2019 Volkswagen Atlas Transmission Problems

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine and the HVAC systems. Specifically, a persistent "ghost misfire"—where the engine vibrates and shudders without triggering a dashboard warning light—and a total heater failure.

I bought the car new 2 years ago and the issues began around 11k miles and have continued every several months to it is current 45k mileage. On 4 occasions my car has powered down while driving speeds approximately 60mph and began shaking with the EPC and check engine light becoming illuminated.

First time I had a transmission leak was @215 miles. They replaced the transmission oil cooler adapter. Just rolled over 30k, and have had 2 other toca replaced since then.

Car just stops when leaving a parking lot and my driveway , no other cars are in the area. Braking is jerky alert system goes crazy with no one around the car just stops. This happen to us a total of 7 times so far.

While exiting parking lots at low speeds, the braking system slammed on the brakes bringing my car to a complete stop. One exit had somewhat of a steep slope , the other one was almost flat. Thankfully no one was behind me or I could have easily been rear ended since nothing was around me and nothing else could have caused the brakes to slam on.

When the vehicle comes to a stop and the auto start/stop activates, the vehicle will sometimes not auto restart and will display, "please manually restart the engine". In order to follow the prompts and start the vehicle again, you have to put the vehicle in park and push the ignition button.

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.

On several occasions, the vehicle has stalled completely while at red lights or stopped in traffic, both in the city and on major highways. (the date provided is the most recent, but the condition has happened since the purchase in august 2019). I've had to completely restart the car.

When moving and under a load at lower rpms the transmission makes a screeching noise like something is grinding. Have brought this in to the dealer only to be told that it is "normal" for vw atlas vehicles. I feel that this cannot be normal and do not trust this answer from vw especially after we were lied to about the diesel emissions problem.

1) radar auto-brake: when parallel parking and backing ( going in reverse ) parallel to the curb, at maybe 2 MPH and 10 inches from curb, I got yellow stop, stop !!!!!!! Message followed by sensation of hitting an object and being thrown into the seat. Only there was no object.

I’ve consistently had a coolant leak with my engine water pump. Constantly have to refill the coolant. The reason I’m making this complaint is because yesterday October 1, 2025 I filled up my coolant and I drove a few miles to the grocery store and my coolant was empty and I got a coolant, low warning light and the coolant pump was completely empty.

Driving at constant speed on highway, vehicle either loses acceleration and / or applies brake for short moment. Tapping the accelerator appears allow the vehicle to resume to initial intended speed. Automatic braking, not intended by the driver is a safety risk for both this and adjacent drivers.

The transmission at low speeds, while accelerating makes a grinding noise

MY Volkswagen atlas Transmission appears to be making a grinding, screeching or squealing noise when accelerating at low speeds. Sounds to me like a bad torque converter but its not a normal noise. It also seems to not accelerate when this noise happens and if it stops when I pull into traffic I'll get hit.

Grinding and squealing noise when accelerating from stop to go as it last for up to 5 seconds each time.

Since the purchase of this vehicle in 2019 I have complained that it was not shifting gears properly and upon first acceleration the Atlas would feel jumpy or hesitate. When slowing down even at 5 or 10 MPH the vehicle would stay in 3rd gear. In June 2020 I had it documented, VW tech tested vehicle and stated performing to manufacturer's specs.

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormal squealing noise while accelerating from a stationary start. The contact indicated that the noise was present for approximately three seconds before ceasing.

Intermittently, when I got to apply the brakes moving forward or turning, the vehicle sounds like grinding or rubbing in the front axle

Grinding and squealing noise when accelerating from stop to go as it last for up to 5 seconds each time. Many atlas's have this issue based on the forums and vw states that is normal for vehicle which is ridiculous to hear. This should be a recall as the concern is the torque converter.

One week after vehicle was purchased new, it began to make a grinding noise during the following scenarios: accelerating from low speed / taking off from a stop / after vehicle turned off. Vehicle was taken to dealer but they were unable to duplicate sound on first attempt. Vehicle has again been dropped off at dealer as grinding noise continues and gets louder at times.

A scandalous sound that comes from the engine area just below is played. This happens when I step on the accelerator after having slowed down when I am arriving at a stop or I am in traffic. When the accelerator is pressed the car does not respond and the sound is presented.

You hear wosshing sound when you start slow acceleration from almost stop, not completely stop, like 5mph. It happens every single time. The issue is that vehicle does not shift to 2nd gear, stays in 3rd when it's around 5mph.

THIS IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE AND I'M WORRIED POWERTRAIN DAMAGE IS OCCURRING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOPPED OR AT LOW SPEED THERE IS A VERY LOUD SCREENING / GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE POWERTRAIN / TRANSMISSION - POSSIBLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IS IS VERY NOTICEABLE, USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE OR INCREASES ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEED THEN IT USUALLY GOES AWAY. I DESCRIBED THE TO TWO VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND BOTH SAID "THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THAT ONE." I WAS IN FOR OTHER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SOUND, HOWEVER IT SCREECHED WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP! THE VW ATLAS FORUMS HAVE MANY POSTS ON THIS ISSUE. AND LOTS OF FOLKS LIKE MYSELF ARE NOT GETTING ANY INFORMATION AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. I DID NOT GET ANY MEANINGFUL HELP FROM VW OR THEIR DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I AM ALSO WORRIED THIS IS CAUSING ISSUES OR DAMAGE AND IS NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED OR ADDRESSED BY VW AND THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITIES.

ONE WEEK AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE DURING THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS: ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED / TAKING OFF FROM A STOP / AFTER VEHICLE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SOUND ON FIRST ATTEMPT. VEHICLE HAS AGAIN BEEN DROPPED OFF AT DEALER AS GRINDING NOISE CONTINUES AND GETS LOUDER AT TIMES. HAVE SEARCHED IN DIFFERENT FORUMS AND SOME STATE THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING PROPERLY PROGRAMMED TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. INSTEAD IT SKIPS 2ND GEAR (NOT A PROFESSIONAL OPINION AS I AM JUST QUOTING WHAT I'VE READ). SOME HAVE STATED IT COULD BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. STILL NO SOLUTION.

BOUGHT MY ATLAS ON 3/24/19, A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT THE LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOPPED IT OFF AND SAID, "OH THEY COME TO THE DEALER SOMETIMES A LITTLE LOW." NOT SURE WHY THEY DON'T CHECK WHEN PREPPING THE CAR FOR DELIVERY. ON 4/3, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 4/4, NO VISIBLE LEAK UNDERNEATH OR BY THE TANK. A POSSIBLE LEAK WAS FOUND BEHIND THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL, I CAN SEE SOME PINK POOLING ON SOMETHING SILVER (ENGINE OR TRANS WHATEVER IT IS). THEY DETERMINED THAT THE COOLANT HOSE HAS FAILED AND CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT ISSUE BEFORE. THEY ORDERED THE WRONG PARTS AND COULDN'T FIT. THEY ARE ORDERING MORE PARTS AND IT COULD BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE I GET IT BACK. I HAVE ALSO ENGAGED VW OF AMERICA. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR YET ALONE THE DEALER TAKE SO LONG TO FIX IT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 400 MILES ON IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS.

The vehicle has had issues with the torque converter, head, head gasket, electrical system, gas cap door, seat belt. VW has not been able to fix the issues

Rough jumping shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. Vw states they do not have a fix at this time and that it is normal for the atlas. This is a safety issue based on how the vehicle performs on the road from stop to go.

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.