2018 Volkswagen Atlas Interior & seats Problems

Dealer sold flood damaged 2020 Atlas 98k miles as safe vehicle. Found severe rust corrosion on steering column that could break while driving causing loss of control crash death. Also found 7 areas of toxic mold inside causing allergic reaction and breathing problems. Mold in seats, carpet, AC system. Dealer refused to repair and forced trade for overpriced 2023 Explorer with high loan. Vehicle unsafe - life threatening defect hidden by dealer. Steering and body structure compromised by flood water. Have photos of corrosion and mold as evidence. Vehicle available for inspection. Injury: Allergic reaction - skin rash, breathing difficulty, cough from toxic mold exposure. Senior driver [XXX] old. No crash yet but steering corrosion could cause fatal crash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753639

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

I have a moonroof that leaks whenever it rains. It comes on the sides of the car and also in the middle near my rearview mirror which leaks on my electronics. I am at risk because it brings water into my car when I am driving. It can cause mold and mildew as well. I've taking this to my local VW dealership without any resolution. They just said its a well know issue. The attempted to 'clean' the drains but it still leaks.

NHTSA ID

11617675

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

I am experiencing issues related to the airbag sensor recall as the sensor does not know if someone is in the seat or not - it thinks someone is there when they aren't, and vice versa. This recall was announced in April of 2023, and since then, I have been unable to have any passengers ride in my front seat. Needless to say this is not only very inconvenient but also impacts my ability to trade in or sell this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11573544

Incident

Apr 3, 2023

No use of the airbags in the front passenger seat in my atlas it makes it soo that my seven seater is really a 6 seater that doesn’t have a front passenger seat it’s unbelievable

NHTSA ID

11561135

Incident

Dec 7, 2018

We have been told to stop using front passenger seat. The recall has been out for well over 6 months with no remedy.

NHTSA ID

11556518

Incident

Nov 22, 2023

We pulled into a parking space and the second row disengaged, propelling the seat quickly forward. Our four-year old was sitting in a car seat in the second row when this happened. The car seat went forward, slamming our child's nose, face, and head into the back of the driver's seat. The second row then lodged in the eject position, with our child stuck at an angle, tipped over into the driver's seat. We had to pull the driver's seat as far forward as it would go in order to undo the car seat straps and extricate our four year old from the car seat through the small opening between the second row and the driver's seat. Our child was terrified, with a hurt nose, though thankfully not badly injured. We were not able to get the second row back up, it stuck forward. We have dropped the car off to the Volkswagen dealership and are awaiting repairs. There were no lights or warning prior to this incident. This is the second time the row has dislodged. Another time it happened while the car was in motion and again propelled our child (different child) forward into the back of the driver's seat, slamming our child's face against the driver's seat.

NHTSA ID

11516939

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while, pulling out of the driveway traveling approximately 5 mph the second-row seat sprung forward, with a child utilizing a car seat. The latch was down. The occupant in the car seat struck her head on the passenger seat and medical attention was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate mileage was 17,000.

NHTSA ID

11438175

Incident

Oct 26, 2021

Mileage

17,000 mi

The red strap is extremely too easy to pull and is super accessible for children to reach. My son in the 3rd row pulled the strap and my son in the middle row flung forward. Had he had been literally an inch farther up, he would’ve been seriously injured. Something needs to be done about this. There was a viral post on social media about this not long ago. The straps either need a safety feature where they only work if the car’s door is open or parked. Or the straps just simply need to be placed somewhere else and not easily accessible to children placed in the 3rd row. This is supposed to be a family vehicle. Please fix it.

NHTSA ID

11434912

Incident

Sep 29, 2021

2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS WATER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CONDENSATION DRAIN TUBE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE A/C EVAPORATOR COIL WAS TWISTED AT THE DRAIN PAN. THIS CAUSED THE WATER TO POOL UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE AIR BAG WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 87F9.

NHTSA ID

11431028

Incident

Aug 29, 2021

I feel as if the 2nd row lever system is a malfunction. It does not provide safety for the 2nd row of passengers to not be crushed or be smashed into the back of the front row seats if the lever is pulled while the vehicle is in motion. This is our only vehicle and our family vehicle. It can happily be available upon request. The safety of any child passenger is at risk if they are in the 2nd row and the lever to fold the seats down or back to gain access to the 3rd row is accidentally pulled while the vehicle is in motion. The problem has not been confirmed or reproduced at a service center. It can easily be reproduced but for the safety of my small children, without kids in the 2nd row. This is an internal (inside the vehicle) safety failure or malfunction. It has not been inspected by any official at this time. There isn't anything that locks the seat rail in place while the vehicle is in motion. This is an internal vehicle issue that does not give any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms to warn of the lever being pulled or activated. It has recently come to my attention that our VW Atlas is lacking in any safety feature that prevents the 2nd row from coming unlatched from the rails, when the row lever is released. This does cause a significant safety issue as most children don't know that they cannot and should not reach or use this lever while the vehicle is in motion, thus causing significant, if not life threatening injury to the children riding in the 2nd row. I myself have 2 children under 2. I know as they get older or as we watch their cousins more often, we will be utilizing the 3rd row more. I do not want to have to worry that my nieces or nephews have pulled the lever causing the seat to catapult my children's necks into the backs of the front row seats. I want to stress how important it is to fix it. My daughter is due to be front-facing in the next couple of months in her car seat.

