2018 Volkswagen Atlas seats problems

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Body, Seats · FL · 1 injury

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)

Filed Oct 2, 2024 · Electrical, Seats · NC

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.

Filed Feb 23, 2024 · Airbags, Seats · PA

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.

Filed Dec 20, 2023 · Airbags, Seats · TN

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

Filed Nov 22, 2023 · Seats · AZ

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

Filed Apr 13, 2023 · Seats · VA

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.

Filed Oct 26, 2021 · Locks, Seats · 17,000 miles · TX · 1 injury

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.

Filed Sep 29, 2021 · Seats · NC

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.

Filed Jun 10, 2021 · Seats · WA

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.

Filed Feb 6, 2021 · Seats · 19,170 miles · CA · 1 injury

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.