2019 Volkswagen Atlas Reliability Report

The panoramic sunroof shatters with a loud bang while driving and drops glass on the people inside. One of these reports includes an injury. Many other reports describe the engine shutting off at stops or while moving, even with stop/start disabled, and dealers often cannot reproduce it. One stalling report also mentions a strong fuel smell. Other reports cover water pump failures around 64,505 miles, a failing catalytic converter, and a transmission safety-mode warning tied to the shifter. Owners say their VINs were left out of related recalls, settlements or extended emissions coverage.

A "Brake Booster Faulty" warning flashes with brake and ABS lights. The car then brakes hard on its own, and the pedal turns spongy, jerky or hard to press. Events happen at low speeds and on the highway, including one sudden slowdown from 60 to 20 mph. The parking brake also engages by itself at stoplights or shows failure messages at startup. Dealers replace vacuum sensors or the wiring harness, but the problem often returns, and harness parts have been backordered. Owners report near rear-end collisions.

Severe shaking, a front-end wobble over bumps at highway speed, and pulling to one side point to a failing rack. In new cars, the column clicks, creaks, pops or groans when turned, and some racks are replaced by about 10,000 miles. Many reports center on replacement racks stuck on national backorder for months, with no loaner offered. Some owners are told the car is safe to drive while they wait. One report describes a locked column that kept a car under 3,000 miles from starting.

The drivetrain grinds or squeals for a few seconds when pulling away from a stop at low speed, sometimes with hesitation. Dealers often say nothing can be done. Other reports describe repeated transmission oil cooler adapter leaks, harsh or delayed shifts ending in a failed transmission with metal in the pan, and losing power at about 60 mph with EPC and check engine lights. Coolant leaks from the water pump show up around 75,000 miles. In one crash report, the car rolled into a tree after it was switched off in Drive with no warning.

Coolant goes missing with no visible leak, and the low-coolant warning returns every few days or months, often between about 8,400 and 15,000 miles. Dealers often say the coolant evaporates. One car needed a cylinder head and gaskets for a warped head. The engine also stalls when slowing or stopped, even with stop/start off, and asks the driver to restart manually. Some reports describe lost power at highway speed with the EPC light. A failed right engine mount has been unavailable, with a dealer waitlist of about 300 vehicles.

Adaptive cruise control shuts off and the car brakes hard at highway speeds, around 50 to 75 mph, with collision warnings and nothing ahead. Other owners say adaptive cruise shows an error and never works, and dealers say they cannot fix it. Two crash reports describe surges: a stuck accelerator with brakes that did not respond, which injured 2 people, and a lurch forward in a drive-thru line with the brake pressed. Another report describes stability control braking the car almost to a stop after a compact spare was fitted.

A second-row captain's chair unlatches under hard braking and throws a child forward into the front seat. Third-row seats drop down and forward hard enough to pin and injure a foot. A seat-lock indicator also fails to show when a seat is unlocked, which left a child's car seat on an unsecured seat. Two of the 3 complaints involve injuries. With so few reports, no clear mileage or repair pattern emerges.