2024 Volkswagen Atlas Problems & Owner Complaints

Electrical System 41 1 crash 2 fire 2 injury

“Car exploded. I was driving fine with ac running when all of a sudden gray smoke came out the hood of the car. I stoped in a side street. I turned off the car and the gray smoke became black. I took my phone and ran out. As I ran the car exploded like a bomb on the street and started throwing flames. Car is completely loss. Car has been to it’s maintainer and everything and nothing found.”
NHTSA complaint #11618210, 2024 · fire · 1 injury(ies)

“I was driving on the freeway in the right lane and the lane assist forced my steering wheel to turn right causing me to collide into a concrete guard rail. Previous to that my car had been having electrical malfunctioning issues with the screen and radio.”
NHTSA complaint #11691464, 2025 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“3 weeks after buying the car, I turned it on and there was an awful clicking noise. I turned the car off and the clicking was still happening and then both door started smoking. We had to pull the battery and have the car towed. Dealership had to replace electrical panels in the doors.”
NHTSA complaint #11598416, 2023 · fire

Service Brakes 35

“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 iss…”
NHTSA complaint #11735546, 2026

“am filing a complaint regarding my 2024 Volkswagen due to ongoing safety concerns and the dealership’s refusal to properly address them under warranty. Since early ownership, I have experienced abnormal brake behavior (including a “spongy” or inconsistent pedal feel) and suspension-related issues. At under 16,000 miles, the vehicle has already shown irregular tire wear (feathering), which indicates a potential alignment or suspension defect. These issues raise serious safety concerns, particularly regarding braking reliability and vehicle stability. Despite multiple visits, the dealership ha…”
NHTSA complaint #11730307, 2026

“Brakes are constantly grinding and squeaking Seat belt sensor has an issue - Seat belt noise will continuously go off if no one is sitting in the seat If you give the SUV more gas going uphill then it gets stuck in that gear, which means there is a transmission issue. Car also randomly jolts The safety of my family is put at risk each day I drive the SUV. The dealer has not confirmed the issue and told me the brake squeaking is because of the materials used to produce the SUV. There has been no resolution after the vehicle has been inspected 3x by the Dealer. No warning messages bef…”
NHTSA complaint #11728792, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance 27 2 crash 1 injury

“I was driving on the freeway in the right lane and the lane assist forced my steering wheel to turn right causing me to collide into a concrete guard rail. Previous to that my car had been having electrical malfunctioning issues with the screen and radio.”
NHTSA complaint #11691464, 2025 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“While going through an automated car wash, I experienced a critical malfunction at the end of the belt. When it came time to shift my vehicle from Neutral into Drive, the car would not respond. Every time I attempted to shift into Drive, the emergency brake would automatically engage, preventing the vehicle from moving forward. As a result, I was stuck at the end of the car wash belt. The car behind me, unable to stop due to the forward momentum of the belt, was pushed into my vehicle. Their vehicle sustained damage from hitting my trailer hitch, although my car did not appear to be physically…”
NHTSA complaint #11672094, 2025 · crash

“When you move from reverse to drive in short spurts to park the car, the vehicle's emergency brake system turns on when nothing is in the way and causes car to lock up - beep loudly and vibrate. This is very disruptive when you try to park and scary as the car is over-reacting.”
NHTSA complaint #11724722, 2026

Unknown Or Other 26 1 injury

“On December 15th, 2025, in Bradenton Fl, I was changing a tire in front of my house's parking area. I removed the tire and properly installed the car's original jack in the correct location on the vehicle. After about a minute, the jack collapsed, and the entire vehicle, along with the rotor, crushed my right foot. I couldn't get it out and had to scream for help because of the terrible pain. After several minutes, some neighbors tried to help me, but it wasn't until about 10 minutes later that a man and his son came to my aid and used their jack to lift my vehicle. An ambulance picked me up,…”
NHTSA complaint #11712620, 2025 · 1 injury(ies)

“It's been about one month since engine light has lit up on the dashboard and stays on now. The first incident occurred about a week ago, as I was driving, I was slowing down to go into a roundabout, the vehicle begin to jerk and pull back, a red triangle exclamation mark light started going off warning me to safely park my vehicle as it had overheated. I assumed it was low on coolant so I topped it off to see if that would fix the issue. Then two days later after the first incident it occurred again. I came to a stop at a set of stoplights and when it was time to go, as I was accelerating I…”
NHTSA complaint #11748338, 2026

