the state trooper saw running from the back of the vehicle.
My new car is telling me I have a transmission problem. I got in my car to go to work and my car wouldn’t go in drive or reverse. Then my back up camera doesn’t work all the time and my screen gets blurry or complete black.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that an ambient warning light appeared on the instrument cluster, indicating that the rear passenger’s side taillight unit was inoperative. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on five separate occasions to address the failure. During the visits, the bulb was replaced, the taillight assembly was replaced twice, and the control module was replaced. The dealer later determined that the module had been installed incorrectly. The repairs were completed, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Error Drive Speed" was displayed. Additionally, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 45 MPH, with the message "Engine Overheating" displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact became aware of an abnormal coolant odor and allowed the engine to cool down for several minutes. The contact stated that the "Drive System" message was displayed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that it would take two weeks to diagnose the vehicle due to the dealer's service schedule. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 30,160. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact's mother owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that he was dropping his daughter off at school, as he shifted into reverse (R) to exit a parking space he observed that the rear view camera image had "flashed" and then the screen went black. The contact stated that he was moving at approximately 2 MPH when he crashed into the rear bumper of the vehicle parked behind him. The contact stated that there was minor damage, paint scrapes to each bumper. The police was called and issued a report and a traffic citation to the contact. The contact stated that no person was injured. The contact stated that he had determined that there was a recall associated to his mother's vehicle VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V334000 (Back Over Prevention), however she had not taken the vehicle to a dealer to have the recall repaired. The contact had not yet taken the vehicle to be repaired or to a dealer for the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
The malfunction involves the windshield wiper control system, including the rain-sensing activation module and associated control software. The system activates windshield wipers without any driver input under dry and clear conditions. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. Safety was compromised due to sudden and uncommanded wiper activation occurring during active driving conditions, including highway and nighttime operation. This results in temporary loss of visibility as the windshield is smeared by debris, requiring driver distraction to manually control or disable the system while operating the vehicle in traffic. Initial complaints regarding this issue were made by [XXX] during dealership service visits; however, those concerns were not consistently documented in the official repair records at the time they were reported and were initially dismissed or not formally recorded by service personnel until later intervention ensured the issue was entered verbatim on the service order. The issue has been reported and addressed during multiple dealership service visits; however, the condition has not been reliably reproduced and permanently corrected by the dealer despite documented repair attempts, including sensor replacement and manufacturer-level software (ODIS) updates. The malfunction has persisted after these interventions. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. No inspection has been conducted by police, insurance representatives, or independent third parties. No consistent warning lamps or dashboard messages were present prior to the failure. The activation occurs unpredictably and without prior warning indicators. The issue first appeared intermittently at lower mileage and has continued through recent operation. The defect persists after multiple repairs and manufacturer intervention, indicating an uncorrectable electronic system failure causing an unresolved safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The panoramic sunroof exploded, no collision or impact from debris as there were no cars around us at the time.
I was driving on the interstate at 70 MPH with the cruise set when my brakes dropped my speed to 50 MPH without me touching the brake pedal. The only notice that came up was sharp turn and 50 MPH. The highway was straight and the exit had a 50mph exit speed. The car behind me had to change lanes quick to avoid me. I was in my lane and far enough not to read the exit sign. This is the third time this has happened, and VW dealer couldn't find anything wrong. They said to turn off the ADAS systems and not use them. This is not a fix just masking the problem.
I had the safety recall for the info system display fixed/updated on June 14, 2025. I have had no issues with the screen being distorted since up until this afternoon. I just came to turn my car on and the screen is distorted again, like how tvs used to look in the 80s if your antenna wasn’t in the right place. It is impacting the view when reversing. No lights or warnings prior to, and my car has been parked in the shade with the weather only 77 degrees today
Rear view camera visibility failure from Infotainment system reboots. Car undergoes frequent infotainment center reboots, which causes a loss of rearview camera video feed and loss of several assistance systems, such as the rear pedestrian cross walk warning system until the reboot finishes. Has occurred multiple times while backing up, Reboots have been documented from 3 times and up to 37 times during the same 19 mile / 40 minute drive home, on different days. There has been multiple near collisions from this.
