2025 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS Complaints

I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a defective vehicle I purchased new, a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, on April 7, 2025. Since the time of purchase, the vehicle has experienced persistent and significant issues with the infotainment system that substantially impair its usability, safety, and value. The infotainment system repeatedly disconnects from both wired and wireless connections to my cellphone. When the system disconnects, it does not reconnect at all during the drive. This results in loss of GPS navigation and hands-free phone functionality, creating a safety concern. I have made extensive efforts to have this issue resolved. The vehicle has been taken to two authorized dealerships on ten separate occasions for service on the following dates: June 11, 2025 October 20–21, 2025 October 27–29, 2025 November 17–21, 2025 December 17–18, 2025 February 9, 2026 April 21–23, 2026 June 29-30, 2026 July 28, 2026 August 24-25, 2026 I have also contacted Volkswagen customer care regarding these issues; however, the matter remains unresolved despite my good-faith efforts to address it through authorized service channels. A case number with Volkswagen is available upon request. Multiple service representatives have verbally acknowledged that the infotainment issue is affecting other drivers and has been a known issue for years. This information was never disclosed by any sales representative at the time of purchase. I believe this represents a misleading and potentially predatory sales practice. Had I been informed of these known and ongoing issues, I would not have purchased this vehicle. Despite these repeated repair attempts, the issue remains unresolved, with the latest disruption occurring on September 3, 2026.

While driving my vehicle it stopped in traffic and would not drive. I got a transmission failure alert followed by warnings after. Vehicle was stuck in neutral without options to drive or reverse. Extremely dangerous occurrence while driving. Police assisted because this caused a dangerous situation on the road. I made a video of all alerts on vehicle. VW Service states since they can’t reproduce it or have a code they cannot do anything. I also called VW support to open case. This occurred on XXX. Police report was also filed in [XXX] since it was stopped in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On August 31, 2026, while driving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport on the highway, multiple warning lights illuminated and the vehicle stopped operating while I was in traffic. The sudden loss of vehicle operation created a serious risk of a collision and placed me and other motorists in danger. This vehicle has experienced repeated problems including rough operation, hesitation/loss of acceleration, warning lights, engine/misfire-related faults, and powertrain concerns. The vehicle has previously been presented to Volkswagen dealerships for diagnosis and repair, but the problems have continued. On the date of this incident, the vehicle again displayed three warning lights and then became inoperable while being driven on the highway. I am now afraid to operate the vehicle because I do not know when it may lose power or stop again. Volkswagen had a service appointment scheduled for the vehicle that day, but the appointment was canceled because the dealership stated that no loaner vehicle was available. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this repeated loss-of-power/stalling condition because a vehicle that can suddenly stop operating in highway traffic presents a serious safety hazard.

The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the autonomous braking system was negatively affected by roadway passing underneath the highway. The system mistakenly determined that the vehicle was on the lower roadway, causing the brakes to apply erroneously. The contact stated that the failure was caused by Volkswagen's Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control. During the failure, the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel and the message curve ahead, reduce speed was displayed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and email. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the issue was deemed not to be a safety concern by the service department.

TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS UP ON DASH RANDOMLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL STOPS WORKING, HEADS UP DISPLAY BECOMES UNABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. LANE DEPATURE STOPS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS BEGIN TO DISPLAY. EXTREMLY DANGEROUS

I have had several malfunctions in the past year with my brand new 2025 atlas. It started 6 months into my lease when it threw 7 different lights while driving down the street. I stopped at a light and put the car in park. After that it would not go back in drive. I had to get pushed out of the road with all my kids in the car. And have it towed to the dealership. They stated it just needed an update. After that everything started failing. The sunroof motor had to be replaced. The inside dome lights had to be replaced. The window motor had to be replaced. The infotainment system has repeatedly failed, been replaced and still fails. It has been a total nightmare

Car has been to [XXX] in [XXX] many times as the screen will go blank and freeze. Unable to change radio or temperature. Can not see when I go in reverse. I have to turn off the car for 30 mins to have the screen to work again. Volkswagen has been not helpful. Car gps and compass shows I’m in a different city. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Failure of brake booster and master cylinder. Failure caused breaks to malfunction, not allowing the vehicle to break appropriately. To break, you had to step on the break very hard, break pedal did not have usual pressure. No leakage visible on the ground outside of the car. When starting the car (usually you must press on breaks) it was already obvious something was wrong. After starting the car got a warning light about break malfunction and was alerted to contact my local dealership. The car was taken to a Volkswagen dealership and is currently being repaired. It was inspected by a technician in the service department and we are waiting on replacement parts. I am still waiting on a full invoice report from the dealership. The car is less than a year old and has around 7,000 miles on it.

While driving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral without any action from the driver. I was driving with my daughter when this occurred. After the vehicle shifted into neutral, it would no longer shift back into drive, and I was unable to continue driving normally. This resulted in an unexpected loss of propulsion while the vehicle was being operated on the road. the vehicle had to be stopped and requires dealership inspection. I am concerned this is a serious transmission or electronic transmission -control safety defect because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose drive power while moving. The Vehicle was towed to VW car dealership in Clarksville Tn, where I reported the incident to the service employee at the desk. I would hope that the NHTSA document the unexpected shift to neutral and loss of ability to select Drive.

Windshield cracked a singular crack from the top to the bottom of windshield after lifting car with spare tire jack.