“Since purchasing my vehicle, the collision sensor lights on my Atlas go off quite often even if there aren’t vehicles near or by my blindspot while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11748342, 2026

Engine 25 1 fire 1 injury

“Car exploded. I was driving fine with ac running when all of a sudden gray smoke came out the hood of the car. I stoped in a side street. I turned off the car and the gray smoke became black. I took my phone and ran out. As I ran the car exploded like a bomb on the street and started throwing flames. Car is completely loss. Car has been to it’s maintainer and everything and nothing found.”
NHTSA complaint #11618210, 2024 · fire · 1 injury(ies)

“The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas suddenly lost all power and acceleration while driving at approximately 45 mph with a child passenger. There were no warning lights, messages, or abnormal symptoms prior to the failure. Pressing the accelerator pedal, including flooring it, produced no response, and the vehicle continued to decelerate. I was able to coast into a nearby neighborhood and pull off the road safely. Had this occurred on a highway, it could have resulted in a serious accident. After stopping, the engine would not restart and only made a clicking sound. The check engine light illuminated at…”
NHTSA complaint #11752042, 2026

“It's been about one month since engine light has lit up on the dashboard and stays on now. The first incident occurred about a week ago, as I was driving, I was slowing down to go into a roundabout, the vehicle begin to jerk and pull back, a red triangle exclamation mark light started going off warning me to safely park my vehicle as it had overheated. I assumed it was low on coolant so I topped it off to see if that would fix the issue. Then two days later after the first incident it occurred again. I came to a stop at a set of stoplights and when it was time to go, as I was accelerating I…”
NHTSA complaint #11748338, 2026

Power Train 17 2 crash

“While going through an automated car wash, I experienced a critical malfunction at the end of the belt. When it came time to shift my vehicle from Neutral into Drive, the car would not respond. Every time I attempted to shift into Drive, the emergency brake would automatically engage, preventing the vehicle from moving forward. As a result, I was stuck at the end of the car wash belt. The car behind me, unable to stop due to the forward momentum of the belt, was pushed into my vehicle. Their vehicle sustained damage from hitting my trailer hitch, although my car did not appear to be physically…”
NHTSA complaint #11672094, 2025 · crash

“The vehicle was driven into the garage, driver pressed park then engine stop. Driver and passenger exited vehicle, opened both rear doors and retrieved items from the rear seats. Closed rear doors. No warning sounds or lights came on when exiting the vehicle. When returning to the vehicle in about an hour it had rolled out of the garage and crashed into another garage. When the driver's door was opened the shift lever indicated PARK. The incident was reported to the dealer and taken in as soon as possible. The dealer has been unable to recreate the problem and is still researching. Very con…”
NHTSA complaint #11615416, 2024 · crash

“The vehicles Transfer Case Bevel Box Seal) has been leaking fluid. This has been inspected and confirmed by the VW Dealer. There were no warning lights for this issue. The problem was found during oil change and routine maintenance. This issue has occurred twice on this fairly new 2024 vehicle with less than 20, 000 miles. This appears to be an ongoing issue with these vehicles and a recall should be initiated by the manufacturer.”
NHTSA complaint #11740550, 2026

Back Over Prevention 9

“When first purchased the vehicle I would fuel up car with gas and was given 520 miles. Now it only allows me to have 425 Miles of gas. I can drive slow at 30 mph and it will literally take 10 miles while only driving 1 mile distance. I can’t accelerate without it draining the gas. Also Ac is malfunctioning. Blows hot air on passenger side. Every now and then driving assist , the parking assist and the radio screen will shut off by itself. I can’t take it to the dealership because they want to charge me almost $300 for a diagnostic!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11742227, 2026

“The info system screen goes blank. It will intermittently go off and return on before shutting off completely. The info screen is the only way to operate the air controls. This makes the vehicle unsafe to operate when conditions require air adjustments to keep a clear windshield. This issue also causes numerous dash alerts. Rear and front collision plus maneuver braking.”
NHTSA complaint #11694448, 2025

