2018 Volkswagen ATLAS: complaints, problems and recalls

THE FIREWALL WAS BROKEN DURING A REPAIR TO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BY THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2017. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE FIREWALL BEING BROKEN DURING THE REPAIR. WE WERE ONLY INFORMED WHEN WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER REPAIR IN NOVEMBER 2017. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWINGLY ALLOWED US TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A BROKEN FIREWALL FOR 2 MONTHS.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11047150 at NHTSA ↗

THE IGNITION SWITCH, IF PRESSED, WILL TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NEXT TO THE SHIFT GEAR AND MAY BE ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK WHICH MAY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH.

Owner-reported narrative. 140 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051858 at NHTSA ↗

I CAME TO A FULL STOP AS I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY. SINCE THERE WERE NO VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM EITHER DIRECTION AND THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF ME, I STATED TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED MY VEHICLE WITH NO JUSTIFICATION. THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM FAILURE CAN RESULT IN INJURY.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055999 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. USED 1AND 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL AT 3250 MILES(WHICH WAS ADDED BY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. TODAY 1/2/18) WAS BOUGHT AS A NEW VEHICLE 9/17 WITH ONLY 12 MILES ON ODOMETER.(12/25/17) FIRST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT, THEY SAID IT WAS THE GAS CAP.ONE WEEK LATER THE CHECK OIL LEVEL ALARM LIT . THEY CHECKED IT SAID NO EXTERNAL LEAKS, THEY ADDED THE 1 1/2 QUART OIL , SAID TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE LEVEL. I AM SCARED TO TAKE THIS CAR ON ANY TRIPS WITH THIS CAR. ALSO THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL, THE SERVICE OPEN THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,246 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058104 at NHTSA ↗

SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON PASSENGER SIDE TIRES HIT CUBS...NO DIRECT DAMAGE WHAT SO EVER TO CAR JUST RIMS. AN ONCOMING CAR WAS COMING TOO CLOSE TO ME. :30 SECONDS LATER (RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY GATED COMMUNITY), EVERY SINGLE AIR BAG DEPLOYED EXCEPT FRONT AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS. THE CAR IS MOTION :30 AFTER INTERACTION WITH CURB WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN FRESNO 93711 (FIR STREET)

Owner-reported narrative. 580 miles reported. Look up ODI 11060744 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE SLID INTO A CURB DURING A LEFT-HAND TURN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DUE TO ICE. SHE DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND A COUPLE MECHANICS, SCRATCHING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AS WELL. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE EXTERIOR; HOWEVER, THIS CURB IMPACT SET OFF ALL OF THE INTERIOR SIDE AIRBAGS, INCLUDING ONE SEAT AIRBAG. MY WIFE RECEIVED MINOR PAIN FROM AIRBAG IMPACT BUT THANKFULLY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR BECAUSE A SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DIRECTLY INSIDE MY CHILD'S HEAD RESTRAINT. IN THE WORDS OF THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, AND THE SER…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076693 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEATING SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHEN THE REMOTE STARTER IS USED, AND THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE HEATING SYSTEM DISPERSES COLD AIR INSTEAD OF HEATING THE CABIN AND DEFROSTING THE WINDOWS/WINDSHIELDS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE GETTING THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2017. V TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN NATIONAL ISSUE AND NO IMMEDIATE SOLUTION. I'M CONCERNED THAT ALL VW CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED A IN ATLAS WITH A REMOTE STARTER, ARE NOT GETTING THE SERVICE THE PAID OR ARE PAYING FOR. NICE ADDITION PROSPECTIVE BUY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11076875 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW 2018 ATLAS BATTERY PROBLEM - BATTERY DRAINS COMPLETELY IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS WHEN CAR IS SWITCHED OFF AND PARKED IN ATTACHED GARAGE. HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS. SERVICE RESPONDED BY SAYING THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPUTERS THAT DRAIN BATTERY EVEN WHEN CAR IS SHUTDOWN. SUGGESTED TO DRIVE FOR 30 MINS EVERY 2 DAYS. THE BATTERY DRAINED THE SECOND TIME INSPITE OF FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS. COMPLETE BATTERY DRAIN IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS EVEN WITH CAR COMPLETELY SWITCHED OFF IN GARAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078255 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-11-29 (November 29, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank may have been manufactured with insufficient wall thickness, potentially resulting in the tank leaking fuel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AQ.

Reported: 2018-05-02 (May 2, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The fuel tank on these vehicles may leak fuel due to a manufacturing error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AW. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 17V-766.

Reported: 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.

Reported: 2018-06-06 (June 6, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.

Consequence: If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.

Reported: 2018-06-07 (June 7, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswaen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The owner's manuals provided with the affected vehicles do not inform the customers about the child restraint size limitation/restrictions for the second row center seating position. As a result, the center and adjacent outboard seat belt buckles on the second row can become damaged it a child seat base is installed that is wider than 12.6 inches.

Consequence: A damaged seat belt buckle can release unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the center and left outboard seat belt buckles, and replace them if necessary, free of charge. Volkswagen will also provide an owner's manual supplement addressing child safety and child restraints. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X1.

Reported: 2018-08-15 (August 15, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.

Consequence: The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.

Reported: 2018-08-20 (August 20, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. During production, the air conditioning system drain tube may have been twisted, causing water to drain into the air bag control module.

Consequence: The wet air bag control module may result in an unintentional deployment of the air bags, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain tube, and if it is twisted, the drain tube and air bag control module will be replaced, free of charge. Some of the affected vehicles have had their drain tube previously replaced but did not receive a new air bag control module; the airbag control module will be replaced in these vehicles. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87F9.

Reported: 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Consequence: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.

Reported: 2018-12-19 (December 19, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.

Consequence: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J2/42J3.

Reported: 2019-05-22 (May 22, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

Reported: 2020-01-31 (January 31, 2020)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrectly manufactured air bag sensor, which can delay or disable air bag deployment when necessary.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, a delayed or disabled airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag crash sensor, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AL.

Reported: 2020-09-16 (September 16, 2020)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.

Reported: 2021-03-05 (March 5, 2021)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44R1.

Reported: 2021-05-05 (May 5, 2021)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Reported: 2022-02-16 (February 16, 2022)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles equipped with accessory side steps. The reduced Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) label, reflecting the additional weight of the side steps, was not installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: Without the reduced GVWR label, the vehicle could be overloaded, leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install the reduced GVWR label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 09D9.

Reported: 2023-03-29 (March 29, 2023)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69FB.