8.5

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,585 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Volkswagen Atlas engine problems

engine problem

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2019 Volkswagen Atlas Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

Sep 282023

Atlas

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My '19' Atlas had given me several issues after 2 years. The engine light has illuminated several times. Im not sure if is just being reset or if the problem is actually being fixed. At any rate, I have continuously complained about smelling coolant since Feb 21. Only to bring vehicle in, have the coolant topped off, and hear it's nothing's wrong. It has been checked and inspected and yet there has been no headway of the originating of the issue. The dealer has changed the canister & head gasket a few times (even speculated water pump issues). It was said the problem had been fixed. That statement couldn't be more INACCURATE a few weeks ago I was told I needed a new head/spark plugs and the block was warp and I would not be able to drive it until it was repaired (a $5k job). My vehicle is 4 years old it is well kept and is always in for scheduled/routine maintenance. I was told this is a known issue. Had I been told this before buying, I would of reconsidered my purchase. Why isn't this a manufacturers recall? Or the buyer isn't informed. The manufacturer should be mandated to use reliable materials for this vehicle. For a vehicle to fail at 70k is insane. I am utterly disgusted. In addition, the collision display randomly comes on while driving and vehicle often halts unexpectedly. Unsafe if driving on the road with other vehicles. I have brought it to the dealers attention several times unsure if it has been annotated but I am always told bring it back if it does it again. And no solution has been given. This has been a problem well over a year and a half. AGAIN this should be a recall issue. I love this vehicle and want to keep it but these experiences will definitely detour me from future purchases of the VW brand.

- Hampton , VA, USA

problem #37

Aug 192023

Atlas

  • miles
Unit will not start when showing 1/4 tank of fuel on a 3.85 degree decline. Fear of duplication of condition while in use on roadside. Condition is normal according to the manufacture. Condition is normal according to the manufacturer. P0089 and P0087 active with 1/4 tank on MFD display on a 3.85 degree decilne.

- Carlisle, PA, USA

problem #36

Aug 152023

Atlas

  • miles
Engine shutting off intermittently. Engine has hut off at 10 mph currently. No, "not able to be recreated". No, but VW is aware of complaints at this time. Please restart engine manually was the only thing displayed.

- Carlisle, PA, USA

problem #35

Jun 012022

Atlas

  • 29,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated the vehicle had stalled 5 times while driving. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact also received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V215000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Mathews, AL, USA

problem #34

Mar 012023

Atlas

  • miles
Low coolant level warning comes on every few days. I've taken the car to the dealership and they say it's a common issue. There doesn't seem to be a fix as far as I know.

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #33

Feb 142023

Atlas 4-cyl

  • miles
My vehicle has completely just shut down atleast five times since owing it. I have a special needs son who is in the vehicle with me all the time. The vehicle engine will shut down with no warning and not restart. Traffic behind me not aware that my vehicle has shut down after the light has turned green. It has shut down at various times in the middle of traffic. I-€™m fearful for myself and child that an accident is just a matter of time. I read complaints from others who state they have experienced the same problem. I-€™m concerned for the SAFETY of others and me and my son. No warning is given before it just dies. I don-€™t feel safe in this vehicle. This vehicle needs to be FIXED immediately. My vehicle has approximately 38,000 miles on it currently. This occurred either when I have stopped completely at a light, or when trying to start up the vehicle. Respectfully, VAP

- Mathewd, AL, USA

problem #32

Dec 232022

Atlas

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Every display ECM warning light has come on. Yes, it is reproducible. All ADAS failed at once. Normal system such as brakes, steering, electrical & head unit display becomes random.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

problem #31

Dec 012022

Atlas

  • miles
Car engine turns off while driving and says start engine. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. Car stop in traffic and I was almost hit by the car behind me on multiple occasions. I had 6 children in the vehicle at the time who would-€™ve been seriously injured or dead as the car behind me was going at least 70 mph and my car halted out of nowhere. Nothing has been confirmed for my vehicle specifically but vehicles like mine have had the same issue. The car was inspected once and they said they couldn-€™t find a problem. The check engine light came on.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #30

Sep 162022

Atlas

  • miles
I own a 2019 vw atlas and I had called the dealership about low coolant level light that had came on and you know what I was told it-€™s common in the atlas-€™s and that they just use coolant and I-€™m thinking to my self that cars don-€™t just use coolant and I-€™m finding out more and more a lot of people are having this issue the funny thing is that the had told me to just come on down and they will top it off with coolant

- Glencoe , OK, USA

problem #29

Sep 282022

Atlas

  • miles
On two occasions the Auto Start/Stop system has engaged and turned off the engine at a stop light (performing correctly), but then failed to restart the vehicle. The vehicle did not provide any error message, it just did not try to restart and began rolling forward when the brakes were disengaged. The vehicle was then required to be placed in park and manually restarted. This presents a safety concern at a stop light as you could be rear ended if the car behind you is anticipating you to start driving.

- Salisbury, MD, USA

problem #28

Aug 262022

Atlas

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Problem first started in April 2022, start/stop malfunction, then the engine light would come on and car would decelerate until I pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine. Once it restarted then it was okay. Brought it to the Dealer and they fixed it. Got the car back and it was working fine. However we noticed that the car RPMs would go up when pressing on the brake. Then in July into August while driving on the toll-roads at 65-70 mph, car engine would make straining noise then ETC and engine light come on, then the car decelerate. We press on the gas pedal and it would not pick up speed. It drastically reduced speed from 70 mph to 55mph. We would have to move to the shoulder and turn car off. Wait then then start the car. The car would be fine for another 2 weeks, before doing same thing. Finally on 8/26/22 it did same thing reduced speed on toll-road, would not pick up speed, ETC and Engine light came on with radiator light. But then it also overheated. We drove it home at 15mph. Then had it towed to dealer to be fixed, the radiator light was still on. We are hoping that this time it will be fixed and not cause any more trouble. Dealer is working on fixing the problems.

