NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2021 Volkswagen Atlas (Page 1 of 5)

9.5

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,135 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.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas electrical problems

electrical problem

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2021 Volkswagen Atlas Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #89

Mar 202023

Atlas

  • miles

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

I was sitting at a stop light and the car just SHUT OFF and would not re-start. It was very dangerous. The start/ stop system was enabled as it always is - since it defaults to this feature when you start the vehicle. The electronics starting glitching when the car shut off. This is not the 1st time the car would not start, it has happened 3x over the course of 3 weeks. When we try to jump start the vehicle it has taken up to 30 minutes to sit on charge to get the car to turn over. We have had the battery tested and charged at VW all test come back that it is a good battery. Seems that the start/stop system is faulty and drains the battery. I have spoke to VW and booked an appointment to have the look at this issue. Something is Seriously wrong with this vehicle and start/stop system. I have read many posts that I'm not alone with VW Atlas leaving families in dangerous situations because the car just shuts off and won't re-start.

- Mount Holly, VT, USA

problem #88

Feb 032023

Atlas

  • miles
Engine cuts off at slow speeds or at a stop. Engine failure requires placing vehicle in park and restarting. This occurs at least once per day. Display notes that vehicle requires manual restart. Took to dealer and they advised nothing was wrong.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #87

Dec 252022

Atlas

  • miles
As part of the existing recall on my vehicle, I am noticing serious mechanical issues ranging from the parking brake engaging when approaching a stop, the rear window rolling down (it's 0 degrees out), failure of Adaptive Cruise Control and a host of other electrical issues. The dealer is unable to see the car for 3 weeks and despite acknowledging my problems are consistent with the recall and have no loaner available for me in the meantime. VW Care informed me that my only recourse is to "call around" until I find one that can help me sooner. They will not offer to reimburse for a rental vehicle. This is unacceptable, the problem is not the dealer but a mechanical issue and VW needs to recognize that if their dealerships can't help because of workload then they need to support their customers.

- Kenosha, WI, USA

problem #86

Nov 272022

Atlas

  • miles

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

While driving in a city, the emergency parking brake would switch on everytime i slowed down or came to a stop. Multiple other warnings happened such as lane assistance unavailable. And one of my windows would roll down part way.

- Hoboken, NJ, USA

problem #85

Nov 212022

Atlas

  • miles
Once starting the vehicle, the light comes on the dashboard; the notification states that the start/stop function malfunctions, the emergency break malfunctions, other multiple errors come in effect. Once coming to a stop light and the brakes are engaged to slow down, the emergency brakes engage and the car locks up. Almost got into an accident 6x. Immediately made an appointment to fix the recall and request for a loaner or rental vehicle, ignored by the dealership with a message of -€œwill call-€. The door becomes inoperable; can only open and close. Does not unlock/lock or roll down the window. The back driver side window automatically opens about 4 inches without consent.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #84

Nov 012022

Atlas

  • miles
We have an open case with Volkswagen, but the remedy part is on back order, in the meantime we have to use this unsafe car. The dealership where car was purchased from is not providing a loaner/rental despite being told by our Volkswagen care team specialist that he is obligated to. The car emergency brake comes on at every stop(I-€™m shook at every stop, knots in my stomach every single stop I make, stop sign, trying to park, red lights), driver side front and back windows open spontaneously, non stop beeping(anxiety inducing) when car is parked idle, driver side window doesn-€™t open manually pressing the button, CAR DOES NOT LOCK On driver door, like not at all, alarm will go on sometimes when opening, but it is never locked posing a serious threat, anyone can open my door if I am stoped at a light, or idling in car. Car can be stolen at any point, I feel unsafe and very distressed.

- Staten Island , NY, USA

problem #83

Sep 072022

Atlas

  • miles

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

As there are several recalls on this vehicle Service Action #'s 91CZ- 91DE I'm not sure if the vehicle is safe to drive. My dash information panel is always changing settings between start ups. There are numerous reports of braking issues with these models and side air bags malfunction. Have had the upgrades done by the dealership to correct my issue, but the problem still remains. Please advise on any action that I can take to get the issue resolved. Thanks

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

problem #82

Jul 292022

Atlas

  • miles
When I was pulling out of a parking lot my rear drivers side mirror went down by itself and then my parking brake came on - I received an error saying "Error: driver door contact switch". I stopped my car and turned it off and then started it again and the error message went away. Four days later the same thing happened but I also received two more error messages "Fault: Electronic parking brake" and Error: Start/Stop as well as the same error as before :Error: driver door contact switch". I have my car scheduled to take it to the dealership tomorrow 8/4 at 8am and I am hoping this can be fixed as this is a big safety issue.... I have three children that are also in the car with me each day so it is imperative to have this rectified as safety is my top priority.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #81

Mar 122022

Atlas

  • miles
My vehicle experience inadvertent windows rolling down, inadvertent parking brake engagement at low speeds and a warning regarding a faulty door sensor on multiple occasions.