The windshield chips extremely easy. It is a hazard due to the potential easy shatter.
Each time I place my Cell Phone ( iPhone 12) it overheats to the point the safety device in phone shows a excessive heat warning.
A new vehicle was recently purchased on 3/14/25 and the glass windshield has shown a possible significant defect. The issue involves a noticeable glitter or sparkling effect throughout the front windshield, (excessive, premature pitting within the glass material), that is particularly visible under street lights at nighttime, direct sunlight, or when facing oncoming vehicle headlights. This defect causes reflection and distraction while driving. The dealership has taken photographs of the defect to support a warranty claim, but as of now, no resolution has been reached. Attached are example photos illustrating the defect (which is present throughout the windshield) under both nighttime and daytime conditions.
My windshield has a defect with a line coming from the rear view mirror box and it comes down and turns and then turns back toward the driver side and then a straight line to the passenger side. There is no impact on the outside of the windshield and no impact of being hit by a rock or any other debris. This is clearly a manufacture defect and i have reach out to the local VW Dealership in my area for the car was purchased in Houston, TX. I barely drive this car and I have noticed online there are several forums(discussions) with everyone having issues with VW Atlas windshields and the quality of having impact and some with no impact.
Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Did not see or hear any object strike windshield. Began as a 6 inch crack from roof to rearview mirror and crack continues to spread and extend across windshield without any cause. The weather has been warm and no frost or cold yet crack grows 3 inches a day. Windshield wipers do not come on, collision warning goes off for no reason but does not go off when I was nearly hit headon, driver assist and lane departure does not work at all. I attempted to get Volkswagen dealership to repair for warranty and extended "Platinum Protection" plan but they refused. I have filed an insurance claim with my carrier.
Hi, I received a recall for my car about the engine cover but VW doesn't have a solution. They just took the cover away and left the motor without cover or protection. I don't think is normal and appropiate to have the engine expose like that. Besides this problem, the car has brake problems I already report and also Oil problems that VW won't give a correct answer. I worried because I have 3 children and I don't feel safe to travel with them in a car I bearly have 1 year with it. I'll appreciate your help.
I was driving south in an 80-mph zone on [XXX] between Brookings and Sioux Falls. I had my cruise control set to 82 and had just completed a lane change after passing a semi truck. With no change in the speed limit, the car shifted the set MPH to 30mph and engaged the braking system sharply. I was able to override by pushing the gas, but the mph setting was still set. The experience was a more extreme event than other similar instances I’ve had (e.g., car shifting from a 30mph to 15 because of a school zone but not school hours so sign not relevant) because of the speed, proximity to other cars, and the absence of a change in speed indicator. I believe this glitch is a major concern for safety and appreciate your time in reviewing my concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The brakes sound like their grinding and the motor drives funny
This vehicle, since January of 2025, has a screen that flickers and shuts off entirely multiple times per day. Sometimes, it is severe enough that the entire computer system shuts down and none of the safety features are available, such as collision warning, automatic braking, etc.. You also cannot control the heat or see the backup camera because of the screen being broken. This is a persistent issue that VW has no permanent solution for. The car has been in the shop multiple times for multiple weeks attempting a repair, but even the dealer has said to start the buyback process because they have dozens of people with the same issue.
The display unit continuously reboots or shuts down. When it does this, warnings go off stating safety features are all disabled and not available. This is very dangerous and they dealership says there is no fix. The monitor/display reboots every continuously through the drive and no matter how many hard resets we do it continues. Throughout the reboot cycles no safety features are available per the car display. You can't use backup camera, no cruise control, no braking/collision avoidance, ... none of the features work. This has been going on since October 2024 and the dealership says they have known about this for over a year and still no fix.
