Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 21, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

169 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
43

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

transmission slipping 12sudden stalling 9
A recent report: The problem is the car has moments of stalls/not accelerating. From a stop, like at a stoplight, I have to press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, and even though the RPMs go up, the car…
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The problem is the car has moments of stalls/not accelerating. From a stop, like at a stoplight, I have to press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, and even though the RPMs go up, the car doesn't move or barely moves for several seconds before it finally goes. The engine is clearly running and revving the power just isn't getting to the wheels and it stalls in thr middle of traffic.I don't know exactly which part is failing because after four repair attempts, the dealership still hasn't found it. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. Me, my kids, and other drivers safety have been put at risk more than once. The most dangerous one was on XXX when I was merging on the highway with my kids in the car, pressed the gas to speed up and get over, and the car stalled. A semi truck almost hit us because even with my foot all the way down on the gas pedal the speed wouldn't get up and the semi had to jump over into another lane almost hitting another car. The service center at Molle Volkswagen in [XXX] said the computer showed the car was stalling but couldn't find the cause or reproduce it. First visit (VW Lee's Summit): told it could be bad fuel, but they never drained it and I ran premium for months and it was still doing it. Second visit: a software update was all that showed up. They updated it and it failed the next day. Third visit: a bad fuel code came up, so they drained and refilled the tank. It's still doing it, with no code explaining why. Only VW dealerships have inspected it. Earlier warning: in sept. 2025, around 32,000 miles, the myVW app alerted "transmission in emergency mode" and "selector lever error." I took screenshots, but when I brought my car to get checked, the code didn't show up or didn't store so my transmission was never checked. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764505 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
49

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 37electrical shorts 6
A recent report: The center infotainment/display screen in this 2024 VW Atlas repeatedly goes black, freezes, and reboots itself while the vehicle is being driven, including at highway speed (about 43-55 mph). When…
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The center infotainment/display screen in this 2024 VW Atlas repeatedly goes black, freezes, and reboots itself while the vehicle is being driven, including at highway speed (about 43-55 mph). When it fails, the screen collapses to a clock only and shows "Navigation not available," "Telephone not available," and "App-Connect not available," then the entire head unit reboots on its own while driving. During these failures the driver loses the rearview/backup camera image, climate and audio controls, navigation, and phone functions - a serious safety hazard while the car is in motion. The problem is ongoing and has NOT been fixed. The vehicle has been to the Volkswagen dealer FIVE times for this issue (01/15/2026, 01/26/2026, 05/27/2026, 06/16/2026, and 06/30/2026). Repair order #436699 documents the screen "intermittently going black"; a dealer software update was performed and did not resolve it - the failure recurred. There is a 79-second video of the head unit rebooting while driving at 43-55 mph. This matches VW recall 26V473000 (2024-2026 Atlas, a low-voltage electrical event affecting display-screen functions) and TSB 91-23-03 (MIB3 infotainment freezing/rebooting/black screen). Losing the backup camera, controls, and displays while driving endangers the occupants and others on the road.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757211 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
40

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 12premature wear 10
A recent report: Component/System Failure: The braking system, specifically the brake rotors (and possibly pads), appears to be malfunctioning. The vehicle experiences severe vibration during braking. The vehicle is…
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Component/System Failure: The braking system, specifically the brake rotors (and possibly pads), appears to be malfunctioning. The vehicle experiences severe vibration during braking. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: While braking at highway speeds (approximately 50–70 mph), the steering wheel shakes violently and the vehicle vibrates rapidly. This reduces control and creates a serious safety risk, especially when driving downhill or in traffic. It increases stopping distance and makes the vehicle feel unstable. Reproducibility / Dealer Confirmation: The issue has been reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. The dealership inspected the vehicle and acknowledged brake/rotor-related vibration but classified it as normal wear and tear and declined warranty repair. Inspections by Others: The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Volkswagen dealership. No police or insurance inspections were involved. Warning Lamps or Prior Symptoms: No warning lights or dashboard messages were displayed prior to or during the issue. The only symptom is severe shaking and vibration during braking, which began around 33,000 miles for 2024 ATLAS. Additional Details / Suspected Cause: Given the low mileage, this appears to be premature failure of brake components rather than normal wear. Similar complaints have been reported by other owners, suggesting a potential defect or design issue.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11735546 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 2software faults 1
A recent report: Car shakes aggressively when going downhill and has been occurring since buying the vehicle. Vehicle was bought brand new has had three vehicle services to fix problem and none of the vehicles…
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Car shakes aggressively when going downhill and has been occurring since buying the vehicle. Vehicle was bought brand new has had three vehicle services to fix problem and none of the vehicles services from vermicelli dealership have fixed the vehicle problem. This causes difficulty steering and breaking.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11732062 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
10

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 5 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 3software faults 1
A recent report: The front passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) sensor wiring has failed in my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. This failure has disabled the passenger airbag, significantly increasing the risk of injury…
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The front passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) sensor wiring has failed in my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. This failure has disabled the passenger airbag, significantly increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. VW has advised not to allow any passengers to ride in the front passenger seat until vehicles with this error are repaired. Despite this being the same defect addressed in an existing recall, my VIN was excluded from that campaign. I have already paid $205 for diagnosis. The dealer repair estimate is $704.36, for a total out-of-pocket cost to me of $909.36. This unresolved safety issue leaves my family exposed to unnecessary risk despite the manufacturer’s awareness of the defect. I would like assistance in obtaining a full repair at no cost to me, either through an extension of the existing recall or a goodwill repair.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11744658 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
18

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

premature wear 1loss of steering 1
A recent report: Sunroof spontaneously imploded while driving down an empty highway. Glass fell down on us and our three kids in the backseat. Remaining glass is pointing upward and outward.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763688 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 2 mention an injury.

software faults 1
A recent report: As I was stopping at a stop light the back, passenger seat lock came unlocked causing my son to fall forward into the passenger seat back and be stuck until unlocking and returning the seat to the…
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As I was stopping at a stop light the back, passenger seat lock came unlocked causing my son to fall forward into the passenger seat back and be stuck until unlocking and returning the seat to the upright position

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11749424 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 169 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2023 and 2026, roughly 57 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.