- Coconut Creek, FL, USA

problem #27

Apr 252022

Atlas

  • miles
I bought the car new 2 years ago and the issues began around 11k miles and have continued every several months to it is current 45k mileage. On 4 occasions my car has powered down while driving speeds approximately 60mph and began shaking with the EPC and check engine light becoming illuminated. Of those occasions, 3 of which I was able to get the car to the side of the road and restart it to get to a servicer. 1 of those times I had to have to towed. On the fifth occasion the car began shaking and worsened with accelaration with both the check engine and epc light on. The dealer has only changed a coil to date. Other occasions they repaired recalls in hopes of stopping. Several times I have been told it was a misfire and they could not pinpoint the issue.

- Centreville , MD, USA

problem #26

Aug 012020

Atlas

  • miles
First issues started with the engine surging at low speeds or coming to a stop which progressed into complete engine stalls. Had the car at the dealer 3 different times, it doesn-€™t stall anymore but still surges. Have had multiple occurrences of instrument panel indicators going off to include Error:airbag, seatbelt light and beeps while seatbelt was fastened, frontal crash warning lights and sounds as well as watch for rear traffic lights and sounds (one being while I was backing out of the garage where there are no cars) and the last being engaging the parking brake multiple time while at a stop light. This vehicle definitely does not feel safe for me to drive myself and 2 children around in. A major accident could occur if airbags deploy randomly or don-€™t deploy when needed or if the parking brake is engaged while in motion and not while at a light next time. I don-€™t see how any of these issues aren-€™t a recall or being told by dealers that they-€™ve never heard of an issue before.

- Orange Park, FL, USA

problem #25

Jul 012021

Atlas

  • miles
Purchased car from VW on 04/24/21. Noticed an issue the car breaking on its own at low speeds less then 5mph and then completely shutting off, about a month into owning it. 08/19/21 car was taken in for service to fix the automatic breaking issue/shutting off. Car was returned to me about a week later stating the "problem" was fixed. In December 2021, I started noticing the problem again, as this point I assume since the "problem" was fixed maybe this was just how the car was. Finally in March of 2022 while driving at a speed of about 30MPH the car started breaking on its own and completed shut off in the middle of driving! At that point it called my local VW and told them they need to take the Car in ASAP to have it looked at the fix this problem once and for all, as of now this is a MAJOR safety issue. Myself and my children could have been seriously injured from this incident!! After my local VW having the car for a few hours they called and said the issue was the newest recall with the door wiring harness and they will have my car for the "unforeseeable" future due to no repair in place at this time. Even if they claim to have "fixed" this issue again, I will never trust them as they claimed to have fixed it a previous time and they clearly DID NOT!!

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

problem #24

Nov 082021

Atlas

  • miles
Vehicle is completely shutting down while in drive. Occurring during acceleration and deceleration. No warning given before car shuts down. Just immediately stops in road. I had to restart car and avoid traffic. Dealership has been notified. Service department has stated there is a solution but no availability of parts. Suggested appointment for service to inspect vehicle and to put order in for recall part. Will inspect car but says the vehicle issues seem related to the recall. Unable to provide loaner cars and unable to provide date that part will be available. Service department does not have date of when part will be available, anticipates one to two months. Dealership has been notified. Service department has stated that car should be safe to drive even with no remedy for recall at this time. Owner told its kind of just a faith thing right now and it should be okay to drive. False warning sensors illuminating when vehicle is being driven. Forward collision warning lighting up while driving but no vehicles or objects in front of vehicle. Dealership has been notified. Service department indicates it may be related to the recall. Driver side window hesitating to roll up and down. Window has moved without the driver pushing window button. Intermittent parking break sensors go off and emergency break automatically stops car. Message appearing that there is rear traffic. Occurs when no other vehicle, persons, and or objects are in the vehicle's rear area. When reversing I physically am using the vehicles mirrors and my own vision before making any attempt to reverse. This false alarm and sudden emergency break initiated by the car causes a major safety concern for the driver, passenger, as well as the safety of everyone in the area of the vehicle. Warning for Airbag error appears randomly and then dissapears. This is a major saftely concern for the driver and family. First recall for Front Stabilizer Coupling Rod completed 12/22/2021.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #23

Feb 112022

Atlas

  • miles
The vehicle has had issues with the torque converter, head, head gasket, electrical system, gas cap door, seat belt. VW has not been able to fix the issues

- Groton, CT, USA

problem #22

Dec 102021

Atlas

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormal squealing noise while accelerating from a stationary start. The contact indicated that the noise was present for approximately three seconds before ceasing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced an engine valve however, the failure continued. No further information was available. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #21

Mar 052022

Atlas

  • miles
Coolant cap repeatedly came loose after 15,000 miles triggering low Coolant warning to come on. Appears to be a cap or reservoir issue.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #20

Sep 242021

Atlas

  • miles
While at stop light or stopped for another reason (i.e. stop sign, turning, etc.) engine shuts off (Auto on/off is always disabled), alert on dashboard says -€œPlease Start Engine Manually-€. Cars behind me have come within inches of slamming into me due to sudden engine shut off.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #19

Sep 032021

Atlas

  • miles
The stop start system is faulty. I was at a stop sign and when I tried to go -€œstart engine manually-€ pops up on the screen. I had to put the car in park at a busy intersection and restart the car.

- Long Beach , MS, USA

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