1. Brake system grinding noise - every time the brakes are applied the front brakes makes a terrible grinding noise, I notice that the vehicle does not break properly. This problem clears can cause a dangerous situation to my family or others. Vehicle been inspected by VW Flagship Bayamon and they respond that is a normal situation cause by humidity. 2. Fault electrical problem the AutoStart won't work properly Manual works only 25% of the time, this cause a lot of waste and spending on gas, was inspected by the dealer and response was that there's only false codes in the PCM memory. 3. Keyless AutoStart won't work as advertised, if you start the vehicle remotely shut down immediately, doors closed, battery in good state, keyless battery was changed 3 times with the same results, dealer also state that there's only falses codes related to this issue caused by vehicle been park for long time. This is a security aspect to start your car to be ready when you park in dangerous areas. 4. During the sale of the vehicle salesperson cannot open the hood because hood get stuck with the windshield cowl plastic, he explained that there's no problem that i can get to the service department to repaired without cost, since i buy the vehicle i cannot open the hood to verify the engine. They give me all kind of excuses that part been order but never receive a call back this is dangerous cause in case of fire because of previous problems i cannot open the hood .
The vehicle’s infotainment and connectivity system has malfunctioned since the day the vehicle was purchased. This includes the integrated GPS navigation system and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The system frequently freezes, disconnects, fails to recognize the phone, or stops functioning while the vehicle is in operation. These systems are critical for navigation and hands free communication while driving. The issue has occurred repeatedly since purchase and has not been successfully repaired despite multiple service visits. The vehicle and system are available for inspection upon request. The problem has been reported to and evaluated by the authorized Volkswagen dealership multiple times. The dealer has acknowledged the malfunction and has attempted to diagnose the issue during several service visits. The dealer has also informed me that there is a national service bulletin related to this issue but that there is currently no available fix. The issue began immediately after the vehicle was purchased. Symptoms include the infotainment system freezing, navigation failure, loss of Bluetooth connectivity, and the system failing to recognize or maintain phone pairing. These failures occur intermittently and without warning during normal operation of the vehicle. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by an authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. To date the issue has not been resolved despite repeated attempts. I have also contacted Volkswagen Customer Care to open a case regarding the defect.
Flawed programming of the transmission control module posing a safety risks in various low speed driving scenarios and potential repair expenses due to excessive engine strain. There is a widespread defect with the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport that may affect the Atlas as well. Many owners in Facebook groups are experiencing this defect. Despite Volkswagen, wherein referred to as VW, claiming the performance of transmission control module (TCM) is a characteristic of the vehicle, the defect affects acceleration after decelerating below 20 MPH when the operator (driver) expects the vehicle to typically reaccelerate. The flawed programming inhibits the transmission from downshifting at speeds below 20 MPH to properly reaccelerate, even in Sport Mode with the expectation of a more reactive transmission performance. The transmission remains in 3rd gear at speeds between 5-20 MPH after decelerating rather than downshifting into 2nd gear to reaccelerate; however, from a complete stop, the transmission will properly use 2nd gear; generally from 5-19 MPH. There is an audible strain on the engine when the RPM increase but the transmission does not downshift. There is a manual "trick" to signal the TCM to downshift when slowing below 20 MPH. A quick pulse of the accelerator pedal will signal the TCM to downshift and the transmission will properly operate in 2nd gear for reacceleration. The challenge is not always having enough time to pulse the pedal in congested driving situations. It's dangerous. A few examples when this is observed is during stop and go traffic, turning into parking garages with immediate inclines, merging into interstate traffic, U-turns, climbing inclines below 20 MPH, etc.
Multiple occasions the start/stop malfunction has turned on. The brakes grind and screech horribly and I’ll get breaking malfunction warning. It has been checked by vw and they state that the brakes are fine and they’ve had several come in with same issue but there’s no recall that has been issued. They stated it is the material that was used to manufacture brake parts that cause this problem. It worries me one day they will give out. Also the error drive system has come on and it feels I lose power. I stop car and sometimes that helps as I restart. They tell me the antifreeze needs to be topped off. I’ve already had to refill in less than 3 months which I find crazy with antifreeze. No other car I’ve owned have I had to refill this so much. So several issues have occurred with this vehicle.
