Digital instrument cluster is not working.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas electrical problems
76 complaints (16% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 10,500. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 76
- of this car's complaints
- 16%
- typical mileage
- 10,500
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- ADAS1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Volkswagen Atlas electrical problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas electrical
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
- Risk
- If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
Recall number 18V824000 · Recall details
What 2019 Volkswagen Atlas owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Vehicle’s error stop sensor is no longer working: vehicle manages to just completely shut off mid traffic. Also, fuel tank failure. We put gas in it, but it doesn’t show the correct gas level in it. And we’re putting gas in it every day in order to think we have enough gas.
The plastic seat-release and folding handles on both sides of the second-row seats completely fractured, crumbled, and fell apart under ordinary hand pressure while attempting to fold the seats to install and access child safety restraint systems. This component failure exposes sharp plastic shards, which caused physical scratches/cuts to the operator, and physically restricts rapid or predictable access to the rear rows containing child car seats.Furthermore, the vehicle experiences structural electronic malfunctions where the central infotainment display and the backup-camera screen completely black out unexpectedly while operating, creating sudden blind spots.These defects exist simultaneously alongside two active, unrepaired manufacturer safety recalls on this vehicle: Recall 69FB (the federal safety agency 23V215) for a Passenger Occupant Detection System airbag malfunction, and Recall 45J6 (the federal safety agency 22V815) for a Tire Pressure Monitoring System software defect that fails to alert the operator to a sudden loss of pressure in all four tires.The combination of shattered child restraint access handles, erratic backup camera failures, and active unresolved safety software recalls creates an ongoing, extreme liability and safety hazard for occupants and young children. The broken physical components have been fully retained and the defects are available for inspection upon request.
The infotainment display in this vehicle intermittently fails to power on, most often at startup. When this occurs, the screen remains dark while audio and physical controls continue to function. The vehicle sometimes must be restarted, and the display does not always return. When the display is dark, the rearview camera image is unavailable. This defect first occurred approximately three weeks after the vehicle was purchased as a manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, and it remains unresolved. The most recent occurrence was yesterday, Jul 25 2026. At least 15 video recordings document the failure between October 2024 and the present, along with complete service records. On multiple occasions the display and rearview camera were already non-functional from vehicle startup, and the vehicle was subsequently reversed without a rear camera image because no camera-equipped alternative was available. On more than one of these occasions, this resulted in a near-miss with another vehicle or object. The dealer has confirmed and reproduced the underlying fault on more than one occasion. In October 2024, a stored fault code was found in the infotainment control module and the module was replaced under manufacturer warranty; the display failure continued unchanged afterward. In May 2026, the wiring harness between the control module and the display was replaced under manufacturer warranty after the manufacturer diagnosed an internal failure in the harness; the manufacturer's own repair record states the repair was tested and verified over a 3-mile road test, and the failure recurred within weeks. The vehicle and its service history are available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer has been notified in writing that this defect presents a safety issue due to loss of rearview camera function, and has not directly addressed that concern in its written responses.
I was stopped at a drive thru window and as I reached out to get my food, the window rose up by itself. As I drove home over the next ten minutes, the locks locked and unlocked by themselves and the windows rolled down and up by themselves. Warning lights came on and then went off, including "Fault: Electronic parking brake," and "Error:Airbag." The dash screen went off for a few seconds and then came back on.
The air conditioning drain tube clogged and leaked into the air bag control module and caused an entire electrical failure in my car with air bag sensors, braking, windows rolling down, doors locking and unlocking automatically while driving, etc as well as the carpet getting mold.
Component Failed: ABS Braking System / Wiring Harness. Safety Risk: While driving at highway speeds with my service animal, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic ABS failure. The brakes became unresponsive, and the dashboard displayed multiple critical safety warnings, nearly resulting in a collision. Confirmation: The failure was confirmed by Schumacher VW (West Palm Beach) during a forensic inspection. They identified the cause as a corroded/damaged wiring harness—the exact defect visible in a diagnostic video from Jim Ellis VW one week prior. Warning Symptoms: "Front Assist" and sensor warning lamps appeared on [XXX]. I paid Jim Ellis VW for a diagnostic; however, they failed to repair the visible defect and later falsely denied to the BBB that the diagnostic ever occurred. Summary: This vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ) has a documented safety defect that was identified by a technician but concealed by dealership management. This concealment led to a total loss of braking assist while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle is currently available for inspection at Schumacher VW. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle warning lights come on and off to make it seem like I am about to hit or to close to something when I am not moving at all. The vehicle putts and stalls while driving like it wants to cut off. It also does this when I am at a complete stop as well as if I am backing up Warning lights on the dash appear than disappear sometimes as well.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine and the HVAC systems. Specifically, a persistent "ghost misfire"—where the engine vibrates and shudders without triggering a dashboard warning light—and a total heater failure. The vehicle is currently held at the dealership; all service records (RO# 367641, 367891, 367980, 368179) are available. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The "ghost misfire" causes shaking and hesitation during acceleration, creating a risk of losing power or stalling in high-speed traffic. Because the vehicle's diagnostics do not trigger a warning light for this condition, the driver has no advance notice of a potential engine failure. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Dealership technicians confirmed the misfire on Feb 9 (RO# 367891) and found a defective spark plug gap (.024” vs. .036”). On Feb 25, the service consultant confirmed the "ghost misfire" remained active. The heater failure was confirmed via a 'Heater Support Pump Dry Run' fault code (RO# 367641). 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by dealership technicians. Formal complaints have also been filed with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair and the California Attorney General. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Symptoms began following a service on Jan 30. Feb 8: Exhaust malfunction light (MIL) appeared briefly with severe shaking. Feb 9–present: Exhaust malfunction warning lights appeared briefly and then disappeared, but the engine vibration and "ghost misfire" symptoms remain active and undetected by the vehicle's onboard diagnostics. Feb 17: Total loss of heat occurred during a highway drive without a dashboard warning lamp
I am reporting a critical safety failure of the ABS wiring harness following service at Jim Ellis Volkswagen. I originally brought the vehicle in for a "Front Assist" safety light diagnostic. Immediately following the service, the ABS wiring harness failed, disabling my braking safety systems. The dealership is currently withholding the diagnostic report and technician notes that would confirm the state of the wiring harness during their inspection. This failure has rendered the vehicle undriveable and creates a severe safety risk to the driver and public.
Questions about the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas electrical
Does the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 76 complaints about the electrical of the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 16% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2019 Volkswagen Atlas electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 10,500 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 18V824000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Volkswagen Atlas have the most electrical problems?
The Volkswagen Atlas model years with the most electrical complaints are 2021 (149 complaints), 2018 (111 complaints) and 2019 (76 complaints).
Other 2019 Volkswagen Atlas problems
Airbags 142Driver assistance 84Brakes 79Engine 61Steering 40Fuel system 36Transmission 34Suspension 18Acceleration 14Wheels 11Visibility 10Seat belts 9Seats 8Body 7Tires 4Lights 2Locks 1
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