crashtest

2024 / Volkswagen

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

5/5

Overall rating (best variant)

Safety ratings

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV AWD

5/5Overall
4/5Frontal crash
5/5Side crash
5/5Side pole
4/5Rollover
Frontal, driver: 4★Frontal, passenger: 4★Side, driver: 5★Side, rear passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 15.1%
  • Lane departure warningStandard
  • Forward collision warningStandard
  • Electronic stability controlStandard

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD

5/5Overall
4/5Frontal crash
5/5Side crash
5/5Side pole
4/5Rollover
Frontal, driver: 4★Frontal, passenger: 4★Side, driver: 5★Side, rear passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 16.9%
  • Lane departure warningStandard
  • Forward collision warningStandard
  • Electronic stability controlStandard

Crash test videos & photos

Crash test #1NHTSA test 11161

Full test report (PDF) ↗

Crash-test footage is converted for smooth playback the first time someone requests it — usually under a minute.

No. 001 - As-Delivered Right Front 3-4 View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 002 - As-Delivered Left Rear 3-4 View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 003 - Pre-Test Frontal View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 004 - Post-Test Frontal View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 005 - Pre-Test Left Front 3-4 View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 006 - Post-Test Left Front 3-4 View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 007 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 008 - Post-Test Left Side View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 009 - Pre-Test Left Rear 3-4 View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 010 - Post-Test Left Rear 3-4 View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 011 - Pre-Test Rear View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 012 - Post-Test Rear View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 013 - Pre-Test Right Side View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 014 - Post-Test Right Side View of Test Vehicle.jpgNo. 015 - Pre-Test Overhead View of Test Area.jpgNo. 016 - Post-Test Overhead View of Test Area.jpgNo. 017 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Pole Positioned Against Side of Vehicle.jpgNo. 018 - Pre-Test Right Side View of Pole Positioned Against Side of Vehicle.jpgNo. 019 - Pre-Test Close-Up View of Impact Point Target.jpgNo. 020 - Post-Test Close-Up View of Impact Point Target Showing Impact Location.jpgNo. 021 - Pre-Test Front Close-Up View of Dummy Head and Chest.jpgNo. 022 - Post-Test Front Close-Up View of Dummy.jpgNo. 023 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Dummy Showing Belt and Chalking.jpgNo. 024 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Dummy Shoulder and Door Top View.jpgNo. 025 - Post-Test Left Side View of Dummy Shoulder and Door Top View.jpgNo. 026 - Pre-Test Frontal View of Seat Back Prior to Dummy Positioning.jpgNo. 027 - Pre-Test Frontal View of Dummy Head and Shoulders in Relation to Head Restraint.jpgNo. 028 - Pre-Test Frontal View of Seat Pan Prior to Dummy Positioning.jpgNo. 029 - Pre-Test Overhead View of Dummy Thighs on Seat Pan.jpgNo. 030 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Dummy's Neck Showing Position of Adjustable Neck Bracket.jpgNo. 031 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Dummy's Head Showing Head is Level.jpgNo. 032 - Pre-Test Placement of Dummy's Feet.jpgNo. 033 - Pre-Test View of Belt Anchorage for Dummy.JPGNo. 034 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Steering Wheel.jpgNo. 035 - View of Disengaged Parking Brake.jpgNo. 036 - Pre-Test View of Parking Brake.jpgNo. 037 - Pre-Test Close-Up Left Side View of Driver Seat Track.jpgNo. 038 - Pre-Test Close-Up Left Side View of Driver Seat Back.jpgNo. 039 - Pre-Test Close-Up View of Driver Seat Back or Head Restraint.jpgNo. 040 - Pre-Test Dummy and Door Clearance View.jpgNo. 041 - Post-Test Dummy and Door Clearance View.jpgNo. 042 - Pre-Test Right Side View of Dummy and Front Seat of Occupant Compartment.jpgNo. 043 - Post-Test Right Side View of Dummy and Front Seat of Occupant Compartment.jpgNo. 044 - Pre-Test Inner Door Panel View.jpgNo. 045 - Post-Test Inner Door Panel View Showing Dummy Contact Locations.jpgNo. 046 - Post-Test Dummy Close-Up Head Contact With Vehicle Interior View.jpgNo. 047 - Post-Test Dummy Close-Up Head Contact With Side Airbag View.jpgNo. 048 - Post-Test Dummy Close-Up Torso Contact With Vehicle Interior View.jpgNo. 049 - Post-Test Dummy Close-Up Torso Contact With Side Airbag View.jpgNo. 056 - Close-Up View of Vehicle's Tire Information Placard or Label.jpg

Recalls (8)

  • SERVICE BRAKESCampaign 25V434000 · 30/06/2025

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.

    Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDERCampaign 24V723000 · 27/09/2024

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been assembled with an incorrect secondary piston spring retainer, which can block the brake fluid port.

    Risk: An obstructed brake fluid port can cause a loss of brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2024. Additionally, vehicles that were added to the population on November 21, 2024, their letters were mailed on December 2, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen Customer Relations at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 471F.

  • BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARECampaign 24V480000 · 27/06/2024

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A rearview camera with a delayed or deactivated image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2024, and July 16, 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW's number for this recall is 91US.

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALCampaign 23V593000 · 23/08/2023

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024 Atlas PA2 and Atlas Cross Sport PA vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.

    Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, engine failure may cause an oil leak which can increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 13i6.

  • BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARECampaign 26V473000 · 22/07/2026

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended.

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 28, 2026.

  • BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERACampaign 25V334000 · 21/05/2025

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to become distorted when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91SB.

  • AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERCampaign 24V464000 · 20/06/2024

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

    Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.

  • ENGINECampaign 25V100000 · 17/02/2025

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.

    Risk: A loose engine cover that contacts hot surfaces in the engine compartment can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10X5.

Owner complaints

92
Complaints
3
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Most-reported areas

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER23
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE16
  • ENGINE15
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER11
  • BACK OVER PREVENTION9
  • SERVICE BRAKES8
  • POWER TRAIN8
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

  • 12/27/2024· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

    Multiple occasions the start/stop malfunction has turned on. The brakes grind and screech horribly and I’ll get breaking malfunction warning. It has been checked by vw and they state that the brakes are fine and they’ve had several come in with same issue but there’s no recall that has been issued. They stated it is the material that was used to manufacture brake parts that cause this problem. It worries me one day they will give out. Also the error drive system has come on and it feels I lose power. I stop car and sometimes that helps as I restart. They tell me the antifreeze needs to be topped off. I’ve already had to refill in less than 3 months which I find crazy with antifreeze. No other car I’ve owned have I had to refill this so much. So several issues have occurred with this vehicle.

  • 12/26/2025· AIR BAGSCrash

    Vehicle: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport VIN: [XXX] Component: Air Bags – Frontal (Driver) Description of the problem: I am reporting a possible safety issue involving the driver front airbag. I was involved in a frontal collision in my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport that resulted in severe front-end damage. The vehicle was declared a total loss. During the crash, the driver steering-wheel airbag did not deploy. Based on the severity of the impact and damage, airbag deployment would normally be expected. There were no airbag warning lights or alerts prior to the crash that I am aware of. No injuries requiring hospital care occurred. I am submitting this report to document a potential airbag non-deployment issue for safety review purposes. Crash details (if prompted by the form): •Crash type: Frontal collision •Vehicle damage: Severe / Total loss •Driver front airbag deployed: No •Injuries: None requiring medical treatment •Vehicle towed from scene: Yes INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  • 12/26/2025· SERVICE BRAKES

    The brakes are loud, grinding, and sounds like water sloshing around. Upon research, VW knows this issues since their 22 model and has yet to address it but rather keeps using bad material brakes. The braking results in shaking when breaking especially in the colder months. This is not safe and on a brand new car, should not be happening. The dealerships acknowledged that this is a known issue with VW

  • 12/22/2023· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I was driving down the road and heard a weird noise as if something exploded…I look up and my sunroof had a big whole in it…I looked around to see if any trucks where by me and all the traffic was way behind or further up…. Nthn was near me to have cracked sunroof. I only had truck about 20 days or so… I believe it’s a defect and the dealer wants me to file it on my insurance..

  • 12/16/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

    Have had the car for about 3 months. In that time frame the main display for the radio and vehicle monitoring will go out and become unreadable. This will cause the various sensors to go inop, these include but not always the front collision/brake sensor, the lane departure system, adaptive cruise control, etc. I have had the car in three times and the dealership will reset the system, say they do a firmware update and it still has the same issues. According to the dealership VW is aware of this issue and it is affecting multiple vehicles manufactured in 2024. Have not had an incident, but have a concern that a failure could happen and the vehicle not perform as designed causing an accident. Iam not able to disable the various sensors that this head unit controls or links together with others. Not comfortable that the car is functioning to designed specs.

