2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport driver assistance problems

Filed Jan 4, 2026 · Driver assistance · NY

While traveling south on Wheeler Road at the underpass of the Long Island Expressway my 2020 Volkswagon Atlas Cross Sport's emergency braking system gets activated. This has happened multiple times at approximatly 12:20 AM while heading home from work. I took the car to the dealer but the dealer said there was no way to check what happened unless the diagnostic machine was connected at the time it happened. Again, this has happened multiple times, the most recent being both January second and the third. There is no reason why this happenes as it is dark and not a sunglare issue, therei s no change of lighting, no pavement changes or obstructions, and no traffic in front of me. When this happens it scares the hell out of me because there isnt any reason why I would expect it to happen thus creating a bit of a dangerous situation for me. Maybe others have reported the same issue to you that you did or could look into the cause of this, possible a radar or broadcast system that could be the cause of the sensor activation so maybe the issue can get corrected and prevent it from happening again. Thank You for any help you can provide. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 8, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · HI

Backup camera does not come on; cuts in and out; known recall for 2021 models.

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MI

About two months ago, all of sudden, all of the electronic safety features were going out as reported on the dash. ECS, Lane Assist, Forward/Rear Collission sensors, side detection sensors, parking assist, tire pressure sensors, Auto Start/Stop, and more. The fact that all of these electronic assist and safety features were all disabled made the care very dangerous and confusing to drive. Changing lanes for example became a safety hazard, backing up safety hazard, lane assist, safety hazard, side view sensors safety hazard, disabled ecs - safety hazard, etc. I took the vehicle into the dealership at 57K miles and under 4 years old only to find out there were no recalls issued, warranty expired at 50K miles and a $1600 repair/service bill. This issue should be investigated and, in my opinion, turned into a safety recall. There really is no reason a car less than 4 years old should have an electronic control problem withonly 57K miles other than poor design or poor manufacturing quality causing a safety problem. Dealer has confirmed it's due to the AWD Control Module, a Pump I believe, and corroded wire harness which comes with the pump, i'm told.

Filed Oct 3, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · WI

Adaptive cruise control (acc) will not work if you remote started the vehicle. To get it normally work, you have to fully switch off the car and then push start it. Had the vehicle checked by vw dealer and they found no problem, but the car won't engage cruise after remote start. After months of this; the remote start will not work. Carnet told me to wait on an update to be released soon.....it has been 10 months and same story every time I call. Dealer can't get it sorted even though they replaced Carnet module twice!

Filed Sep 5, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MD

After 6-7 occurrences over a year of an unidentifiable warning light type object appearing in the Vehicle Information portion of the dashboard. Also two (2ea) separate trips to the Volkswagen Dealership for repair of this issue. I was driving on raining soaked highway, as I was slowing down for stopped traffic ahead (traveling at approximately 25 mph), the aforementioned warning light flashed on and immediately and automatically applied the brakes causing the vehicle to skid sideways on the highway. I returned to the Dealership for the third (3rd) time for this item and explained what happened. The Service Manager had me look at a computer showing all of the warning lights for my vehicle. I told him the warning light that we have seen was not located in the area of where the “normal” warning lights are, but in the Vehicle Information area of the dash board. When I was picking up the vehicle after the service for this item and also a recall issue, the Service Manager told me regarding the unidentified warning light the car was “supposed to apply the brakes in that fashion”. However, the dealership could not identify the Large Red Object surrounded with four (4) Lightning Bolts warning Light. If this issue (warning light and automatically braking) would have occurred at a greater speed (the speed limit on the highway was 65 mph) the outcome would have been more serious. As a result of this occurrence and the several failed attempts identify the warning light or to repair this vehicle we do not feel safe in driving this car. According, we have sold this Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

Filed May 25, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · HI

I submitted a report on May 2nd, 2022 about a MAJOR safety concern that occurred at the beginning of April. My cross sport was phantom braking, throwing itself into Park, and involuntary E-braking. This occurred multiple times at different speeds, I avoided collision and injury but have since been unable to drive the vehicle. Myself and others on the road could have been seriously injured. It was immediately towed to the dealership and has been sitting on the lot un-driveable since April, with no fix in sight, and no communication from VW in regard to a resolution. I want to file the highest complaint against VW as they have not dealt with this in a timely manner, they have not offered assistance, and this was my only vehicle.

Filed May 2, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · HI

2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport. While traveling down the highway (medium speed) the vehicle abruptly threw itself into Park, and E-braked. Thankfully escaped a collision but the outcome could have been much worse. My safety and safety of others was put at risk. And the general trauma from this scary incident has lasted weeks. The abrupt braking continued to happen at low speeds / cruising speed until I could pull over. (The car is not simply braking, it is throwing itself into Park and E-Brake goes on). Also, windows roll up and down without cause, all types of warning lights and errors flash on the dashboard. Upon the dealership's service center's scan of my car's computer, they found it occurred four times. The dealership found the wiring harness was corroded, and they think the car is sensing that a door is open, causing the vehicle to switch to Park and abruptly E-Brake. The vehicle is unsafe to drive but both VW and the dealership have denied me a loaner, and have denied my requests for compensation so I can rent a temporary car - this malfunction has left me with no vehicle for weeks, zero means of transportation, and no future fix in sight.

Filed May 1, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NV

While driving down a street the car engaged the emergency stop system and stopped the car, nothing in front of me or around me. Verify scary incident.

Filed Mar 28, 2022 · Airbags, Driver assistance · IL

The emergency brake just comes on when you're driving, the windows will roll down on their own. The dash beeps at you like the vehicle will blow up. We were advised back in January that it was not safe to drive our vehicle. It has been sitting at the dealership not being fixed. A recall just recently came out for the vehicle, however we have been unable to drive the vehicle for almost 3 months. We still have to make payments on the vehicle and Volkswagen doesn't want to do anything to help with anything. We were informed they would not provide a loaner car and a rental car we had to pay for on our own. This is completely unacceptable. The company needs to be responsible for this and I know we are not the only ones dealing with this. We will never buy another Volkswagen just because of their poor customer support. They truly dont care about their customers and the inconvenience this has caused.

Filed Mar 21, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · FL

Driving and my car is automatically suddenly braking for me even-though my foot is on the gas. This now has happened a few times and I almost got rear-ended yesterday.