2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV AWD

Overall

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Front Crash

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Side Crash

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2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV FWD

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★☆

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★☆

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Campaign: 25V081000

ENGINE

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.

Campaign: 25V100000

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

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."

Campaign: 25V334000

SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Campaign: 25V434000

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

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.

Campaign: 26V473000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I keep having issues with the entertainment screen where it stops working. When this happens there are multiple issues: I can not control the temperature and my gps shows I’m in a different town causing my heads up speed limit telling me the speed limit is 50mph in my 25mph neighborhood. Bill jacobs Volkswagen does not care as I have brought it in on multiple occasions and they keep informing me it works as designed. I have sent them videos and pictures. The entertainment screen controls everything in the car since there are no buttons anymore.

POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle repeatedly experienced shaking, hesitation, warning lights, loss of power, and engine shutdowns. On approximately XXX, the engine shut off while the vehicle was idling in Drive at approximately 48,582 miles. On approximately XXX, multiple warning lights appeared and the vehicle stopped operating while being driven on the highway, creating a serious collision risk. An independent diagnostic scan recorded code P2402, EVAP leak-detection-pump control circuit high. Volkswagen personnel had previously been notified of a vacuum-related concern. [XXX] Volkswagen of [XXX] took possession of the vehicle on XXX, at approximately 49,900 miles. The authorized Volkswagen dealership then informed me in writing that the gas tank had “collapsed inward” and that it would replace the tank and other EVAP components. I am concerned that an EVAP or venting malfunction created excessive vacuum and caused the tank to collapse. Tank deformation could potentially damage the tank, seams, seals, fuel lines, fittings, fuel-pump assembly, or vapor connections. Any resulting fuel or vapor leak reaching an ignition source could create a fire hazard. No fire occurred, but the confirmed collapsed tank, repeated shutdowns, and warning lights presented serious safety concerns. The vehicle has undergone repeated repair visits and more than 36 reported days out of service. A torque converter was previously replaced, but the shaking and drivability problems continued. I request investigation of possible fuel-tank collapse, EVAP malfunction, excessive vacuum, stalling, and related fire risks in Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

The rear taillight lens on my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport cracked without an impact or collision. Water has entered the taillight assembly through the crack, creating condensation/water inside the lamp and a potential risk of lighting or electrical failure. The vehicle is still within its new-vehicle warranty, but Volkswagen/the dealer declined to repair the assembly. The taillight remains available for inspection. There was no crash, fire, injury, or police report. I understand that similar taillight cracking and water-intrusion problems have been reported by other Volkswagen owners. I believe this may indicate a broader defect trend.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

On August 31, 2026, while driving my 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport on the highway, multiple warning lights illuminated and the vehicle stopped operating while I was in traffic. The sudden loss of vehicle operation created a serious risk of a collision and placed me and other motorists in danger. This vehicle has experienced repeated problems including rough operation, hesitation/loss of acceleration, warning lights, engine/misfire-related faults, and powertrain concerns. The vehicle has previously been presented to Volkswagen dealerships for diagnosis and repair, but the problems have continued. On the date of this incident, the vehicle again displayed three warning lights and then became inoperable while being driven on the highway. I am now afraid to operate the vehicle because I do not know when it may lose power or stop again. Volkswagen had a service appointment scheduled for the vehicle that day, but the appointment was canceled because the dealership stated that no loaner vehicle was available. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this repeated loss-of-power/stalling condition because a vehicle that can suddenly stop operating in highway traffic presents a serious safety hazard.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the autonomous braking system was negatively affected by roadway passing underneath the highway. The system mistakenly determined that the vehicle was on the lower roadway, causing the brakes to apply erroneously. The contact stated that the failure was caused by Volkswagen's Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control. During the failure, the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel and the message curve ahead, reduce speed was displayed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and email. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the issue was deemed not to be a safety concern by the service department.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Car has been to [XXX] in [XXX] many times as the screen will go blank and freeze. Unable to change radio or temperature. Can not see when I go in reverse. I have to turn off the car for 30 mins to have the screen to work again. Volkswagen has been not helpful. Car gps and compass shows I’m in a different city. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

When using adaptive cruise/lane keeping feature the vehicle when passing over another roadway will erroneously "see" a sharp curve and suddenly and unexpectedly apply significant braking force to slow the vehicle down and try to turn the car to the phantom curve.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

Follow-up to NHTSA complaint ODI #11742508 regarding the same vehicle and VIN. Vehicle experienced intermittent electrical failures while driving, including dashboard warning lights, charging system warnings, infotainment failures, communication fault codes, and intermittent loss of throttle response while entering intersections. Dealer initially stated they could not duplicate the issue and vehicle was returned multiple times despite ongoing safety concerns. Dealership has now confirmed an electrical failure involving the wire harness between the alternator and control module. Dealer stated they found an open circuit/short in the harness and ordered replacement parts after multiple repair attempts Concern remains regarding intermittent electrical and drivability failures affecting vehicle safety.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport experienced repeated intermittent electrical and electronic malfunctions while driving. The infotainment screen repeatedly froze, became unresponsive, or turned black/blue while operating the vehicle. Apple CarPlay malfunctioned repeatedly, and multiple USB ports appeared to damage connected electronic devices. Warning messages including “12V battery is not charging” and “Key not detected” appeared intermittently. Vehicle has been taken to the Volkswagen dealership multiple times for diagnosis and repair attempts. Dealer stated they were unable to permanently diagnose or duplicate the issue because the failures are intermittent. Vehicle remained at dealership for extended periods during repair attempts. Electrical malfunctions create driver distraction and concern regarding reliability of the vehicle’s electrical system while driving. Failure of infotainment and warning systems while operating the vehicle may affect driver awareness and vehicle safety. Problem continues intermittently despite multiple service visits.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,ENGINE

On 3/27/026 at approximately 1800 hrs, I was driving my 2025 VW Atlas w/8500 miles southbound on the Florida Turnpike in the left hand land. Traffic was at a standstill at mm 76. We sat for 2-3 minutes without moving. When traffic started to roll forward, I moved my foot to apply the gas but the car shifted itself to Park. It did not shut down or stall. The engine was still running. I could not shift the car to drive or reverse. I called 911 to request help from FHP. Traffic was starting to move with increasing speed. I couldn't move my car to the shoulder. I turned the engine off for a few minutes. I turned it back on and still could not shift the car into gear. All of the error messages scrolled across the dash and all of the error lights came on. I had never seen a light on the dash that day or any other. FHP arrived. We pushed the car to the left shoulder. He said the cars were traveling at 60-70 mph at this point. Prior to that I was trapped in my car as I could not get out of my car with the high speed traffic passing on the left shoulder and swerving around to the right lane too. I called for a tow truck and was towed to a VW dealership. It was in service for 8 days. I was told it was a glitch in the software update. I've done some research and this is a known safety issue with VW Atlas. It can happen again...while driving. VW service doesn't know why this happens and they said they don't know how to prevent it from happening again. After picking the car up, I searched "vehicle" for the maintenance hx on the infotainment. It shows low oil. That did not show on the dash. If I had stumbled on it, I wouldn't have seen it. Next, the seat will not move forward or back. This, after, the software update glitch. FHP does not write an official report for this type of scenario but the incident number is XXX. Officer [XXX] #XXX (they do not provide last names for the officer's safety) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)