Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Complaints (2024)

92 consumer complaints on file.

#11638247January 24, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
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."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636753January 18, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634033January 4, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Infotainment screen inconsistently displays static and will not display backup camera. Problem is intermittent.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632579December 27, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11631101December 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11630979December 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11628739December 4, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11628224December 2, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11627927November 29, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CS screen is intermittently glitching and freezing resulting screen failure. This occurs at unexpected times before starting, while sitting, while driving, while sitting still, and while parking, This failure causes me to be unable to control air, radio, maps, backup camera, and music. The safety issues have occurred when backing, I nearly backed over a person because my backup camera was blacked out and they were in my blind spot, Two dealerships have seen film of the failures but not observed it in their shop. They are never able to get me in when the system is failing. The vehicle has been in shop at least 6 times for the failure. I have dealer service tickets and a a carfax report to document the attempted repairs. I also have photos and videos of failure. The dealership I bought it from, Fowler Volkswagon, and Oklahoma City Volkswagon have both tried to fix the problem. The dealership advised me that it could not be repaired. I submitted my problem to Volkswagon , Case # [XXX], they had me take to dealer again and it could not be fixed. Volkswagon said in their denial letter to help me, "but we are not able to assist in all cases". Yes Recall #91US. The screen was replaced but problem did not stop. I am still forced to a vehicle that is unsafe and a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111. That nearly resulted in back over of a pedestrian on [XXX]. The first failure was in 2/2024. I bought the car on [XXX] from Fowler Volkswagon Norman, Oklahoma. The car had 19 miles on it. I have taken into the shop 6 times. I am [XXX], a student, and work as waitress to support myself. I bought a new car and make payments on it and it is defective and unsafe. I want my new car to function as it was designed and Volkswagon cannot fix it. They told me to go to the BBB or arbitration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11623293November 2, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Front window glass is of defective quality. My car has 3600 miles on it and my window has cracked for the second time. Both times a small pebble hit and the glass immediately spread 8” from passenger towards the middle. Overnight the crack spreads almost a foot. I’ve had 7 cars in my 20+ years of driving and have never experienced a window this fragile.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620983October 21, 2024
POWER TRAIN, PARKING BRAKE
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that after pressing the engine Start/Stop button to start the vehicle in the driveway, she exited the vehicle and sat in the front passenger's seat. After 4-5 minutes, the vehicle inadvertently rolled backward while the transmission was in park (P). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle rolled over her daughter's left knee before stopping at the end of the driveway. Additionally, the "Error: Drive System. Please Service Vehicle" message was previously displayed while driving, and the parking brake was inoperable. The police arrived on the scene and filed a report. The contact's daughter received medical treatment at the hospital for knee pain and tire scratches on her right knee and feet. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnosis. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,350.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11620039October 16, 2024
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When pushing the gas car will not accelerate then they’ll be like a big “clunk” like it’s not into gear and then the car will slow slowly accelerate then it’ll shoot off. Also my screen goes crazy like something electrical is happening .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11618433October 7, 2024
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
To the best of my knowledge, the transmission failed to function appropriately causing danger. After pulling onto a major highway, the car stopped in front of oncoming traffic and the rpm’s shot up. After letting off the gas and pressing again, the car then shifted and was able to drive. This happened after several instances of delayed shifting noted but this is the first time it has stalled out while driving. Stalling on a major highway puts me and others at risk of crashing if I am unable to move my vehicle suddenly. No warning lamps were present then or now. According to my owners manual, I am to alert the NHTSA and Volkswagen. My next step is to reach out to Volkswagen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617392October 1, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I am writing to express my frustration with the ongoing issues with my Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Despite repeated repair efforts, the situation has become unsustainable. As a one-car household, visiting the dealership multiple times a month is both financially and personally stressful. While the service department has been excellent in trying to address the problems, the recurring issues are straining my relationship with the dealership. I need a reliable vehicle, especially given the $19,000 down payment we cannot afford to lose. We chose the SE model for ethical reasons (no leather), but it has been problematic, and we are now open to other solutions. Here is a list of issues we’ve encountered over the last 10 months: Atlas Number 1 (2 months): Loose exhaust shield Auto Start/Stop feature not functioning Start button unresponsive Rear windows would not close Infotainment system freezing Dashboard speaker grill falling off Rattle in rear door Atlas Number 2 (7 months): Front bumper damaged; required body shop repair Driver's window scratched and replaced Front parking sensors failed Windows malfunction and don’t auto close Infotainment system freezing; display going black Console cover broke twice Headlights repeatedly replaced, failing calibration Backup camera feed going black; needed replacement Headlight control module needed replacement Rattle in front door Dashboard speaker grill falling off Persistent front-end shake at highway speeds (tires rebalanced twice) Steering-responsive headlights fail to return to center, requiring a vehicle restart Recent repairs haven’t resolved these issues. The headlights still fail to center, the infotainment system continues to go black, and the backup camera still malfunctions. A software update is expected in January, but I need a solution in the meantime. Please help us resolve this situation—it's financially and practically unsustainable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11612275September 3, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Automatic wipers with rain sensors are not working.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11609982August 21, 2024
SUSPENSION, STEERING
65mph or greater steering wheel and suspension vibrates. Vw claims all atlas does it and I need to deal with it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608935August 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Spontaneous vehicle fire which resulted in the total loss. Driver and passenger were in the car, managed to escape the vehicle,no injuries. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer or by authorized service center. Not sure if the vehicle or component have been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance representative. Police and firefighters were present on the site of incident. There were no warning lights on the dashboard prior to the incident
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607846August 11, 2024
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Vehicle had multiple engine malfunction lights appear and start/stop failures. Vehicle failed to start properly and speed was limited to prevent damage engine. Happened while I was driving it and I had to pull over and had the vehicle towed. An authorized dealer, Auto Import Inc in Brainerd, MN has had the vehicle since July 29th. They are unable to diagnose the problem, want to send the vehicle elsewhere and VW quality technicians have not shown up to inspect the vehicle. I had noticed prior to the engine failure that my fuel economy was not going down with driving, but rather up, which made me suspicious. Stop and go City driving should not increase fuel economy in the manner which it was. I became nervous about fuel amounts. My last three fill ups were about 6 gallons only after driving 250 miles, equating to 40 mpg, which is way higher than any reported mpg estimate I have a customer care rep and case with VW. They are not helping me at all.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607109August 7, 2024
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated there were audible chimes and alarms sounding during the failure. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 800. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11603855July 22, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My backup camera has flickered from a black screen to visible and the backup guidelines will also occasionally flicker. My vehicle is not listed under the 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport affected by this backup camera issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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