2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes independently activated. Additionally, the radio displayed a blank screen. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the cruise control was activated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact deactivated the cruise control feature and the vehicle drove normally. The infotainment center continued the rebooting cycle. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA ID

11766377

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

Mileage

42,000 mi

My 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has a recurring electronic/infotainment failure that began at approximately 5,000 miles and continues at approximately 49,500 miles. While driving, the infotainment screen unexpectedly shuts off, freezes, or becomes unavailable. The vehicle displays: "Exit warning system and rear traffic alert are currently not available." Lane Assist also becomes unavailable. At the same time, we can lose navigation, radio/audio, phone connectivity, and climate-control functions operated through the infotainment system. The failure occurs at both low and high speeds and on different types of roads. It has also occurred when a phone is not connected and when a phone is connected. The problem has occurred often enough that we have had to stop the vehicle or pull onto the shoulder to shut it off and restart it. Restarting sometimes restores the system, but not always immediately. This creates a safety concern because multiple driver-assistance functions become unavailable while the vehicle is moving. The vehicle has been brought to North Park Volkswagen of San Antonio four times for this issue: 08/13/2024, 03/07/2025, 08/28/2026, and 08/31/2026. The dealership has performed software updates and cleared diagnostic codes, but the problem continues. We have video recordings documenting the failure and warning messages. This is not simply an infotainment inconvenience. A recurring electronic failure is causing multiple vehicle and safety related functions to become unavailable while driving, sometimes requiring us to pull over to restart the vehicle. The problem has persisted for approximately 44,500 miles despite repeated dealership visits and attempted repairs. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether an underlying electronic, software, infotainment, or communication-module defect is causing these systems to fail while the vehicle is in operation. Please let us know if you need us to submit video of this problem.

NHTSA ID

11765822

Incident

Aug 13, 2024

After an Over the air update to the vehicle the Infotainment system constantly reboots. When this happens you get a braking error message, can't use the HVAC system or maps. It is at the dealer for the 2nd time for this same issue. Hoping if enough of us bring this up a recall will have to be issued!

NHTSA ID

11763059

Incident

Sep 8, 2026

On September 2, 2026 a recall for the backup camera update was performed. While driving home from the dealership on September 2, 2026 my screen turned off and then I got an alert of a system issue. This happened three separate times within a seven day span from September 2, 2026 to September 8, 2026. One of the alerts was something to do with the breaking system. The other alert was to do with the exit warning system, and rear traffic system being unavailable. I have also experienced trying to accelerate and the gas pedal gets me nowhere. I push the gas pedal and the car does not move forward.

NHTSA ID

11762988

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

The rearview camera and infotainment display intermittently fail. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the infotainment screen goes black or freezes, disabling the rearview camera image. The vehicle must be stopped and the system manually rebooted before rear visibility is restored. The failure occurs frequently in high ambient temperatures, which in South Florida is a near-daily condition. This is the exact defect covered by Recall 24V-480, which applies to my vehicle. The recall's software remedy has been applied — and the defect has returned. The defect has been reported to an authorized Volkswagen service center on three occasions: Visit 1 (August 2, 2024, at approximately 2,630 miles — 14 days after delivery): Customer complaint recorded as "Infotainment screen is turning off and on." Dealer performed no repair and reported the system was "functioning as designed." Visit 2 (February 17, 2026, at approximately 19,742 miles): Customer complaint recorded as "Rear view camera blacks out / shows black screen / does not work properly." Dealer applied Technical Bulletin 91-24-02 and performed a radio software update from version 1969 to 1990, recording the recall as complete. Visit 3 (July 17, 2026, at approximately 23,662 miles): Customer complaints recorded as "Rear camera at time doesn't turn on" and "Radio screen goes off at time and doesn't connect back to CarPlay." Dealer performed a hard reset and stated the concern was "not present" at the time of inspection. Safety impact: Loss of the rearview camera image at the moment of shifting into reverse eliminates required rear visibility (FMVSS No. 111). The driver has a documented history of a prior backing collision, which makes this defect a direct and ongoing safety hazard to the driver, family members transported in the vehicle, and third parties. The failure is intermittent and cannot be predicted, meaning the driver cannot compensate for it in advance.

