2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS Complaints

THE AUTO BRAKING AND WARNING SENSORS GO OFF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING FROM AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY TO A ROADWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US MULTIPLE TIMES, THE MOST RECENT WAS ON 7-2-2018, AND IT BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE THAT WAS AN EXTRA COST, BUT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A CRASH IF NOT RECTIFIED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS ISSUE, AND MULTIPLE OTHER ISSUES AND ALL I GET BACK IS ' SYSTEM IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.' IF THE SYSTEM IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED, THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY ISSUE IN ITSELF. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS ON MESSAGE BOARDS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND HAVING THE SAME ANSWERS FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. ON ONE OF THE MESSAGE BOARDS, THERE IS ACTUALLY A VIDEO OF THE VEHICLE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP DRIVING FROM A BANK PARKING LOT TO A MAIN ROAD.

AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. WHEN I PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING LOTS THE SENSORS ARE ACTIVATING AND THE MANEUVER BRAKING IS APPLIED AND THE CAR COMES TO AN ABRUBT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVERYTIME THIS HAS OCCURED THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OBJECT OR CAR PRESENT. THIS SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND THIS MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY WHEN I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. VW SERVICE IS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AND HAS GIVEN ME A LOANER ATLAS THAT IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE OCCURING.

VEHICLE HAS A MANEUVER BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS FAULTY. THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO DETECT IF THERE IS A VEHICLE OR OBJECT THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO HIT AND AUTO BRAKE. WHEN I PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME OR WORK THE SYSTEM AUTO BRAKES AND ACTIVATES THE MANEUVER BRAKING WHEN THERE IS NO VEHICLE OR OBJECT PRESENT. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR ON DRIVEWAYS THAT HAVE A SLIGHT DECLINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN THE MANEUVER BRAKING IS ACTIVATED THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR NO REASON.

2018 VW ATLAS MANUAL, REAR TEMPERATURE CONTROL PANEL HAS A DESIGN OVERSIGHT WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE TARGETED THE AMERICAN FAMILY CAR MARKET WHICH SHOULD HAVE ASSUMED REAR PASSENGERS WERE TOO YOUNG TO REACH THE MANUAL REAR TEMPERATURE CONTROLS FROM THE 2ND ROW SEATING AND PROVIDED A MEANS FOR THE 1ST ROW PASSENGERS TO CONTROL WHETHER THE REAR VENTS BLOW HOT OR COLD. THIS FUNCTION WAS INTENTIONALLY REMOVED FROM THE FRONT PANEL MANUAL CONTROLS. THE UPGRADED TECH PACKAGE FOR THE ATLAS PROVIDES FRONT AND REAR ZONE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLS AS WELL AS THE ABILITY OF 1ST ROW OCCUPANTS TO OVERRIDE THE REAR SETTINGS. THE MANUAL CONTROLS ONLY ALLOW 1ST ROW OCCUPANTS TO ENABLE OR DISABLE THE REAR CONTROLS WHEREAS MINIVANS / FAMILY SUVS EXPERIENCED INCLUDE REAR OFF, REAR CONTROL, AND REAR SYNC TO FRONT. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT IF A CHILD STRAPPED IN A CAR SEAT IN THE REAR SAYS THEY ARE COLD, THE 1ST ROW PASSENGERS ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THIS INVOLVES REACHING BLINDLY BEHIND THE CENTER CONSOLE TO FEEL AROUND FOR THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS AND MAY EVEN RESULT IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO REMOVE THEIR EYES FROM THE ROAD TO PEER OVER THE CONSOLE TO SEE WHAT THE SETTINGS ARE. THE ONLY CHANGE A FRONT ROW OCCUPANT CAN MAKE TO THE REAR TEMPERATURE SETTING FROM THE FRONT PANEL IS TO DISABLE IT WHICH IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION IN MOST CASES. IN OTHER WORDS THIS DESIGN FLAW ENCOURAGES A DRIVER TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD OR BE DISTRACTED BEYOND WHAT HOLDING A CELL PHONE FOR A VOICE CALL DOES. IF MOST STATES CONSIDER IT ILLEGAL TO DRIVE/ TALK NON-HANDS FREE, THIS DESIGN FEATURE SHOULD BE CORRECTED WITH A VOLKSWAGEN FIRMWARE CHANGE. AFTER 9 MONTHS OF ATTEMPTING TO DO EXACTLY THAT, VW HAS RESPONDED FLATLY THAT THEY WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DESIGN. DEALERS AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THE BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO WARN CUSTOMERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND APPROACHING A MINOR INCLINE, THE BRAKE SENSOR BEEPED AND THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKENNA VOLKSWAGEN CERRITOS (18303 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, 855-995-7761) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN, AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN GERMANY, ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FEEL FREE TO TURN OFF THE FEATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. *TT

ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE RUNNING. DISPLAY SAYS TO TURN ON ENGINE MANUALLY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF YOU ARE IN A HIGHWAY YOU HAVE TO STOP AN PUSH THE BRAKE AND THEN THE START BUTTON. IT HAPPENED IN ACITY STREET. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME IT GOES TO THE DEALER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NOTIFIED ON 06/15/18 THAT MY VEHICLES BRAKE CALIPERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INSUFFICIENT CHROME COATING WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF GAS BUBBLES AND CREATE A SOFT BRAKE POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. THERE WAS A STOP SALE ASSOCIATED WITH MY VIN ON 05/25/18 BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED UNTIL 06/15/18. ON 06/15/18 I WAS TOLD TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THERE IS STILL NO ETA ON WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE OR WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE RETURNED TO ME.

2018 ATLAS SEL, EQUIPPED WITH AUTONOMOUS BREAKING TO "PREVENT" COLLISIONS. WHEN VEHICLES TRAVEL DOWN AN INCLINE LIKE A DRIVEWAY, THE EMERGENCY BREAKING FEATURE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN STOP. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I AM REQUIRED TO CHANGE GEARS AND/OR RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS POSES A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHEN YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PRIVATE DRIVE AND ON TO A ACTIVE ROADWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A SIDE ON VEHICLE COLLISION. ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE MANAGER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. SERVICE MANAGER ALSO TESTED ANOTHER VW ATLAS ON THE SALE LOT WITH THE SAME FEATURE. STRIVE MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE OTHER ATLAS AS WELL. SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, REPORTING THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO VOLKSWAGEN. AFTER A THREE WEEK PERIOD, VOLKSWAGEN REPORTED THAT THEY WERE DECLINING TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE ISSUE, STATING THE VEHICLE WAS 'OPERATING AS DESIGNED." THIS ISSUE POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE NO ONLY TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE, BUT TO OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN GIVEN NOTICE OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OF TAKE ACTION.

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 THE VEHICLE AND DISABLES MOVEMENT. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT IS EXTREMELY JARRING AND SHUTS DOWN NORMAL OPERATION, REQUIRING SOME SORT OF GEAR CHANGE OR RESTART. IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FASTER OVER THE DIP RESULTING IN A MORE BUMPY MOVEMENT. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO MOVING TRAFFIC QUICKLY. IT LEAVES THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AS WE'RE PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS A MOTHER OF 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS, I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED.

VW CALLED TO INFORM ME A THE SAFETY RECALL. THE FIRST PERSON I SPOKE WITH AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE SECOND PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED MY CAR WAS AFFECTED. WHEN I RUN MY NUMBER IN THE WEBSITE SEARCH IT DOES NOT SHOW A RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IF I WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO DRIVE MY CAR DUE TO THIS RECALL FIX YOUR SEARCH SITE. IT IS MISLEADING.