- Mead, WA, USA

problem #80

Apr 012022

Atlas

  • 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the message "Apply Brakes" displayed and the vehicle abruptly stopped. During the failure, there were no other vehicles or objects were nearby to cause the Forward Collision Avoidance safety feature to be activated. In addition, the contact indicated that while driving the vehicle, safety messages would be displayed that included the cruise control and parking sensors unavailable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V152000 (Air Bags); which included a wiring harness repair however, the parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was 31,000.

- Stockton, NY, USA

problem #79

Apr 042022

Atlas

  • miles

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

VW Atlas 2021 is having issues with the driver side harness which there is an active recall without repair for. Car started to show error messages related to parking brake, air bag functionality, windows roll up and down, parking brake has engaged while driving in early April. Multiple dealers contacted and no loaner vehicle or repairs identified or offered. Car feels completely unsafe to drive due to random braking and error messages.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #78

Mar 162022

Atlas

  • miles
This vehicle will suddenly just stop driving, including highway speeds. There is no rhyme or reason why this happens. Volkswagen of America refuses to assist, along with Volkswagen of Boise, Idaho refuses to look at the vehicle. After several attempts to have them diagnose the vehicle they refuse as the Service Manager has -€œbanned-€ us from coming there. The Service Manager and General Manager are racist since we were from California. We now have a vehicle that does not operate due to a recall and cannot service at the local authorized dealership. The next closest dealership is approximately 160 miles away. Many of my neighbors from California has said the same issue, and sold their vehicles just because they could not service the vehicle at Boise Volkswagen.

- Star, ID, USA

problem #77

Mar 152022

Atlas

  • miles
Car will brake unexpectedly while driving which almost caused me to have several accidents while approaching traffic lights. Windows also open unexpectedly. All dashboard lights turn on while driving. Not very safe to drive at all.

- Islip Terrace , NY, USA

problem #76

Mar 032022

Atlas

  • miles
Brought to dealer on 3/04/2022 engine check light was coming on and off at time and hill start assist error, drivers door module wire harness has shorted out and parts are on back order. Power seat moving by itself. Driver side rear window going down by itself. Remote start not working. Emergency brake not working and applying itself while driving. Issue still has not been resolved.

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #75

Apr 042022

Atlas

  • miles
The auto stop start, stops requiring restarting of vehicle. When at a stoplight and removing foot from the brake to proceed, all the warning lights and sound notification along start. This is a huge distraction and dangerous driving condition. The start/ stop totally turning off the vehicle at stop lights and not restarting the engine is a collision hazard.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #74

Apr 262022

Atlas

  • miles
While the vehicle is in motion, the warning buzzer keeps dinging saying the engine is running. The red flashing light (in the door) flashes. Keep getting the warning triangle for the door harness problem. Also keep getting ERROR:START/STOP. My parking park has also engaged a couple of times while in motion. This is dangerous and needs immediate attention. This happens every day.

- Dawsonville, GA, USA

problem #73

Apr 232022

Atlas

  • miles
3 notices come up on dash. -€œAttention:vehicle is on-€, -€œerror: driver door contact switch-€ & then -€œfault: electric brake. The car beeps like crazy, driver side windows roll down on their own about 4 inches (rear and front). E brake has come on while driving. Left mirror blinker does not work. This is started happening intermittently only when turning car on - turning it off and back on helped at first, then less often now even less often however it does happen randomly when I am driving or stopped at a stop sign/stop light. Have owned the Vehicle for only around 6 months, with 5k on odometer.

- Anacortes, WA, USA

problem #72

Mar 022022

Atlas

  • miles
3/2/22 - radio randomly displayed "Loading...." 3/5/22 - message displayed about driver door contact switch 3/12/22 - message displayed saying "Fault: Electronic parking brake". Another message was displayed saying "Attention: The engine is running". About 8 hours later, I was approaching a red light, when I put on the brake to slow down the parking brake self engaged causing me to come to a sudden stop. The car behind me almost rear-ended me. Twenty minutes later I tried to roll down the driver's window. It would not roll down, then the back driver's window started rolling down, then the front driver's window rolled down, then both windows was going up and down.

- Hickory, MS, USA

problem #71

Apr 162022

Atlas

  • miles
Sometime in Dec 2021, i have started experiencing issues with the car where the driver side back window rolls down warning messages popup saying driver side door fault etc with the check engine light coming on. What is concerning is when the vehicle is going at slow speeds (<5mph), the electronic parking brake engages automatically making the vehicle come to a sudden stop with jerks. Weird thing is, the problem is present on some days and some days the vehicle is completely normal without any warnings, sounds etc. Took the vehicle in for an oil change and routine maintenance and was told this is a known issue and there is a recall on it, bit no fix available.

- Matthews, NC, USA

problem #70

Jan 192022

Atlas

  • miles
My vehicle is engaging the parking brake, uncontrolled window movement, and giving engine light on.

- Kathleen, GA, USA

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