NHTSA ID

11759170

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

On August 5, 2026, my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received the remedy for Volkswagen Recall 91TV, NHTSA Recall 26V473, involving rearview-camera software. The vehicle was returned to me on August 11. On August 17, while I was actively reversing in a parking lot, the rearview-camera image froze on the center display. The image remained visible but stopped updating even though the vehicle continued moving backward. Because the displayed image no longer accurately represented what was occurring behind the moving vehicle, I nearly struck a pedestrian. No collision or injury occurred. This was the first time I had ever experienced the rearview camera freezing. Before Recall 91TV was performed, the rearview camera had operated normally when the vehicle was placed in reverse. I have had a separate front parking-camera/360-degree Area View problem since the vehicle was new. When pulling forward into a parking space, the camera interface activates automatically, but the live front/Area View image remains black until I manually press the camera control. That problem existed before Recall 91TV and also remains unresolved after the recall remedy. I am distinguishing these conditions because the front/Area View problem is longstanding, while the frozen rearview-camera image was a new failure that occurred after the recall remedy. I am reporting the sequence because the failure occurred 12 days after the recall remedy was performed by VW, while the vehicle was actively reversing, and resulted in a frozen image that no longer represented the area behind the moving vehicle, contributing to a near miss with a pedestrian.

NHTSA ID

11757885

Incident

Aug 17, 2026

I am submitting this updated complaint regarding ongoing issues with Safety Recall 69PZ (Passenger Occupant Detection System) on my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Despite multiple repair attempts at Gossett Volkswagen in Memphis, TN, the recall remains incomplete, and the vehicle now exhibits additional safety‑system failures that began immediately after dealership service. I purchased the vehicle from Gossett Volkswagen and have had all warranty and recall work performed exclusively at this dealership. The first recall attempt occurred on April 20, 2026. The second attempt occurred on April 29, 2026, when the dealership picked up and returned my vehicle; this visit is confirmed by home security footage and text messages, but no repair order was issued. A third attempt on May 4, 2026 was also unsuccessful. On May 8, 2026, the dealership produced a repair order stating “SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED RECALL,” but later acknowledged in writing that the recall was not complete. On May 18, 2026, another repair order inaccurately stated that I “declined” the recall. Immediately after the [XXX] visit, my vehicle displayed new safety‑system errors, including Drivetrain Error, Emergency Assist Error, and Front Assist Error. These issues were not present before the visit and were documented on video. On May 20, 2026, during a recorded call, the Service Manager stated that the dealership would not schedule, diagnose, or repair any issues on my vehicle unless I authorized the recall repair, even though the new defects are unrelated to the recall and should be covered under warranty. He also stated the dealership is a “private company” and can refuse service. As a [XXX] who relies on custom hand controls, these unresolved safety issues and the dealership’s refusal to perform warranty repairs have left me with an unsafe and unreliable vehicle. I am requesting NHTSA’s review of the recall handling, documentation inconsistencies, and the resulting safety concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (

NHTSA ID

11739489

Incident

Apr 20, 2026

Repeated sensors go off simultaneously, brake assist, lane assist, rear brake maneuver assist and the infotainment system will reboot altogether causing the entire system to reboot and black out. The screen has not come on at times and and entire system will reboot. The vehicle has been to Hendrick dealership in [XXX] multiple times and has not been repaired and they keep saying they can’t replicate the problem, even though I have photos and video of the incidents. I have also documented when the malfunctions occur. I due have an attorney. Volkswagen is claiming the car is functioning properly, but the same problems keep occurring with no solution to the problem. This is a major safety concern and this is my only vehicle to drive. I have a lot of photos and all work orders, I can’t upload everything due to limited files that can be uploaded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11734871

