18
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Deaths
!

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Unknown Or Other Complaints

Showing 18 of 18
Oct 14, 2025 Fire

Initially, my Atlas would not auto-start with the key fab. When I returned to my vehicle, the lights flashed, it gave a battery warning, then I was able to start the vehicle. However, several lights on the dashboard cycled through, radio/center console was non-responsive, and I could not get my car to park. Eventually, I had to use the emergency break to park it. We jumped the vehicle and it did start again. However, very shortly thereafter it lit on fire and there were visible flames under the hood. We called the fire department, put the fire out with water and an extinguisher. Then we had the vehicle towed to the dealership. Its been more than 2 months since this incident and no work has been started. Volkswagen corporate sent an engineer out to inspect my car (confirmed by the dealership that they did visit) but still no work has begun. My car is still covered under the original manufacturer warranty. We bought brand new and have owned the vehicle for less than 4 years. VW Customer Care line has been "close due to an all day employee meeting" since last week. The dealership has no information about my car.

Oct 14, 2025 Fire

Initially, my Atlas would not auto-start with the key fab. When I returned to my vehicle, the lights flashed, it gave a battery warning, then I was able to start the vehicle. However, several lights on the dashboard cycled through, radio/center console was non-responsive, and I could not get my car to park. Eventually, I had to use the emergency break to park it. We jumped the vehicle and it did start again. However, very shortly thereafter it lit on fire and there were visible flames under the hood. We called the fire department, put the fire out with water and an extinguisher. Then we had the vehicle towed to the dealership. Its been more than 2 months since this incident and no work has been started. Volkswagen corporate sent an engineer out to inspect my car (confirmed by the dealership that they did visit) but still no work has begun. My car is still covered under the original manufacturer warranty. We bought brand new and have owned the vehicle for less than 4 years. VW Customer Care line has been "close due to an all day employee meeting" since last week. The dealership has no information about my car.

Aug 21, 2025

We had a cylinder 3 misfire according to the check engine light code. Replaced spark plugs, coils, and now VW in Doral (Miami, FL) is telling me it is a "carbon build up" when the car only has 42,000 miles on it.

Aug 21, 2025

We had a cylinder 3 misfire according to the check engine light code. Replaced spark plugs, coils, and now VW in Doral (Miami, FL) is telling me it is a "carbon build up" when the car only has 42,000 miles on it.

Aug 8, 2025

Vehicle is stalling/shutting off at low speed. Took it to dealership and no fix since its not throwing a code. Obviously something is wrong and a huge safety problem. Has happened several times in a few months with me having the vehicle/ bought it used.

Aug 8, 2025

Vehicle is stalling/shutting off at low speed. Took it to dealership and no fix since its not throwing a code. Obviously something is wrong and a huge safety problem. Has happened several times in a few months with me having the vehicle/ bought it used.

Jun 28, 2024

There is a problem with the navigation system in this vehicle. It can all of a sudden throw you to a different position than your real one and give unsafe directions such as to turn in against the traffic on a one directional road.

Jun 28, 2024

There is a problem with the navigation system in this vehicle. It can all of a sudden throw you to a different position than your real one and give unsafe directions such as to turn in against the traffic on a one directional road.

Aug 16, 2023

The water pump on this vehicle required replacing, and the coolant light comes on for possible overheating. This vehicle has under 18,000 miles with this issue. The car has not been in any accidents. This is the second incident with the coolant system, but the first time its being reported to the dealer. This car purchased was brand new vehicle with 10 miles. The automatic start and stop system shuts off and on by itself and the warning light came on while driving the vehicle.

Aug 16, 2023

The water pump on this vehicle required replacing, and the coolant light comes on for possible overheating. This vehicle has under 18,000 miles with this issue. The car has not been in any accidents. This is the second incident with the coolant system, but the first time its being reported to the dealer. This car purchased was brand new vehicle with 10 miles. The automatic start and stop system shuts off and on by itself and the warning light came on while driving the vehicle.

Mar 30, 2023

On January of 2022 we are pulling into the parking lot of a grocery store the car stalls out at about 5 mph. Volkswagen Autobahn says the door harness needs replaced assured us it was good to go. Almost 30 days later it stalls again at about 5mph pulling into our driveway. Volkswagen Autobahn informed us the door harness they put in 30 days ago was defective. My wife and I started to raise concerns. We asked what if this does it at a high rate of speed. We were told by Volkswagen Autobahn this issue usually happens at 5mph or less. Less than 15 days later we are on I 20 in Southwest Fort Worth the vehicle loses power at 75mph in the fast lane. I was able to coast over to exit and on ramp before it came to a complete stop. My wife and I sat in the vehicle with our seat belt on for two and a half hours until the tow truck came. Only one side of the emergency lights (driver side) were working. It made it seem like we were merging onto the highway. AAA roadside arrived they had to obtain permission to bring one of their other trucks onto the high as that area they deemed one of the most dangerous locations in Fort Worth. A flatbed truck would not work due to the e brake would not disengage to pull it on to the bed. The car was returned to us on 3/24/23 and were advised that a door harness and module in the door were replaced. I drove the car home from the dealer and it has been parked in the garage since then. Based on our past experience with this vehicle my wife and I not confident that the repairs completed resolved that issue and we no longer feel safe driving this car.