NHTSA ID

11420512

Incident

Jun 10, 2021

MY 6-YEAR-OLD SON WAS IN THE MIDDLE LEFT SEAT, I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND DROVE UP TO THE INTERSECTION NEXT TO MY HOME AND APPLIED GENTLE BREAK. HIS SEAT CAME ALL THE WAY IN THE FRONT AND HIS NOSE HIT THE DRIVER SEAT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED THAT SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED. AFTER IT HAPPENED SECOND TIME, WE HAVE BEEN CAREFUL TO CHECK THE SEAT BEFORE WE START DRIVING. WE HEARD THE CLICK SOUND INDICATING THAT THE SEAT WAS PROPERLY LOCKED. IT'S BEEN A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR THE YOUNG ONE. I'M ALSO ATTACHING THE PICTURE OF HIS BRUISED NOSE.

NHTSA ID

11395002

Incident

Feb 4, 2021

Mileage

19,170 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE MIDDLE ROW SEATS VIOLENTLY SHIFTED FORWARD WHILE OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE SEATS WERE NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ID

11254801

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

11,000 mi

AFTER OWNING AN ATLAS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, I PICKED UP MY 2 YEAR OLD AND PUT HIM IN HIS FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT IN THE 2ND ROW. AS I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS WE APPROACHED A RED LIGHT (NORMAL STOP - NOT A HARD BRAKE BY ANY MEANS), THE SEAT THAT MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS SITTING IN SLAMMED FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WITH MY CHILD SCREAMING AND CRYING, I QUICKLY PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED AROUND TO PUSH HIS SEAT BACK INTO THE NORMAL POSITION. MY CHILD HAD A MINOR ABRASION ON HIS FOREHEAD BUT FORTUNATELY, THE HEAD PROTECTION ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS HEAD TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE IMPACT. THE CAPTAINS CHAIR MUST HAVE NOT BEEN LOCKED INTO PLACE. AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER, I FOUND THAT I REALLY HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET THESE SEATS TO LOCK INTO PLACE. SIMPLY PUSHING THESE SEATS INTO PLACE WILL NOT LOCK THEM (I KIND OF HAVE TO SLAM THEM BACK TO GET THEM TO LOCK). IN MY OPINION, THESE SEATS SHOULD LOCK INTO PLACE MUCH EASIER. I COULD EASILY SEE MANY CHILDREN SUSTAINING INJURIES (OR WORSE) IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FLAW.

NHTSA ID

11143677

Incident

Oct 23, 2018

Mileage

150 mi

WE HAVE A FRONT FACING CHILDSEAT INSTALLED IN THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER CAPTAIN SEAT AND A REAR FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE THIRD ROW. THIS CONFIGURATION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE INFANT SEAT HAS A BRACING BAR THAT IS DIFFICULT TO RAISE AND LOWER PROHIBITING THE CHAIR FROM ANGLING FORWARD FOR CLIMBING IN AND OUT OF THE THIRD ROW. HOWEVER, WE HAVE LEARNED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WITHIN THE FIRST MOMENTS OF DRIVING/ACCELERATING, THAT THE 2ND ROW CAR SEAT MAY SPRING FORWARD FORCEABLY, SMASHING THE FACE AND BODY OF OUR RESTRAINED 4 YR OLD CHILD INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT IS TOO HEAVY AND LOCKS IN THE FORWARD POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH BACK, TRAPPING THE CHILD UNTIL AN ADULT IS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND PULL THE SEAT BACK FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SEAT INITIALLY APPEARS TO BE LOCKED IN THE CORRECT PLACE, OR IS AT LEAST STABLE ENOUGH FOR THE CHILD TO CLIMB INTO HER SEAT, BUCKLE IN, AND THE TRIP TO BEGIN. AT SOME POINT THEREAFTER THE SEAT PROPELS FORWARD. WE ARE UNCLEAR WHETHER THE LATCH FAILS OR IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ENGAGED. THE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SCARY, AND HAS RESULTED IN A BLOODY LIP, AND ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS TO OUR CHILD'S FACE. IN THESE SITUATIONS, UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO SAFELY RESPOND, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO SEE OUR CHILD'S TERRIFIED EYES AND HEAR HER CRYING. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHER HEAD AND NECK INJURIES AS THE SEAT ROCKETS FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST AND WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE. WE ARE UNSURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENT WE SWITCHED HER SPOT WITH AN INFANT SEAT INSTEAD.