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

The malfunction involves the windshield wiper control system, including the rain-sensing activation module and associated control software. The system activates windshield wipers without any driver input under dry and clear conditions. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. Safety was compromised due to sudden and uncommanded wiper activation occurring during active driving conditions, including highway and nighttime operation. This results in temporary loss of visibility as the windshield is smeared by debris, requiring driver distraction to manually control or disable the system while operating the vehicle in traffic. Initial complaints regarding this issue were made by [XXX] during dealership service visits; however, those concerns were not consistently documented in the official repair records at the time they were reported and were initially dismissed or not formally recorded by service personnel until later intervention ensured the issue was entered verbatim on the service order. The issue has been reported and addressed during multiple dealership service visits; however, the condition has not been reliably reproduced and permanently corrected by the dealer despite documented repair attempts, including sensor replacement and manufacturer-level software (ODIS) updates. The malfunction has persisted after these interventions. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. No inspection has been conducted by police, insurance representatives, or independent third parties. No consistent warning lamps or dashboard messages were present prior to the failure. The activation occurs unpredictably and without prior warning indicators. The issue first appeared intermittently at lower mileage and has continued through recent operation. The defect persists after multiple repairs and manufacturer intervention, indicating an uncorrectable electronic system failure causing an unresolved safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA

NHTSA ID

11733582

Incident

Jul 25, 2025

Component/System: Electrical system (wiring, control modules, and related software) Availability for Inspection: Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The electrical cutouts and glitching create an unpredictable and dangerous driving situation. Sudden electrical failures can affect critical systems such as power steering, braking assist, instrument cluster, and engine control — putting myself and other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk of an accident. Rear camera would also black out while reversing and once or twice the gas stopped working on the highway. Dealer/Service Confirmation: Yes. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed. The vehicle has been brought in for repair 7 times for the same recurring electrical cutout and glitching issue. Each visit resulted only in essentially a software update, currently no permanat solution to the problem. Inspection by Manufacturer/Others: The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership/authorized service center on all 7 occasions. The manufacturer's representatives (via the dealership) have been aware of this ongoing issue. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: [Describe any warning lights, error messages, or symptoms you noticed — e.g., dashboard warning lights flickering, system reboot messages, loss of display, unexpected shutdowns, etc.] These symptoms have been recurring and have not been resolved despite repeated software updates. Summary: Despite 7 repair attempts, all resulting in software updates only, the electrical cutout and glitching problem persists. The root cause has not been identified or permanently fixed by the dealer. This represents an ongoing safety defect that requires investigation.

NHTSA ID

11733379

Incident

Aug 28, 2025

The Digital Display Continues to drop connection to phone when driving. Digital display drops blue tooth - will recycle and not auto connect Will state that it needs wifi connection and action must be taken on phone while driving. VW - has claimed to be working on a fix for over a year. Every dealer visit does not resolve issue.

NHTSA ID

11721399

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Driver side door came unlocked while driving. Lock and handle would not engage, had child in the car.

NHTSA ID

11720858

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

Infotainment screen reset multiple times while driving. Once parked, I turned the car off and back on again to see if that would fix the issue. The screen now won’t turn on at all and multiple safety features are disabled.