  • 12/16/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I noticed I had a crack in my windshield starting from the outer edge right at eye level. I got out to check what happened and noticed there was a Little Rock wedged between the windshield and the part of the car where the windshield is inlayed. There is not a weather strip or gasket covering the gap between the windshield and the car. It is exposed just enough for debris to be caught. Sure enough the pressure from that tiny rock caused my windshield to crack. I just bought my car August 2024 brand new. Had there been a protective coverings weather strip or gasket I would not be replacing a windshield. I started reading other complaints on vw forums and sure enough the new atlas’s do not have that covering. And there are numerous complaints of the same. It is continuing to crack due to the weather. Eventually it will be cracked the complete length of the windshield.

  • 12/05/2023· FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    On Two separate occasions one with me driving and the other my wife driving on interstate 84 adaptive cruise control engaged each time in a construction zone posted 70mph. The vehicle abruptly slowed down to 30mph with no warning, also there NOT any 30 mph signs. Thankfully it was not a busy part of the day, the outcome could have been disastrous. On the first occasion she was my passenger, the second I was her passenger. The vehicle is a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL with under 1000 miles on it.

  • 12/04/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

    The info center becomes unreadable therefore, if you use the back up camera, you cannot see clearly the objects behind your car. Volkswagen does not have a fix on this. They just recommend for now doing a hard reset on the info center. This is a concern of mine because it is a safety hazard when I try to use reverse I have to rely on mirrors and otherwise I have blind spots that I cannot see whereas when using the backup camera, I have full visibility of what’s behind my vehicle. Secondly, the brakes make an unusual noise. Volkswagen claims it’s dust however I have audio recording of the squealing noise and as fact, the brakes sometimes engage in a rough way to where it almost seems like they are trying to grip the disc. This is extremely concerning as Ithe brakes make an unusual noise. Volkswagen claims it’s dust however I have audio recording of the squealing noise and as fact, the brakes sometimes engage in a rough way to where it almost seems like they are trying to grip the disc. This is extremely concerning as I have lost confidence in driving my vehicle.

  • 12/02/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    Multiple error codes populated on my vehicle while driving to work. This occurred less than 3 months & less than 1500 miles since ownership. The car went into a reduced power/speed mode and advised for me to get service asap. I barely made it off the highway to my destination. Dealer said it was the fuel pump. If it was a faulty fuel pump - should I have been a part of the stop sale/recall? Engine/Transmission/PowerTrain- Error: Drive System. Please service vehicle. (Engine) Error: Start/Stop (Engine)

  • 11/29/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

    CS screen is intermittently glitching and freezing resulting screen failure. This occurs at unexpected times before starting, while sitting, while driving, while sitting still, and while parking, This failure causes me to be unable to control air, radio, maps, backup camera, and music. The safety issues have occurred when backing, I nearly backed over a person because my backup camera was blacked out and they were in my blind spot, Two dealerships have seen film of the failures but not observed it in their shop. They are never able to get me in when the system is failing. The vehicle has been in shop at least 6 times for the failure. I have dealer service tickets and a a carfax report to document the attempted repairs. I also have photos and videos of failure. The dealership I bought it from, Fowler Volkswagon, and Oklahoma City Volkswagon have both tried to fix the problem. The dealership advised me that it could not be repaired. I submitted my problem to Volkswagon , Case # [XXX], they had me take to dealer again and it could not be fixed. Volkswagon said in their denial letter to help me, "but we are not able to assist in all cases". Yes Recall #91US. The screen was replaced but problem did not stop. I am still forced to a vehicle that is unsafe and a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111. That nearly resulted in back over of a pedestrian on [XXX]. The first failure was in 2/2024. I bought the car on [XXX] from Fowler Volkswagon Norman, Oklahoma. The car had 19 miles on it. I have taken into the shop 6 times. I am [XXX], a student, and work as waitress to support myself. I bought a new car and make payments on it and it is defective and unsafe. I want my new car to function as it was designed and Volkswagon cannot fix it. They told me to go to the BBB or arbitration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  • 11/06/2025· ENGINE

    Acceleration problem upon accelerating passing a vehicle has become a safety issue. Approaching a vehicle and slowing down to pass, upon accelerating to pass, RPM drops drastically to almost a complete engine stall. I am partially in the passing lane with no power. Engine RPM then increases after the stall. I have been to the dealer with this, they cannot find the problem. No codes are set. This is a safety issue to me and other drivers approaching me due to the engine hesitation. Thank you for your consideration in this problem.

  • 11/02/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Front window glass is of defective quality. My car has 3600 miles on it and my window has cracked for the second time. Both times a small pebble hit and the glass immediately spread 8” from passenger towards the middle. Overnight the crack spreads almost a foot. I’ve had 7 cars in my 20+ years of driving and have never experienced a window this fragile.