“Volkswagen has a bad software patch that has impacted VW Atlas' nationwide. Infotainment systems including the front and rear safety cameras as well as car controls are not accessible because the infotainment system is completely off. This is impacting the entire nation and dealerships are unable to provide updates. This is a huge safety concern. People will get hurt because of this outage.”
NHTSA complaint #11694508, 2025

Exterior Lighting 9

“The light strip / brake light on the tailgate has water inside and stopped working. Error message "please check right tail light."”
NHTSA complaint #11752999, 2026

“My vehicle is experiencing error code C123B01 were water is getting into front emblem due to a malfunctioning seal stated in there Tech bulletin 94-23-01TT which requires changing the emblem and reprogramming it. I had shut down my Day time running lights and parking lights which is a safety hazard. My Drive easy warranty is denying to fix it saying it is is on us. My vehicle was parked in my driveway and we had a lot of rain. When I got into my car the warning light was on for my DRL and parking lights. Volkswagen dealer ship pulled the exact bulletin to diagnose this issue and documented on…”
NHTSA complaint #11753008, 2026

“Since purchasing my vehicle, the collision sensor lights on my Atlas go off quite often even if there aren’t vehicles near or by my blindspot while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11748342, 2026

Air Bags 8 2 crash 5 injury

“The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle struck a deer that jumped in the middle of the roadway impacting the vehicle on the front driver's side. The contact was attempting to pull over when another vehicle rear-ended her vehicle while driving at an unknown speed, fatally wounding the driver of the other vehicle. The other vehicle had the driver as the only occupant and succumbed to their inquiries on the scene. No air bags were deployed. The "Crash Detec…”
NHTSA complaint #11622684, 2024 · crash · 3 injury(ies)

“Accident on 8.23.2024, and my driver or passenger airbags did not work, in my 2024 Volkswagen ATLAS SEL. The accident totaled my truck. The safety of myself and daughter at the time was very serious, but thankful, we came out with scratches and bruises. The problem has not been reproduce as I no longer have the truck. I sent an email (9/18/2024), to the dealer (Heritage Volkswagen Cantonsville, Manger Christopher Meagher), and he has not replied. There were no warning lights on in my truck prior to the accident.”
NHTSA complaint #11618039, 2024 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“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 unresolv…”
NHTSA complaint #11744658, 2026

Visibility/Wiper 8

“Windshield wipers go off randomly even with rain detection turned off.”
NHTSA complaint #11747858, 2026

“The rear light bar/tail light assembly fills with water and causing turn signals and light bar to intermittently not work. This occurred the first time that the vehicle was left out in the rain at approximately 65k. It is always parked covered and I do not drive in the rain. Many other Atlas have this issue much sooner if they are left in the inclement weather.”
NHTSA complaint #11721813, 2026

“The info system screen goes blank. It will intermittently go off and return on before shutting off completely. The info screen is the only way to operate the air controls. This makes the vehicle unsafe to operate when conditions require air adjustments to keep a clear windshield. This issue also causes numerous dash alerts. Rear and front collision plus maneuver braking.”
NHTSA complaint #11694448, 2025

Lane Departure 7 2 crash 1 injury

“I was driving on the freeway in the right lane and the lane assist forced my steering wheel to turn right causing me to collide into a concrete guard rail. Previous to that my car had been having electrical malfunctioning issues with the screen and radio.”
NHTSA complaint #11691464, 2025 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“While driving down a one way, my infotainment system completely shut down. The infotainment system controls lane assistance, blind spot sensor, A/C, radio etc. So when this occurred, all of the sensors in the vehicle also stopped working. As I attempted to change lanes, another vehicle was approaching on by driver side but was located in my blind spot. Because I didn't see anyone and the alert on my side mirror didnt go off, I assumed the lane was clear and attempted to merge. As I began to merge I noticed another vehicle in the lane at the last minute and clipped it (front driver side fender…”
NHTSA complaint #11695860, 2025 · crash

“software-related problem affecting the infotainment system and connected electronic sensors, including the loss of backup camera, loss of dash screen control information (black out). Loss of defrost control since it is part of hvac system controlled by video screen. Loss of sensors front and rear. Dealer has seen the car. We have called a week later. No expectation of a fix or timetable.”
NHTSA complaint #11695414, 2025