NHTSA ID

11141524

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

Mileage

3,500 mi

WE PURCHASED OUR VW ATLAS ON AUGUST 24, 2018. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE SECOND ROW SEAT HAS HINGED FORWARD WHILE OCCUPIED BY OUR SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT WITH THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. IN BOTH CASES IT HAS BEEN THE SECOND ROW SEAT ON THE RIGHT. IN BOTH INSTANCES, OUR DAUGHTER WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING DOWN HILL AT A SLOW SPEED TOWARD A STOP SIGN. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN MOVING FASTER AND COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT SEVERE INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURRED INSTANTLY TO HER. WE FEEL THAT THE POP UP INDICATOR LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE SEAT IS AN INADEQUATE MEANS TO INFORM THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FLOOR. WE MISSED THIS VERY IMPORTANT INDICATOR ON TWO OCCASIONS NOW. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WENT THROUGH ALL NOTIFICATIONS ON THE CAR WITH THE SALESPERSON, THIS WAS NOT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. AT MINIMUM, THIS VERY TECHNICAL VEHICLE SHOULD ALERT THE DRIVER BEFORE DRIVING (SIMILAR TO THE SEATBELT NOTIFICATION) WITH BOTH AN ORAL AND VISUAL ALERT THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR DAUGHTER WHO IS TRAPPED AGAINST THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE DRIVER CAN STOP THE CAR AND MOVE THE SEAT BACK. SHE NO LONGER WANTS TO SIT IN THAT SEAT. THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE A POSSIBLY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE TO VALIDATE A SAFETY RECALL. WE HOPE THAT ACTION IS TAKEN TO KEEP ALL PASSENGERS SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11138872

Incident

Oct 5, 2018

Mileage

950 mi

RECALL 20AH IS COMPLETELY UNNACEPTABLE. THERE ARE 8 DIFFERENT POSSIBLE REPAIRS THAT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. THESE REPAIRS RANGE FROM AIRBAG SOFTWARE UPDATES TO SUNROOF REPAIRS. HOW IS IT LEGAL FOR THEM TO COMBINE THESE REPAIRS? AS A MECHANIC AND A CONSUMER IT IS BAD FOR BUSINESS AS THE VARIOUS PARTS/ INSPECTIONS NECCESSARY MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMODATE THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11111979

Incident

Jul 17, 2018

THE 2ND ROW DOES NOT LOCK EASILY. UPON SUDDEN BRAKE, THE SEAT CAME LOOSE AND SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. NOBODY WAS SITTING THERE AT THE TIME BUT IF MY CHILD WAS IN A CHILD SEAT, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED VERY EASILY.

NHTSA ID

11092491

Incident

Mar 18, 2018

Mileage

200 mi

I HAVE A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS THAT I PURCHASED LAST 6/15/2017. LAST JANUARY I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ( SAN TAN VW) IN GILBERT TO DO THE MANUFACTURER RE-CALL REPAIR. THE DEALER REPAIRED 1 OF THE 2 RECALL, BUT LEFT THE OTHER ONE UN-REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE ETA OF THE PARTS BUT NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER, I ALSO CONTACTED VW AMERICA ABOUT THE SITUATION AND SAME ANSWER.( NO DEFINITIVE ETA ). THE REMAINING RE-CALL INVOLVES A PASSENGER SEAT WHICH THE HANDLE IS BROKEN, DUE TO THE FACT THAT ITS BROKEN, A METAL HANDLE WAS EXPOSED . THIS COULD LEAD TO A SAFETY HAZARD (I.E. FINGER BEING CAUGHT WHILE ADJUSTING THE CHAIR). I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE IN THEIR FACILITY WHILE WAITING FOR THE PARTS AND PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL, BUT I WAS DENIED. I FEEL LIKE THIS CASE SHOULD BE HANDLED SERIOUSLY AS IT INVOLVES SAFETY, BUT VW AND THE DEALERSHIP JUST KEEP SAYING TO WAIT FOR THE PART AND THERE IS NO ETA FOR IT. VW ATLAS IS PRESENTLY BEING MANUFACTURED HERE IN THE USA ( TENNESSEE) , I ALSO SUGGEST TO THEM THAT SINCE ITS STILL BEING SOLD AND MANUFACTURE, THEY CAN ALWAYS TAKE THE PART FROM THE PLANT. BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO IT AND TOLD ME THAT ITS COMING FROM GERMANY (THEIR VENDOR).

NHTSA ID

11091641

Incident

Jan 22, 2018