  • 10/28/2025· STEERING

    Steering wheel locks/sticks momentarily while driving, started noticing this after driving long distances (over 60 miles) and now is starting to happen on shorter distance drives. I have taken it to a VW dealership and they "couldn't recreate the problem". When this happens, the steering locks momentarily and when trying to correct the path of the vehicle, you almost have to jerk the wheel to maintain a straight path. This makes the vehicle feel like I am zig-zagging in the lane. It happens throughout the drive, not just one time. No warning lights are shown when this occurs.

  • 10/25/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Infotainment screen has had issues since the last recall completed on or about July 21st 2025. Currently my Infotainment screen and heads up window is not operational as of October 24, 2025. I keep doing a soft reset which corrects it for may be a day or so. But clearly its only getting worse and it continues to happen even in the middle of driving. I shouldn't have to continuously reset the screen every other day. Amongst this bigger issue I also have issues with car play it doesnt work or just stops working and neither does the car charger/usb ports. They work when they get ready to. I'm also having issues with the remote start. It works when it gets ready to, with a full tank of gas. This car has 12000 miles and not having the safety components working as they should is not good. No radio no safety sensors no backup camera no navigation is a hassle that noone should be experiencing with out a fix. I know this is common I just want a permanent fix because the update recall clearly was not it.

  • 10/21/2024· PARKING BRAKE,POWER TRAIN

    The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that after pressing the engine Start/Stop button to start the vehicle in the driveway, she exited the vehicle and sat in the front passenger's seat. After 4-5 minutes, the vehicle inadvertently rolled backward while the transmission was in park (P). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle rolled over her daughter's left knee before stopping at the end of the driveway. Additionally, the "Error: Drive System. Please Service Vehicle" message was previously displayed while driving, and the parking brake was inoperable. The police arrived on the scene and filed a report. The contact's daughter received medical treatment at the hospital for knee pain and tire scratches on her right knee and feet. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnosis. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,350.

  • 10/18/2025· BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    Infotainment screen glitches and constantly reboots rendering these driving systems unusable. Warning lights everywhere.

  • 10/17/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

    Infotainment screen reset multiple times while driving. Once parked, I turned the car off and back on again to see if that would fix the issue. The screen now won’t turn on at all and multiple safety features are disabled.

  • 10/17/2025· LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    The infotainment center on my 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport went fully dead today. I reached out to VW and this is apparently a widespread issue. Along with the infotainment being dead, many of the safety systems are down, and without access to the screen I have no access to the backup camera. I am unable to adjust the climate control as well.

  • 10/16/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    My windshield developed a crack across the windshield without any impact, no rock chip, debris, or collision. The vehicle was fine when I pulled it into the garage and the next morning, the crack appeared and has continued to expanded. This appears to be a spontaneous failure. After reviewing online forums, I've found multiple reports of similar issues from other Atlas owners. This may indicate a defect in the windshield glass or vehicle design. Sudden windshield cracking could impair visibility and pose safety hazard. I am submitting this complaint in hopes that NHTSA will investigate whether this is part of a broader defect pattern.

  • 10/16/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    When pushing the gas car will not accelerate then they’ll be like a big “clunk” like it’s not into gear and then the car will slow slowly accelerate then it’ll shoot off. Also my screen goes crazy like something electrical is happening .

  • 10/09/2025· POWER TRAIN

    Persistent seat/floorboard vibration at highway speeds (60–80+ mph) on my 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport 2.0T SE w/Tech. Began after 10,000-mile service (June 2025) at Bob Boast VW (FL) and has continued despite multiple dealer visits and repairs, including tire/wheel balancing, alignment, tire replacement, and later axle + bevel box replacement (Sept 2025). Dealers verified the vibration but ultimately labeled it “operating as expected.” This is unacceptable for a new vehicle and undermines comfort, safety confidence, and value. Numerous owners report similar Atlas vibrations (driveshaft/bevel box/mount resonance). I seek formal investigation, case documentation, and relief (compensation or buyback) given repeated, unsuccessful repair attempts

  • 10/07/2024· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    To the best of my knowledge, the transmission failed to function appropriately causing danger. After pulling onto a major highway, the car stopped in front of oncoming traffic and the rpm’s shot up. After letting off the gas and pressing again, the car then shifted and was able to drive. This happened after several instances of delayed shifting noted but this is the first time it has stalled out while driving. Stalling on a major highway puts me and others at risk of crashing if I am unable to move my vehicle suddenly. No warning lamps were present then or now. According to my owners manual, I am to alert the NHTSA and Volkswagen. My next step is to reach out to Volkswagen.