Fuel/Propulsion System 5

“When first purchased the vehicle I would fuel up car with gas and was given 520 miles. Now it only allows me to have 425 Miles of gas. I can drive slow at 30 mph and it will literally take 10 miles while only driving 1 mile distance. I can’t accelerate without it draining the gas. Also Ac is malfunctioning. Blows hot air on passenger side. Every now and then driving assist , the parking assist and the radio screen will shut off by itself. I can’t take it to the dealership because they want to charge me almost $300 for a diagnostic!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11742227, 2026

“Repeated concerns involving the reliable response to pressing the gas pedal. Directly after purchase notified dealership the vehicle felt unsafe to drive. That pressing the gas pedal did not guarantee the vehicle would predictably move forward. Response ranges from high rpm with no forward propulsion, delayed response with eventual slow or regular movement, high rpm with no forward movement when taking tight turn, feeling of incorrect gear. Most important when passing and accelerating or moving into traffic from stop you do not know how the vehicle will respond. Two Volkswagen dealers have ins…”
NHTSA complaint #11732648, 2026

“I have a 2024 VW Atlas and this is the second time I'm taking the car to the dealer to have the fuel door opened. There is a problem with the fuel door actuator and it was replaced one time about 14-16 months ago. Often the fuel door will not open and there is no pull string to open it. The fuel door locks and unlocks with the vehicle. It often sticks and it could cause a problem with someone running out of gas in their vehicle. Also - being stranded in a less than a desirable area can impact one's safety. I was fortunate - but today Im heading to the dealership to have them replace the a…”
NHTSA complaint #11706029, 2025

Vehicle Speed Control 5

“It's been about one month since engine light has lit up on the dashboard and stays on now. The first incident occurred about a week ago, as I was driving, I was slowing down to go into a roundabout, the vehicle begin to jerk and pull back, a red triangle exclamation mark light started going off warning me to safely park my vehicle as it had overheated. I assumed it was low on coolant so I topped it off to see if that would fix the issue. Then two days later after the first incident it occurred again. I came to a stop at a set of stoplights and when it was time to go, as I was accelerating I…”
NHTSA complaint #11748338, 2026

“The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle hesitated and failed to respond, while driving at 20 mph, contact depressed the accelerator pedal all the way to make it respond. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure damage was approximately 58,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11742053, 2026

“1. While backing up and going over grass (not curb), brakes slam on. Passenger was leaning forward while this happened and it abruptly jolted him. He thought I did it but my foot was on the gas to back up. Car rarely detects a large curb though. Service could not reproduce. Started in March 2025 2. While driving behind a car that is slowing down or turning, brakes will (sometimes) slam on and a loud beep and red symbol on the dash appears. While I know this is a safety feature, it happens at random. It doesn't always work at times when I am very close to a turning vehicle that decelerates qui…”
NHTSA complaint #11691188, 2024

Seats 4 1 injury

“during a low speed parking lot stop the 2nd row bench came unlatched, the seat bottom dropped and slid forward. my [XXX] son who was in his forward facing car seat slammed into the back of the driver seat. then the bench seat was jammed in this position, he was smashed and stuck between his car seat and the driver seat, the bench seat would not move, it was stuck and my child was trapped, screaming and bleeding from his face. i had to use the driver power seat functions to move it forward to get my child un trapped. once out we tended to his medical needs as he was bleeding from his face and…”
NHTSA complaint #11684955, 2025 · 1 injury(ies)

“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”
NHTSA complaint #11749424, 2026

“Infotainment display graphics issue; most controls (including disabling seat heaters) are through this screen and camera is displayed on it. Unable to see display clearly and therefore interact with controls or view backup camera to look for obstacles. Search online for "2024 atlas screen glitch" and you'll see quite a few pictures that are similar.”
NHTSA complaint #11627430, 2024

Structure 4

“The temperature was about 1 degree this morning at my home. My vehicle was parked outside. The driver's side door will not latch closed. The visible part of the latch mechanism is not frozen. I have not not gotten the vehicle to a dealer yet because I do not know how to get it there with a door that won't latch closed. I am hoping that when it warms up the door will start working properly again but this is not acceptable or safe.”
NHTSA complaint #11712060, 2026

“I bought a 2024 Atlas in March 2024. It now has 16K miles on it and it has been meticulously maintained and cared for in that time. In May 2024, my husband and I were driving down the interstate and out of nowhere, the passenger side front door popped open by itself! We took it immediately to the dealership, where they looked at it and said they couldn't recreate the problem or identify what had caused it. We chalked it up to a fluke and moved on. Today (February 21, 2025) it happened again! It was the exact same door, and the exact same scenario occurred: there was a beep, then I could hear a…”
NHTSA complaint #11644133, 2025

