2018 Volkswagen ATLAS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Volkswagen ATLAS has 654 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 8.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: 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..

5 crash reports 21 injuries

654

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

8.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

110 complaints

17%

• 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.
• 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 M
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS. WITHIN WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE STRUT MOUNTED SYSTEM. FURTHERMORE, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT ASSIST WITH AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

100 complaints

15%

• 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 AF
• 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 AIRBA
• PURCHASED NEW 2018 ATLAS AT HEROG MEIER VW DEALERSHIP IN BEAVERTON OREGON ON 5-19-18. UPON DRIVING HOME FROM DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT. CALLED DEALER ONCE HOME AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE BACK TO DEALER. THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT AND COME BACK MONDAY TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 AF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

99 complaints

15%

• 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 LEV
• FIRST THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON COUPLE DAYS CALLED SPOKE MASTER MECHANIC STATED SHOULDN'T BE PROBLEM AS LONG AS IT'S NOT BLINKING,BRING IN FOR CHECK UP. ENGINE LIGHT TURN OFF . CAR WOULDN'T START. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER MECHANIC FOR ABOUT WEEK. 3WEEKS LATER AFTER GETTING CAR BACK. ENGINE TURNED OF
• CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE. NEW VEHICLE, 17 DAYS SINCE DELIVERY, 704 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30MPH ON SURFACE STREET EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A METAL KNOCKING SOUND THAT WAS IN TIME WITH ENGINE SPEED. TOWED TO DEALER. SOUND WAS CONFIRMED TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 LEV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

75 complaints

11%

• 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 JUST
• I WAS TURNING LEFT ON A BUSY ROAD OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HAD ALL THREE OF MY KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TURNED ON WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND STOPPED MY CAR HEADING EAST/WEST IN TRAFFIC HEADING NORTH/SOUTH. MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND SUDDENLY THE EMERGENCY
• ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OUR 2018 VW ATLAS HAS HAD ITS EMERGENCY BRAKING FEATURE ENGAGE IN AN UNEXPECTED AND DANGEROUS WAY. SPECIFICALLY, DURING URBAN DRIVING WHEN HAVING TO TRAVERSE THE NORMAL DIP FROM DRIVEWAY TO STREET, ACROSS A GUTTER OR OTHER LOW POINT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ABRUPTLY HALTS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 JUST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

73 complaints

11%

• 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 NOVE
• FIRST THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON COUPLE DAYS CALLED SPOKE MASTER MECHANIC STATED SHOULDN'T BE PROBLEM AS LONG AS IT'S NOT BLINKING,BRING IN FOR CHECK UP. ENGINE LIGHT TURN OFF . CAR WOULDN'T START. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER MECHANIC FOR ABOUT WEEK. 3WEEKS LATER AFTER GETTING CAR BACK. ENGINE TURNED OF
• I READ UNDER A COMPLAINT SITE THAT YOU COULD PRESS THE START STOP BUTTON WHILE IN MOTION NOT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AT SPEED. I TRIED THIS AND IT DOES SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCATION OF THE BUTTON IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND ANY NUMBER OF A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 NOVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 654 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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 AF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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 LEV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 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 JUST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)