NHTSA ID

11694008

Incident

Oct 17, 2025

I purchased my 2024 Atlas Cross Sport back in March of 2024. Within the first two weeks, the 5F module that controls the entire infotainment screen went out. They completely replaced the module. Since then, I have had it in the dealership several times due to the screen completely blacking out. We are unable to see any air conditioning controls(like defrost), backup camera, or vehicle information. We have went back and forth several times about whats causing it. First there was a "recall" that a software update was suposed to fix. We had in in and they applied the update. Less than a week later, the screen blacked out again. We took it back into the dealership. They had it for another week and said that they could not replicate the issue so nothing was wrong. They then started blaming our cellphones telling us that we cant have them plugged in or connected wirelessly. The following week we kept all of our devices disconnected and had the issue happen AGAIN. We took it back and after two more weeks of repairs they replaced the entire 5F module again. Less than 24 hours after picking it up we got an airbag error. We were able to take a picture and send it into the dealership. They informed us that its a known issue and to try driving it around with nothing in the front seat. So at this point we are unable to use half of the cars capabilities and apparently not allowed to have anything laying in the passenger seat because it causes an error bag error. So we are basically driving this vehicle around not knowing wether or not the airbags would deploy in an accident. We are beyond fed up with the excuses the dealership is giving us and feel completely unsafe driving the vehicle. I found where they recalled almost 300,000 atlas SUVs last year and apparently had a recall to fix the issue. Ours should have been fixed but we are just told to not put anything in the seat to prevent the error.

NHTSA ID

11691692

Incident

Apr 1, 2024

On the afternoon of Wednesday August 6th I was no less that 3-4 miles from my home when the car stopped in the middle lane of a very busy 3 lane highway and never started again. It was 90+ degrees outside and even hotter inside the vehicle with leather seats. I became extremely nervous and my small 10 pound puppy began to have anxiety and overheat. When I pulled away from my home the car was bucking and jerking. The car had just completed an OTA software download and installation a few hours earlier so I assumed it was the after affect of the software update. As I pulled onto the main road the car was still driving very roughly and when I cam to a red light the car started to shake back and forth very roughly and once the light turned green I was unable to accelerate. Error messages where coming up on the screen. I tried to start the car to move out of the middle lane but it would not start. A state trooper had pulled behind me and got out to assist. She noted she saw gray smoke coming from behind the vehicle as I was driving up to the light which prompted her to get behind me initially. She and I both worked to try to get the car into park but it would not shift gears. She noted fluid was running out of the car but we both assumed it was coolant or antifreeze. She radioed the local police to assist since we were in the middle lane of a dangerous highway and I contacted VW roadside assistance. The local police officer arrived on the scene and was able to assist with getting the manual parking brake on. When the tow truck arrived he asked if the car would go into Neutral we advised NO he then stated we were standing in gasoline and if we tried to start the vehicle the car could have exploded or the engine could have caught fire. If someone had rear ended or hit us there would have been a fire because the entire gas tank has leaked onto the ground that was the fluid the state trooper saw running from the back of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11689455

Incident

Aug 6, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11686207

Incident

Aug 11, 2025

My new car is telling me I have a transmission problem. I got in my car to go to work and my car wouldn’t go in drive or reverse. Then my back up camera doesn’t work all the time and my screen gets blurry or complete black.

NHTSA ID

11678815

Incident

Aug 4, 2025

1. Electrical- Ignition switch periodically does work. 2. Wheels/tires- All tires had to be replaced due to wear at just over 15,000. miles. Wear was on inside of all 4 tires equally. 3. Steering - drifts. Feels like little control over steering wheel! Happens periodically with highway speeds. 4. SUV jumps unexpectedly. 5. 4 recalls so far. Last software 7/17/2025- camera stays on reverse for at least a 5 miles then goes back. PRESTIAGE VW-Melbourne states they can't help me. No present recalls on complaints. HAS FAR AS HOW FAST I WAS GOING. IS HAD TO SAY..FROM 0-70 MILES PER HR

