2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS Complaints

AT AROUND 60 TO 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHICH SHAKES THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL. ALONG WITH VIBRATION THERE IS A SLIGHT FLUTTERING NOISE AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THREE DIFFERENT TIMES BUT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THIS IS JUST HIGHWAY NOISE. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS VIBRATION AND NOISE IS ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF HIGHWAY SURFACE. I BROUGHT THE NEW ON NOVEMBER 27, 2017 AND DROVE IT HOME FROM CINCINNATI OH TO MY HOME IN NEWARK OH ABOUT 150 MILES. I NOTICED THE VIBRATION AND NOISE ON THE TRIP HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS NEW CAR. THIS CAR 18 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY ON NOVEMBER 27, 2017. I HAD MOVED TO MICHIGAN IN JUNE 2018 HAD TAKEN TO WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN HAD TWICE TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND EACH TIME CLAIMED IT WAS REPAIRED SATISFACTORY. THE FIRST TIJE I TOOK IT TO WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CLAIMED I HAD HIT A POT HOLE. I TOLD HIM IT WAS THAT WAY WHEN I PURCHASE THE CAR. THEY BALANCE ALL WHEELS AND CLAIMED IT WAS REPAIRED. I TOOK BACK AGAIN AND THEY DID A "FORCED" BALANCE AND REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED. I CONTACTED WILLIAMS VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE MANAGER AND HE ADMITTED HE ALSO HEARD AND SEEN THE VIBRATION IN THE CAR BUT CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS, NOT THE CAR. I AM CONCERN THERE COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MAYBE WITH THE STEERING AND OR WHEELS.

MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP FOR STOPPING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT STOP. WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL APPLY THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LEAVING ME AND THE SUVOUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.

I BOUGHT A VW ATLAS 2018 EXPECTING THE FRONT ASSIST FEATURE, WHEREBY IF THE SUV DETECTS AN OBSTACLE IN ITS PATH, IT WILL ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A COLLISION. UNFORTUNATELY I AM EXPERIENCING A SITUATION WHERE THE FEATURE COULD CAUSE A COLLISION. FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH VM SERVICE, THE SENSOR THAT DETECTS OBSTACLES POINTS FROM THE GRILL, DIRECTLY OUT, AND PARALLEL TO THE ROAD. WHEN DRIVING ON A DOWN SLOPE THAT LEVELS OUT, THE SENSOR WILL DETECT THE ROAD, AND, ASSUMING IT IS AN OBSTACLE, ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO AVOID COLLISION. AT SPEEDS >10MPH, THERE IS NO DETECTION. BUT, I DISCOVERED (MULTIPLE TIMES) THAT ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A CAR PARK CREATES THE DOWN ANGLE, AND (BECAUSE ITS IS ESSENTIAL TO DRIVE SLOWLY EXITING A CAR PARK TO FULLY OBSERVE THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC) THE SPEED WHEREBY THE FEATURE ENGAGES AND STOPS THE SUV. IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THIS HAS STOPS US IN INCOMING TRAFFIC, WITH THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF A DRIVERS SIDE COLLISION. I HAD STARTED TO DISABLE THE FRONT ASSIST FEATURE BUT DISCOVERED THIS MUST BE DONE ON EVERY TRIP, AND OF COURSE (A) SOMETIMES THIS IS FORGOTTEN AND (B) OTHERS DRIVING THE SUV MAY NOT REMEMBER OR EVEN KNOW. I FEEL THAT THIS FEATURE (ACKNOWLEDGEDLY A GREAT SAFETY FEATURE WHEN DRIVING ON A LEVEL ROAD), IS ACTUALLY A POTENTIAL COLLISION HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP ON A CITY STREET AFTER FULL APPLICATION OF BRAKES CAUSING COLLISION AND DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER . I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM WALKS WAGON THAT CERAMIC COATING ON THE BRAKES NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY BRAKE ISSUES PRIOR TO THE COLLISION .THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 4100 MILES AND CURRENTLY AT THE COLLISION CENTRE .