  • 10/06/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,VISIBILITY/WIPER

    I purchased my 2024 Atlas Cross Sport back in March of 2024. Within the first two weeks, the 5F module that controls the entire infotainment screen went out. They completely replaced the module. Since then, I have had it in the dealership several times due to the screen completely blacking out. We are unable to see any air conditioning controls(like defrost), backup camera, or vehicle information. We have went back and forth several times about whats causing it. First there was a "recall" that a software update was suposed to fix. We had in in and they applied the update. Less than a week later, the screen blacked out again. We took it back into the dealership. They had it for another week and said that they could not replicate the issue so nothing was wrong. They then started blaming our cellphones telling us that we cant have them plugged in or connected wirelessly. The following week we kept all of our devices disconnected and had the issue happen AGAIN. We took it back and after two more weeks of repairs they replaced the entire 5F module again. Less than 24 hours after picking it up we got an airbag error. We were able to take a picture and send it into the dealership. They informed us that its a known issue and to try driving it around with nothing in the front seat. So at this point we are unable to use half of the cars capabilities and apparently not allowed to have anything laying in the passenger seat because it causes an error bag error. So we are basically driving this vehicle around not knowing wether or not the airbags would deploy in an accident. We are beyond fed up with the excuses the dealership is giving us and feel completely unsafe driving the vehicle. I found where they recalled almost 300,000 atlas SUVs last year and apparently had a recall to fix the issue. Ours should have been fixed but we are just told to not put anything in the seat to prevent the error.

  • 10/06/2023· ENGINE

    The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V593000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.

  • 10/01/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES

    Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I am writing to express my frustration with the ongoing issues with my Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Despite repeated repair efforts, the situation has become unsustainable. As a one-car household, visiting the dealership multiple times a month is both financially and personally stressful. While the service department has been excellent in trying to address the problems, the recurring issues are straining my relationship with the dealership. I need a reliable vehicle, especially given the $19,000 down payment we cannot afford to lose. We chose the SE model for ethical reasons (no leather), but it has been problematic, and we are now open to other solutions. Here is a list of issues we’ve encountered over the last 10 months: Atlas Number 1 (2 months): Loose exhaust shield Auto Start/Stop feature not functioning Start button unresponsive Rear windows would not close Infotainment system freezing Dashboard speaker grill falling off Rattle in rear door Atlas Number 2 (7 months): Front bumper damaged; required body shop repair Driver's window scratched and replaced Front parking sensors failed Windows malfunction and don’t auto close Infotainment system freezing; display going black Console cover broke twice Headlights repeatedly replaced, failing calibration Backup camera feed going black; needed replacement Headlight control module needed replacement Rattle in front door Dashboard speaker grill falling off Persistent front-end shake at highway speeds (tires rebalanced twice) Steering-responsive headlights fail to return to center, requiring a vehicle restart Recent repairs haven’t resolved these issues. The headlights still fail to center, the infotainment system continues to go black, and the backup camera still malfunctions. A software update is expected in January, but I need a solution in the meantime. Please help us resolve this situation—it's financially and practically unsustainable.

  • 09/28/2023· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Bought this vehicle on9/9/23 with 20 miles on it. 45 minutes later while driving home from the dealership the vehicle lost power and slowed to a stop in the road. We barely made it off the bridge and were nearly rear ended as it was dark. The dealership diagnosed a bad ECM. The manufacturer also inspected. The vehicle jerked consistently and grew worse before it lost power. Multiple warnings flashed and the check engine remained on. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer has rectified and says it is under review.

  • 09/24/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    On the afternoon of Wednesday August 6th I was no less that 3-4 miles from my home when the car stopped in the middle lane of a very busy 3 lane highway and never started again. It was 90+ degrees outside and even hotter inside the vehicle with leather seats. I became extremely nervous and my small 10 pound puppy began to have anxiety and overheat. When I pulled away from my home the car was bucking and jerking. The car had just completed an OTA software download and installation a few hours earlier so I assumed it was the after affect of the software update. As I pulled onto the main road the car was still driving very roughly and when I cam to a red light the car started to shake back and forth very roughly and once the light turned green I was unable to accelerate. Error messages where coming up on the screen. I tried to start the car to move out of the middle lane but it would not start. A state trooper had pulled behind me and got out to assist. She noted she saw gray smoke coming from behind the vehicle as I was driving up to the light which prompted her to get behind me initially. She and I both worked to try to get the car into park but it would not shift gears. She noted fluid was running out of the car but we both assumed it was coolant or antifreeze. She radioed the local police to assist since we were in the middle lane of a dangerous highway and I contacted VW roadside assistance. The local police officer arrived on the scene and was able to assist with getting the manual parking brake on. When the tow truck arrived he asked if the car would go into Neutral we advised NO he then stated we were standing in gasoline and if we tried to start the vehicle the car could have exploded or the engine could have caught fire. If someone had rear ended or hit us there would have been a fire because the entire gas tank has leaked onto the ground that was the fluid the state trooper saw running from the back of the vehicle.

