Volkswagen Atlas Transmission Problems
62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across 8 model years.
Complaints by Year
Worst year: 2019. Best year: 2022.
Owner Reports
A representative sample of complaints filed with NHTSA.
While going through an automated car wash, I experienced a critical malfunction at the end of the belt. When it came time to shift my vehicle from Neutral into Drive, the car would not respond. Every time I attempted to shift into Drive,...
The vehicle was driven into the garage, driver pressed park then engine stop. Driver and passenger exited vehicle, opened both rear doors and retrieved items from the rear seats. Closed rear doors. No warning sounds or lights came on wh...
I PULLED TO THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH THE BUTTON BUT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND IT DID NOT ADVISE ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO ROLL BACK INTO A TREE. EVERY OTHER CAR I OWN...
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP ON A CITY STREET AFTER FULL APPLICATION OF BRAKES CAUSING COLLISION AND DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER . I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM WALKS WAGON THAT CERAMIC COATING ON THE BRAKES NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND W...
WE BOUGHT THIS NEW VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 8, 2019. AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR PROTRUDED FROM THIS VEHICLE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND WHEN TURNED OFF. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING PAINT OR AN ENGINE BURNING SMELL. IT WAS NAUSE...
Bought it with 39k miles on it. A year old. within thirty hours I was trying to return from a trip and when I turned the key the car powered on but the engine didn’t turn over and several error messages popped up including a transmissi...
At 10,000 miles Upon starting the vehicle, it appeared to operate normally with no warning messages displayed. However, immediately after beginning to drive, the transmission began shifting extremely harshly between gears. Within a short...
On April 20, 2026, my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas (approx. 31,000 miles) experienced a sudden malfunction where the vehicle became stuck in neutral and would not shift into drive or reverse, despite starting normally. This occurred without war...
The Bevel Box was broken due to a defect CV axle. The axle pushed out of the bevel box and separated at the cab joint.
EHICLE SAFETY DEFECT — INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE & TRANSMISSION/SHIFTER FAILURE My 2025 Volkswagen Atlas has two serious, ongoing safety defects that Volkswagen and the dealership have failed to repair. The digital speedometer/instr...
This problem was noticed shortly after vehicle was purchased and it could potentially be dangerous; although there has been no accidents yet. After waiting at a light or waiting to make a turn when clear, there is an unusually long or sl...
Vehicle often stalls at stops, been doing a lot of research and a lot of people have the same issue all over forums with the VW atlas across all years, its a safety issue that needs to be addressed. most of the forums and VW techs say i...