“Driver side rear quartet panel window cracking and disintegrating from inside the vehicle after 400 miles since new. No impact or other damage prior to crack formation.”
NHTSA complaint #11607928, 2024

Seat Belts 3

“Seatbelt buckle unbuckles randomly while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11672437, 2025

“The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with his sons in the rear seats, one of his sons informed him that his other son who was occupying the rear driver's side seat had playfully put the seat belt around his stomach and could no longer breathe. The contact stated that he pulled to the side of the road and immediately unbuckled the seat belt; however, the seat belt continued to retract and to tighten around the chest of his son. The contact stated that the seat belt did not loosen after been unbuckled. The contact was able to use an…”
NHTSA complaint #11574011, 2024

“1. The plastic piece attached to the outer section of the back passenger seats of the 2024 VW Atlas is designed where the seat belt gets easily tangled in the seat tract, allowing the seatbelt to get caught and rendering the seat inoperable. This component should be available for inspection upon request. 2. This design flaw poses a risk by potentially causing the seatbelt to get caught, rendering the seat inoperable. In the event of a crash or sudden stop, this issue could compromise the effectiveness of the seatbelt, jeopardizing the safety of the occupants. 3. I am unsure if any other VW cus…”
NHTSA complaint #11562440, 2023

Steering 3

“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 iss…”
NHTSA complaint #11735546, 2026

“since purchase the car when holding steering straight veers to the left into oncoming traffic. vehicle has been to service 9x work on the subframe was completed at the first go..significant work that VW Corporate could not explain on a new car coming off the line. attempts since from most recent road force 4 wheel balance. car still pulls to the left. VW corporate was notified we would like a replacement but they still want to send the car back to service again. transparency has not been at the front of this case, they cant answer questions when directed asked esp regarding subframe work.”
NHTSA complaint #11704003, 2024

“The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle independently veered to the right. The failure recurred severely times and independently veered to the left or right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,200.”
NHTSA complaint #11583411, 2024

Wheels 2

“am filing a complaint regarding my 2024 Volkswagen due to ongoing safety concerns and the dealership’s refusal to properly address them under warranty. Since early ownership, I have experienced abnormal brake behavior (including a “spongy” or inconsistent pedal feel) and suspension-related issues. At under 16,000 miles, the vehicle has already shown irregular tire wear (feathering), which indicates a potential alignment or suspension defect. These issues raise serious safety concerns, particularly regarding braking reliability and vehicle stability. Despite multiple visits, the dealership ha…”
NHTSA complaint #11730307, 2026

“I am writing to formally report repeated and serious defects with my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, VIN [XXX] , which I leased in California. These defects occurred well within the vehicle’s first year and while under factory warranty. Brake System Defect At 8,405 miles, the vehicle received its 10,000-mile maintenance. At 9,340 miles, brake pads measured 10 mm front / 8 mm rear, reflecting nearly new condition. By 13,175 miles, the pads had separated from their backing plates, causing scoring of the front rotors. Told they crumbled by the dealership. Dealer performed a “one-time goodwill repair”…”
NHTSA complaint #11723774, 2024

Engine And Engine Cooling 1

“The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle there would be a knocking sound coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The failure occurred approximately three times. The accelerator pedal would fail to move the vehicle without flooring the accelerator pedal intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number23V593000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage wa…”
NHTSA complaint #11548718, 2023

Fuel System 1

“Fuel sending unit not reading properly. Cannot tell when I need to refuel.”
NHTSA complaint #11661412, 2025

Suspension 1

“am filing a complaint regarding my 2024 Volkswagen due to ongoing safety concerns and the dealership’s refusal to properly address them under warranty. Since early ownership, I have experienced abnormal brake behavior (including a “spongy” or inconsistent pedal feel) and suspension-related issues. At under 16,000 miles, the vehicle has already shown irregular tire wear (feathering), which indicates a potential alignment or suspension defect. These issues raise serious safety concerns, particularly regarding braking reliability and vehicle stability. Despite multiple visits, the dealership ha…”
NHTSA complaint #11730307, 2026