  • 09/18/2025· ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Our 2024 Atlas Crossport has been in the shop for 22 days today. The vehicle we purchased NEW in January has been sitting at VW for 3 weeks. We dropped off our 2024 Atlas Cross Sport at 2 pm on Wednesday, August 27. The vehicle was presented for service for: -Oil change -Broken console spring -Remote start not working -Recall work Three weeks later the vehicle is STILL not ready and the service consultant, understandably, does not want to release the vehicle due to safety concerns -- this is literally mentioned in a text message. We have been told the outstanding issue involves Carnet. We have been told that multiple attempts have been made to connect with Carnet. Today we were told they have no idea when it can be fixed.

  • 09/11/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

    This was already fixed by replacing thermostat sensor but now happening again about 1 month since repair. While driving the car has a red alert come up reporting high temp pull over and my car then just loses power, ability to steer and to even be able to pull over safely (rpm’s go way up but little movement steering wheel freezes)- not when I’m at a complete stop but literally middle of driving. Not sure if it’s engine if it’s the thermostat.

  • 09/10/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT

    See attached document for complaint.

  • 09/09/2023· STRUCTURE

    Purchased car 8/22/2023 when driving from dealership to home alert came on for daytime driving light error and drivers side door was letting water intrude into the car from the bottom of the door. 8/23/2023 took it to nearest dealer and made first appointment available for repairs. Neither repair could be made by the dealership (invoice 491449) although they tried several times to adjust the door. Called VW warranty case #05862036. I was told to take new car to body repair shop (nearest shops suggested 350-540 miles round trip). When contacting suggested GMC body repair shops neither could verify contact from VW nor safety of door without visually inspecting on site. The car currently has 364 miles and has not been driven for the last 12 days because VW will not accept liability for driving with the door misaligned. Also there is no replacement available for the daytime running light nor any projected date for parts.

  • 09/03/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Automatic wipers with rain sensors are not working.

  • 08/29/2023· SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    THREE TIME WHILE IN REVERSE THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPS AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS CAR WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP TODAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE TODAY

  • 08/24/2026· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER,BACK OVER PREVENTIONCrash

    The rearview camera and infotainment display intermittently fail. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the infotainment screen goes black or freezes, disabling the rearview camera image. The vehicle must be stopped and the system manually rebooted before rear visibility is restored. The failure occurs frequently in high ambient temperatures, which in South Florida is a near-daily condition. This is the exact defect covered by Recall 24V-480, which applies to my vehicle. The recall's software remedy has been applied — and the defect has returned. The defect has been reported to an authorized Volkswagen service center on three occasions: Visit 1 (August 2, 2024, at approximately 2,630 miles — 14 days after delivery): Customer complaint recorded as "Infotainment screen is turning off and on." Dealer performed no repair and reported the system was "functioning as designed." Visit 2 (February 17, 2026, at approximately 19,742 miles): Customer complaint recorded as "Rear view camera blacks out / shows black screen / does not work properly." Dealer applied Technical Bulletin 91-24-02 and performed a radio software update from version 1969 to 1990, recording the recall as complete. Visit 3 (July 17, 2026, at approximately 23,662 miles): Customer complaints recorded as "Rear camera at time doesn't turn on" and "Radio screen goes off at time and doesn't connect back to CarPlay." Dealer performed a hard reset and stated the concern was "not present" at the time of inspection. Safety impact: Loss of the rearview camera image at the moment of shifting into reverse eliminates required rear visibility (FMVSS No. 111). The driver has a documented history of a prior backing collision, which makes this defect a direct and ongoing safety hazard to the driver, family members transported in the vehicle, and third parties. The failure is intermittent and cannot be predicted, meaning the driver cannot compensate for it in advance.

  • 08/21/2024· STEERING,SUSPENSION

    65mph or greater steering wheel and suspension vibrates. Vw claims all atlas does it and I need to deal with it.