About 6 months after purchasing a new 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport, I started smelling gasoline inside the vehicle. It was a very strong smell, like someone had poured it on the carpet. After a few days, I noticed the smell when walking up to the car, not just inside. At this time, an error message appeared on the dash saying the start-stop system was malfunctioning, as well as the ABS system. That day, I took a look underneath and spotted a leak; gasoline was dripping from the bottom of the car. So, I scheduled service at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. After a week, I received a call saying a rodent had entered the engine bay and chewed through the engine harness and a fuel line, and that these damages were not covered under the warranty. I asked for pictures of the "chewing"; however, the images they provided were not conclusive, in my opinion. My insurance paid, and the repair was started, but when they went to fix it, they said they found extensive damage to the primary harness, secondary harness, and a bunch of other things. Insurance again approved; however, the dealership has said that these parts need 30-90 days to come in. I believe there to be a defect in manufacturing that allows rodents into the vehicle since I have parked vehicles, including VW and just about every other brand, in the same location for 30 years and have never had this issue. Also, when I pressed the service department at the dealership, they said they had other cars here for the same issue and that it was "not uncommon."
Have had the car for about 3 months. In that time frame the main display for the radio and vehicle monitoring will go out and become unreadable. This will cause the various sensors to go inop, these include but not always the front collision/brake sensor, the lane departure system, adaptive cruise control, etc. I have had the car in three times and the dealership will reset the system, say they do a firmware update and it still has the same issues. According to the dealership VW is aware of this issue and it is affecting multiple vehicles manufactured in 2024. Have not had an incident, but have a concern that a failure could happen and the vehicle not perform as designed causing an accident. Iam not able to disable the various sensors that this head unit controls or links together with others. Not comfortable that the car is functioning to designed specs.
I noticed I had a crack in my windshield starting from the outer edge right at eye level. I got out to check what happened and noticed there was a Little Rock wedged between the windshield and the part of the car where the windshield is inlayed. There is not a weather strip or gasket covering the gap between the windshield and the car. It is exposed just enough for debris to be caught. Sure enough the pressure from that tiny rock caused my windshield to crack. I just bought my car August 2024 brand new. Had there been a protective coverings weather strip or gasket I would not be replacing a windshield. I started reading other complaints on vw forums and sure enough the new atlas’s do not have that covering. And there are numerous complaints of the same. It is continuing to crack due to the weather. Eventually it will be cracked the complete length of the windshield.
Infotainment Systems glitches, screen scratchy , lines displayed. This has happened multiple times when vehicle is started and has happened when vehicle is driving.
Infotainment screen inconsistently displays static and will not display backup camera. Problem is intermittent.
The info center becomes unreadable therefore, if you use the back up camera, you cannot see clearly the objects behind your car. Volkswagen does not have a fix on this. They just recommend for now doing a hard reset on the info center. This is a concern of mine because it is a safety hazard when I try to use reverse I have to rely on mirrors and otherwise I have blind spots that I cannot see whereas when using the backup camera, I have full visibility of what’s behind my vehicle. Secondly, the brakes make an unusual noise. Volkswagen claims it’s dust however I have audio recording of the squealing noise and as fact, the brakes sometimes engage in a rough way to where it almost seems like they are trying to grip the disc. This is extremely concerning as Ithe brakes make an unusual noise. Volkswagen claims it’s dust however I have audio recording of the squealing noise and as fact, the brakes sometimes engage in a rough way to where it almost seems like they are trying to grip the disc. This is extremely concerning as I have lost confidence in driving my vehicle.
Multiple error codes populated on my vehicle while driving to work. This occurred less than 3 months & less than 1500 miles since ownership. The car went into a reduced power/speed mode and advised for me to get service asap. I barely made it off the highway to my destination. Dealer said it was the fuel pump. If it was a faulty fuel pump - should I have been a part of the stop sale/recall? Engine/Transmission/PowerTrain- Error: Drive System. Please service vehicle. (Engine) Error: Start/Stop (Engine)
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026