Volkswagen Atlas Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Volkswagen Atlas across 9 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (34). The words owners use most often: “start stop” (9% of reports).
- 114power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 28%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Start stop: mentioned in 10 of 114 complaints (9%)
- Put park: mentioned in 8 of 114 complaints (7%)
- Torque converter: mentioned in 7 of 114 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 30 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 114 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Volkswagen Atlas power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Atlas | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2025 Atlas | 13 | 27% | 10,000 |
| 2024 Atlas | 22 | 13% | 11,112 |
| 2023 Atlas | 7 | 5% | — |
| 2022 Atlas | 4 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Atlas | 15 | 3% | — |
| 2020 Atlas | 2 | 7% | 116,000 |
| 2019 Atlas | 34 | 7% | 1,000 |
| 2018 Atlas | 16 | 3% | 4,100 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2025
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The transmission may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38CX.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My wife was operating the vehicle when the check engine light suddenly came on and alerts on the dash stating that the car was overheating. She was unable to pull over as she was in the road, the car then flashed more alerts and limited her speed to under 20 mph only operating in first gear and…
This vehicle has too many issues. Electrical, enhine, suspension, seat release latches, EPC. Water pump was replaced a week after buying the vehicle.
While driving at 5 mph, the vehicle suddenly revved up and shifted into neutral. The vehicle then stopped abruptly and would not shift. The gear shifter showed neutral but the vehicle could not be moved as it was in park. The tow truck driver had to manually override the transmission to get it onto…
Car would not shift back into drive after dropping child off at school. Multiple warning lights came on about hill assist. Needed towed. Ended up needing a new transmission due to what the dealer said was a mechanical defect.
The problem is the car has moments of stalls/not accelerating. From a stop, like at a stoplight, I have to press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, and even though the RPMs go up, the car doesn't move or barely moves for several seconds before it finally goes. The engine is clearly running and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volkswagen Atlass have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 114 owner complaints about power train for the Volkswagen Atlas. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volkswagen Atlas power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Volkswagen Atlas?
The most frequent phrase is “start stop”, in 10 of 114 complaints, followed by “put park” (8).
Other Volkswagen Atlas problems
See all Volkswagen Atlas problems.