  • 08/20/2025· POWER TRAIN

    Flawed programming of the transmission control module posing a safety risks in various low speed driving scenarios and potential repair expenses due to excessive engine strain. There is a widespread defect with the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport that may affect the Atlas as well. Many owners in Facebook groups are experiencing this defect. Despite Volkswagen, wherein referred to as VW, claiming the performance of transmission control module (TCM) is a characteristic of the vehicle, the defect affects acceleration after decelerating below 20 MPH when the operator (driver) expects the vehicle to typically reaccelerate. The flawed programming inhibits the transmission from downshifting at speeds below 20 MPH to properly reaccelerate, even in Sport Mode with the expectation of a more reactive transmission performance. The transmission remains in 3rd gear at speeds between 5-20 MPH after decelerating rather than downshifting into 2nd gear to reaccelerate; however, from a complete stop, the transmission will properly use 2nd gear; generally from 5-19 MPH. There is an audible strain on the engine when the RPM increase but the transmission does not downshift. There is a manual "trick" to signal the TCM to downshift when slowing below 20 MPH. A quick pulse of the accelerator pedal will signal the TCM to downshift and the transmission will properly operate in 2nd gear for reacceleration. The challenge is not always having enough time to pulse the pedal in congested driving situations. It's dangerous. A few examples when this is observed is during stop and go traffic, turning into parking garages with immediate inclines, merging into interstate traffic, U-turns, climbing inclines below 20 MPH, etc.

  • 08/19/2026· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION

    On August 5, 2026, my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received the remedy for Volkswagen Recall 91TV, NHTSA Recall 26V473, involving rearview-camera software. The vehicle was returned to me on August 11. On August 17, while I was actively reversing in a parking lot, the rearview-camera image froze on the center display. The image remained visible but stopped updating even though the vehicle continued moving backward. Because the displayed image no longer accurately represented what was occurring behind the moving vehicle, I nearly struck a pedestrian. No collision or injury occurred. This was the first time I had ever experienced the rearview camera freezing. Before Recall 91TV was performed, the rearview camera had operated normally when the vehicle was placed in reverse. I have had a separate front parking-camera/360-degree Area View problem since the vehicle was new. When pulling forward into a parking space, the camera interface activates automatically, but the live front/Area View image remains black until I manually press the camera control. That problem existed before Recall 91TV and also remains unresolved after the recall remedy. I am distinguishing these conditions because the front/Area View problem is longstanding, while the frozen rearview-camera image was a new failure that occurred after the recall remedy. I am reporting the sequence because the failure occurred 12 days after the recall remedy was performed by VW, while the vehicle was actively reversing, and resulted in a frozen image that no longer represented the area behind the moving vehicle, contributing to a near miss with a pedestrian.

  • 08/16/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHERFire

    Spontaneous vehicle fire which resulted in the total loss. Driver and passenger were in the car, managed to escape the vehicle,no injuries. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer or by authorized service center. Not sure if the vehicle or component have been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance representative. Police and firefighters were present on the site of incident. There were no warning lights on the dashboard prior to the incident

  • 08/11/2026· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    On two consecutive occasions, my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport suddenly lost almost all ability to accelerate after highway driving. Both times, after exiting the highway and stopping at a traffic light, pressing the accelerator would only allow the vehicle to travel a few miles per hour. The vehicle was effectively unable to accelerate normally or keep up with traffic. Turning the vehicle completely off and restarting it restored normal acceleration. The same problem occurred again the following day under similar circumstances. Multiple dashboard warnings appeared, including the check-engine light. During the second occurrence, a red coolant-related warning also appeared. I took the vehicle to an authorized Volkswagen dealer. The dealer documented a fault for “ENGINE COOLANT FLOW LOW/PERFORMANCE” and found Volkswagen TSB 01-24-06 applicable. The repair order states that DTC P00B7, P0116 or P2681 was stored in the engine/motor control module. The dealer performed the prescribed ECM programming update under warranty. The dealer inspection showed the coolant system as OK and did not identify or repair a coolant leak or replace any cooling-system components. My safety concern is the sudden, severe loss of propulsion/acceleration in normal traffic. Had this occurred while merging onto a highway, crossing an intersection, or in other high-speed traffic, the inability to accelerate could have resulted in a collision. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA has a record of this loss-of-propulsion condition and its association with the documented ECM/coolant-flow fault and Volkswagen software update.