Mar 30, 2023

On January of 2022 we are pulling into the parking lot of a grocery store the car stalls out at about 5 mph. Volkswagen Autobahn says the door harness needs replaced assured us it was good to go. Almost 30 days later it stalls again at about 5mph pulling into our driveway. Volkswagen Autobahn informed us the door harness they put in 30 days ago was defective. My wife and I started to raise concerns. We asked what if this does it at a high rate of speed. We were told by Volkswagen Autobahn this issue usually happens at 5mph or less. Less than 15 days later we are on I 20 in Southwest Fort Worth the vehicle loses power at 75mph in the fast lane. I was able to coast over to exit and on ramp before it came to a complete stop. My wife and I sat in the vehicle with our seat belt on for two and a half hours until the tow truck came. Only one side of the emergency lights (driver side) were working. It made it seem like we were merging onto the highway. AAA roadside arrived they had to obtain permission to bring one of their other trucks onto the high as that area they deemed one of the most dangerous locations in Fort Worth. A flatbed truck would not work due to the e brake would not disengage to pull it on to the bed. The car was returned to us on 3/24/23 and were advised that a door harness and module in the door were replaced. I drove the car home from the dealer and it has been parked in the garage since then. Based on our past experience with this vehicle my wife and I not confident that the repairs completed resolved that issue and we no longer feel safe driving this car.

Dec 13, 2022

I leased the vehicle on 2/2022, months later I started having braking problems. The dealer stated the brakes squeals only in the morning, but the brakes squeals throughout the day while I am driving. A water leaked was fixed, however, the carpet remains in the car and on back order, also the smell effects my pregnant wife. If we were told brakes would be squealing we wouldn't have purchased the vehicle.

Dec 13, 2022

I leased the vehicle on 2/2022, months later I started having braking problems. The dealer stated the brakes squeals only in the morning, but the brakes squeals throughout the day while I am driving. A water leaked was fixed, however, the carpet remains in the car and on back order, also the smell effects my pregnant wife. If we were told brakes would be squealing we wouldn't have purchased the vehicle.

Jun 3, 2022

I leased a 2022 VW Atlas Cross Sport last month and currently has less than 600 miles on it and the issue's happened 4 separate times.  Today it happened twice.  I am in line to drop my son off at school with many cars in front of me and behind me so it's a stop and go kind of situation; I let go of my brakes and about to step on the pedal when the engine shuts off entirely.  I had to put the car in park and start the engine again when it happened again! I just feel unsafe now driving that car.  Bringing it to the shop Monday morning (Friday today). The previous two occurrences took place while stopped at a traffic light. While the engine is off a message is displayed ""Start Engine Manually". I feel this is a safety hazard because I don't know if this car's engine will shut off while I am actually driving since it did shut down while I was in "Drive" mode plus it's happened to others while driving on highway. The next time it happens I will need to film it.

Jun 3, 2022

I leased a 2022 VW Atlas Cross Sport last month and currently has less than 600 miles on it and the issue's happened 4 separate times.  Today it happened twice.  I am in line to drop my son off at school with many cars in front of me and behind me so it's a stop and go kind of situation; I let go of my brakes and about to step on the pedal when the engine shuts off entirely.  I had to put the car in park and start the engine again when it happened again! I just feel unsafe now driving that car.  Bringing it to the shop Monday morning (Friday today). The previous two occurrences took place while stopped at a traffic light. While the engine is off a message is displayed ""Start Engine Manually". I feel this is a safety hazard because I don't know if this car's engine will shut off while I am actually driving since it did shut down while I was in "Drive" mode plus it's happened to others while driving on highway. The next time it happens I will need to film it.

Mar 15, 2022

Just bought the vehicle within the first day the radio systems turned off and cannot turn on again after 8 turn on the vehicle it affects all the safety systems because it's all connected to the radio. Vehicle was taken back to dealership which was reprogrammed and given back after one day it began again and now it's back at the dealership. They are saying they're going to put a brand new video but it's back on it and that I could still use my vehicle even though radio is not working correctly connecting to all the safety components. I was told that it was safe to drive even though I feel like it's not safe to drive at all in that condition. Right now I have a loaner car but they want it back within 2 days and until I get the new radio and hopefully it will work correctly and turn on again all the bells ring after a while because it's connected to the radio system. Once I put the car in reverse push the gas in the car did not move. So far it's working fine

Mar 15, 2022

Just bought the vehicle within the first day the radio systems turned off and cannot turn on again after 8 turn on the vehicle it affects all the safety systems because it's all connected to the radio. Vehicle was taken back to dealership which was reprogrammed and given back after one day it began again and now it's back at the dealership. They are saying they're going to put a brand new video but it's back on it and that I could still use my vehicle even though radio is not working correctly connecting to all the safety components. I was told that it was safe to drive even though I feel like it's not safe to drive at all in that condition. Right now I have a loaner car but they want it back within 2 days and until I get the new radio and hopefully it will work correctly and turn on again all the bells ring after a while because it's connected to the radio system. Once I put the car in reverse push the gas in the car did not move. So far it's working fine