NHTSA ID

11674558

Incident

May 20, 2024

1. Brake system grinding noise - every time the brakes are applied the front brakes makes a terrible grinding noise, I notice that the vehicle does not break properly. This problem clears can cause a dangerous situation to my family or others. Vehicle been inspected by VW Flagship Bayamon and they respond that is a normal situation cause by humidity. 2. Fault electrical problem the AutoStart won't work properly Manual works only 25% of the time, this cause a lot of waste and spending on gas, was inspected by the dealer and response was that there's only false codes in the PCM memory. 3. Keyless AutoStart won't work as advertised, if you start the vehicle remotely shut down immediately, doors closed, battery in good state, keyless battery was changed 3 times with the same results, dealer also state that there's only falses codes related to this issue caused by vehicle been park for long time. This is a security aspect to start your car to be ready when you park in dangerous areas. 4. During the sale of the vehicle salesperson cannot open the hood because hood get stuck with the windshield cowl plastic, he explained that there's no problem that i can get to the service department to repaired without cost, since i buy the vehicle i cannot open the hood to verify the engine. They give me all kind of excuses that part been order but never receive a call back this is dangerous cause in case of fire because of previous problems i cannot open the hood .

NHTSA ID

11657205

Incident

Jan 11, 2025

Each time I place my Cell Phone ( iPhone 12) it overheats to the point the safety device in phone shows a excessive heat warning.

NHTSA ID

11655347

Incident

Apr 7, 2025

Keyless entry continuously fails. When using the door handles to unlock or lock the vehicle the vehicle behaves as if key fob is not present if the key fob is in our pants pocket or pocketbook. We have to physically take the key fob out of our pants/bag where we then can observe the "handshake" between vehicle and key fob take place in order to lock/unlock vehicle. Vehicle has been at the dealer multiple times (they had car for 60 days trying to resolve the issue). Batteries and key fob were replaced and reprogrammed, they replaced the start actuator which supports the key connections to the car and still not resolved. We consider this a significant safety issue because if we cannot get into our locked car in an unsafe situation or get into the car in an emergency there could be dire consequences. Note: Videos are available for confirmation of behavior.

NHTSA ID

11652460

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH with the cruise control activated, the ADAS system misread the highway speed limit, and the vehicle suddenly decelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven at various speeds with the cruise control activated; however, whenever the vehicle detected a traffic sign, the vehicle adjusted to the sign image; however, while school was not in session, the ADAS system adjusted the cruise control to the speed limit on the road sign. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with software system failure. The vehicle was repaired, and the software was reset; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,640.

NHTSA ID

11645660

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

Mileage

10,640 mi

About 6 months after purchasing a new 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport, I started smelling gasoline inside the vehicle. It was a very strong smell, like someone had poured it on the carpet. After a few days, I noticed the smell when walking up to the car, not just inside. At this time, an error message appeared on the dash saying the start-stop system was malfunctioning, as well as the ABS system. That day, I took a look underneath and spotted a leak; gasoline was dripping from the bottom of the car. So, I scheduled service at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. After a week, I received a call saying a rodent had entered the engine bay and chewed through the engine harness and a fuel line, and that these damages were not covered under the warranty. I asked for pictures of the "chewing"; however, the images they provided were not conclusive, in my opinion. My insurance paid, and the repair was started, but when they went to fix it, they said they found extensive damage to the primary harness, secondary harness, and a bunch of other things. Insurance again approved; however, the dealership has said that these parts need 30-90 days to come in. I believe there to be a defect in manufacturing that allows rodents into the vehicle since I have parked vehicles, including VW and just about every other brand, in the same location for 30 years and have never had this issue. Also, when I pressed the service department at the dealership, they said they had other cars here for the same issue and that it was "not uncommon."

NHTSA ID

11638247

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

The display unit continuously reboots or shuts down. When it does this, warnings go off stating safety features are all disabled and not available. This is very dangerous and they dealership says there is no fix. The monitor/display reboots every continuously through the drive and no matter how many hard resets we do it continues. Throughout the reboot cycles no safety features are available per the car display. You can't use backup camera, no cruise control, no braking/collision avoidance, ... none of the features work. This has been going on since October 2024 and the dealership says they have known about this for over a year and still no fix.

NHTSA ID

11636753

Incident

Jan 18, 2025

Infotainment screen inconsistently displays static and will not display backup camera. Problem is intermittent.

NHTSA ID

11634033

Incident

Dec 6, 2024