  • 08/11/2024· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    Vehicle had multiple engine malfunction lights appear and start/stop failures. Vehicle failed to start properly and speed was limited to prevent damage engine. Happened while I was driving it and I had to pull over and had the vehicle towed. An authorized dealer, Auto Import Inc in Brainerd, MN has had the vehicle since July 29th. They are unable to diagnose the problem, want to send the vehicle elsewhere and VW quality technicians have not shown up to inspect the vehicle. I had noticed prior to the engine failure that my fuel economy was not going down with driving, but rather up, which made me suspicious. Stop and go City driving should not increase fuel economy in the manner which it was. I became nervous about fuel amounts. My last three fill ups were about 6 gallons only after driving 250 miles, equating to 40 mpg, which is way higher than any reported mpg estimate I have a customer care rep and case with VW. They are not helping me at all.

  • 08/10/2026· BACK OVER PREVENTION

    VW sent an over-the-air remote tech update on 8/8/206. Once the update was completed and the system rebooted, the rearview backup camera and cross-traffic safety system are no longer working. We tried a system reset, which did not work, and we tried a hard reset ( car was outside - doors locked and car off for 20 minutes+). Tried to get an appointment, and the dealer pushed us out 3+ weeks—this is unacceptable for a safety system issue. In addition, VW has not completed the engine cover repair/recall even though your system shows no open recalls, which is strange and unsettling. Is VW hiding recall repairs or marking them complete when not done ???

  • 08/07/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

    The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated there were audible chimes and alarms sounding during the failure. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 800. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

  • 08/06/2025· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    My new car is telling me I have a transmission problem. I got in my car to go to work and my car wouldn’t go in drive or reverse. Then my back up camera doesn’t work all the time and my screen gets blurry or complete black.

  • 08/01/2025· BACK OVER PREVENTIONCrash

    The contact's mother owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that he was dropping his daughter off at school, as he shifted into reverse (R) to exit a parking space he observed that the rear view camera image had "flashed" and then the screen went black. The contact stated that he was moving at approximately 2 MPH when he crashed into the rear bumper of the vehicle parked behind him. The contact stated that there was minor damage, paint scrapes to each bumper. The police was called and issued a report and a traffic citation to the contact. The contact stated that no person was injured. The contact stated that he had determined that there was a recall associated to his mother's vehicle VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V334000 (Back Over Prevention), however she had not taken the vehicle to a dealer to have the recall repaired. The contact had not yet taken the vehicle to be repaired or to a dealer for the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

  • 07/31/2025· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Error Drive Speed" was displayed. Additionally, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 45 MPH, with the message "Engine Overheating" displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact became aware of an abnormal coolant odor and allowed the engine to cool down for several minutes. The contact stated that the "Drive System" message was displayed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that it would take two weeks to diagnose the vehicle due to the dealer's service schedule. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 30,160. The VIN was unavailable.

  • 07/22/2024· FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    forward brake assist will fail without warning : cruise control will stop working : brakes will sometimes be applied without warning causing danger to other drivers. Dealership tried to fix multiple times without success. Dealer scan tool found intermittent code C110BFO in system but not present while in shop. I was told not to bring car back to shop unless problem was active. Since car was last in shop above problems have occurred but I am usually on the road and cannot get to shop before problems fix themselves.

  • 07/22/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    My backup camera has flickered from a black screen to visible and the backup guidelines will also occasionally flicker. My vehicle is not listed under the 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport affected by this backup camera issue.

  • 07/18/2025· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS

    1. Electrical- Ignition switch periodically does work. 2. Wheels/tires- All tires had to be replaced due to wear at just over 15,000. miles. Wear was on inside of all 4 tires equally. 3. Steering - drifts. Feels like little control over steering wheel! Happens periodically with highway speeds. 4. SUV jumps unexpectedly. 5. 4 recalls so far. Last software 7/17/2025- camera stays on reverse for at least a 5 miles then goes back. PRESTIAGE VW-Melbourne states they can't help me. No present recalls on complaints. HAS FAR AS HOW FAST I WAS GOING. IS HAD TO SAY..FROM 0-70 MILES PER HR

  • 07/18/2024· VISIBILITY

    The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the windshield cracked. The contact was unaware if there was an impact to cause the failure. The dealer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to Safelite Auto Glass. The vehicle was diagnosed by Safelite Auto Glass and the contact was informed that the windshield could not be repaired, but instead needed to be replaced. The contact stated the replacement windshield would come from the manufacturer and the dealer had no windshield available to replace the cracked windshield. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the parts to replace the windshield. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30.

  • 07/15/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The panoramic sunroof exploded, no collision or impact from debris as there were no cars around us at the time.