I?M CONTACTING YOU WITH AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE VW ATLAS WE LEASED 2 MONTHS AGO. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DEPLOYS AT UNEXPECTED AND INAPPROPRIATE TIMES PRODUCING A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAS ACTIVATED, DANGEROUSLY AND INAPPROPRIATELY, SEVERAL TIMES, USUALLY WHEN PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A LANE. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION OR RISK OF COLLISION, THE CAR SENSES THE INSIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN SLOPE FROM DRIVEWAY TO ROAD AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE ALL CONTROL. THE CAR IS THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. RECENTLY, MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR LOCAL SUPERMARKET AND MADE A LEFT TURN. THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND SHE WAS LEFT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ANOTHER DRIVER BARELY AVOIDED COLLIDING INTO OUR REAR SIDE DOOR WHERE OUR 3 YEAR OLD SON?S CAR SEAT IS LOCATED. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS ISSUE TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CHECKED THE SYSTEM, AND TOLD US ?IT IS PERFORMING AS THE MANUFACTURE INTENDED IT TO?. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND I CAN ONLY PRAY THAT MY YOUNG CHILDREN ARENA?T MAIMED OR KILLED. THE VW SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN US A COMPLICATED WAY TO TURN OFF THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE CAR, HOWEVER THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR. I FEEL ITS INEVITABLE THAT A BUSY MOTHER DOING CHORES WITH TWO TODDLERS WILL FORGET TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM AT SOME POINT. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE DISABILITY OR LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO FIX THE SYSTEM OR PERMANENTLY DISABLE IT. WE ASKED VW TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THE SYSTEM BUT THEY DECLINED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT REPLY THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE 2018 VW ATLAS IS THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTEM IN THE INSTANCE THAT A CRASH MAY OCCUR. WITH THIS THE FRONT SENSORS OF THE VEHICLE WARN PRIOR TO BY EITHER BEEPING OR IN SOME CASES SLAMMING ON THE AUTOMATIC BREAKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN I AM ON A HILL OF A CERTAIN GRADE, THAT THE SENSOR SYSTEM RECOGNIZES THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AS AN OBSTACLE AND MANY TIMES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OFF THE HILL TURNING ONTO THE NEXT ROAD THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTEM GOES INTO EFFECT STOPPING ME DEAD INTO CROSS TRAFFIC AND IN SOME INSTANCES GIVING NO WARNING TO SOMEONE BEHIND ME THAT I MAY BREAK URGENTLY WHEN I SHOULD BE ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION/FROM A HILL. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT 3X WITH THESE ISSUES AND NOW FIND THAT I HAVE A LOT OF STRESS WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE OFF HILLS THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE TRIED TURNING OFF THE FRONT VEHICLE WARNING (WHICH NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU RESTART THE CAR) AND THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. TO THIS SAME NOTE, WHEN I AM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY FRONT SENSORS CONTINUALLY GO OFF WHICH IS A COMPLETE DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING.

VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY CANNOT RELEASE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT FIXING THE 69X1 SEAT-BELT RECALL ISSUE. THEY STATE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NO ETA ON THE FIX, EFFECTIVELY LEAVING ME WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR SOME UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME.

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2018 VW ATLAS SEL PREMIUM HAS ACTIVATED THE BRAKE MANEUVERING SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS AN AGGRESSIVE BRAKING COMBINED WITH A LOSS OF CONTROL OF ACCELERATION. TYPICALLY, THIS OCCURS WHEN EXITING A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS, I WAS MERGING INTO HEAVY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE SYSTEM LEFT ME STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY IF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THERE IS CURRENTLY ONE OTHER ATLAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. MULTIPLE SOURCES ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER OWNERS HAVE ANNOUNCED SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. MANY HAVE REPORTED THAT THE SERVICE CENTER SIMPLY TELLS THEM TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. WELL, THAT IS NOT A FIX... IT IS A TEMPORARY WORK AROUND. MANY HAVE STATED THAT VW ENGINEERS HAVE REPORTED BACK THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS AS INTENDED AND NO FIX IS REQUIRED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IF THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS INTENDED AND IS ACTIVATING DURING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THERE IS NO ACTUAL NEED FOR COLLISION AVOIDANCE BRAKING MANEUVERS, THE SYSTEM MAY NEED TO BE REDESIGNED. I HAVE NOT VERIFIED PERSONALLY AS TO IF VW DENIES ANY FAULT BUT I WILL CERTAINLY DO SO IF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT IT IS OPERATING NORMALLY AND I SHOULD JUST DISABLE THE FEATURE. I PAID EXTRA FOR THAT FEATURE, ALONG WITH OTHER SAFETY FEATURES AVAILABLE BECAUSE I WANT THEM FOR ADDED SAFETY SHOULD I, OR MY FAMILY, NEED THEM. THE FEATURE ITSELF SHOULDN'T PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

RECALL 20AH IS COMPLETELY UNNACEPTABLE. THERE ARE 8 DIFFERENT POSSIBLE REPAIRS THAT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. THESE REPAIRS RANGE FROM AIRBAG SOFTWARE UPDATES TO SUNROOF REPAIRS. HOW IS IT LEGAL FOR THEM TO COMBINE THESE REPAIRS? AS A MECHANIC AND A CONSUMER IT IS BAD FOR BUSINESS AS THE VARIOUS PARTS/ INSPECTIONS NECCESSARY MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMODATE THE REPAIRS.

THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2018 ATLAS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SHAKES WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS FROM STOP WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS HOW THE ESP WORKS. I EVEN TALKED TO VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I RECEIVED A LETTER THAT MY VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. I'VE DRIVEN FRONT WHEEL DRIVES BEFORE AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A HIDDEN ISSUE THAT IS HIDING RIGHT NOW AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. I'VE SEARCHED THE ATLAS FORUMS AND NO ONE IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.