2019 Volkswagen Atlas: engine overheating

Filed Apr 30, 2026 · Engine · NE

I have a coolant leak. The first time presented to the VW service department, I was told it is a known issue and to add coolant if it isn’t a big leak or concern. I have been doing that, but now the leak is an everyday thing. I took it back to the service department and they said I need a new water pump and a belt. I asked about this known issue and they said I don’t qualify to have a recall for this. In researching this, I see because it is a known problem there is an extension of warranty to 8 years and 80,000 miles. My Atlas has 77,000 and I am requesting to have the needed repairs completed under the Good Will of Volks Wagen due to this being offered to other owners. Thank you for your consideration.

Filed Nov 10, 2025 · Engine · LA

In July 2022, VW replaced the cylinder head and gaskets of my 2019 VW Atlas due to warped head. The vehicle was brought in for service because the low coolant light was on. The repair was done under warranty. In January 2024, the low coolant light came on again 31k miles after the first repair. We were told it was normal for this vehicle to burn coolant. Service refilled coolant. Since that time customer would refill the coolant when the low coolant light came on which was approximately every 6 months. Customer made appointment to bring in the vehicle because the low coolant seemed to be more frequent with evidence of a coolant leak. On November 6, 2025, service department informed customer that the Water pump was bad and needed to be replaced. On November 7, 2025, service department informed customer that they couldn't hold pressure and they had to test the block which would be on November 10, 2025. On November 10, 2025, service department informed customer that coolant was leaking into the head due to warped head.

Filed Oct 2, 2025 · Fuel system, Transmission · TN

I’ve consistently had a coolant leak with my engine water pump. Constantly have to refill the coolant. The reason I’m making this complaint is because yesterday October 1, 2025 I filled up my coolant and I drove a few miles to the grocery store and my coolant was empty and I got a coolant, low warning light and the coolant pump was completely empty. This is becoming very expensive and should not happen on a certified preowned vehicle with only 75,000 miles.

Filed Aug 30, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · FL

Problem first started in April 2022, start/stop malfunction, then the engine light would come on and car would decelerate until I pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine. Once it restarted then it was okay. Brought it to the Dealer and they fixed it. Got the car back and it was working fine. However we noticed that the car RPMs would go up when pressing on the brake. Then in July into August while driving on the toll-roads at 65-70 mph, car engine would make straining noise then ETC and engine light come on, then the car decelerate. We press on the gas pedal and it would not pick up speed. It drastically reduced speed from 70 mph to 55mph. We would have to move to the shoulder and turn car off. Wait then then start the car. The car would be fine for another 2 weeks, before doing same thing. Finally on 8/26/22 it did same thing reduced speed on toll-road, would not pick up speed, ETC and Engine light came on with radiator light. But then it also overheated. We drove it home at 15mph. Then had it towed to dealer to be fixed, the radiator light was still on. We are hoping that this time it will be fixed and not cause any more trouble. Dealer is working on fixing the problems.

Filed Jan 27, 2021 · Engine · 8,860 miles · TX

At 8,860 miles coolant level warning appeared while in motion on a city street. I believe we are experiencing a coolant leak issue. Recommended coolant was added to proper level and after 1,000 miles the level is noticeably low again. The vehicle should be pressure tested to find the leak and repair head gasket, water pump, or leaky hose.

Filed Jul 2, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 1,500 miles · NY

1) radar auto-brake: when parallel parking and backing ( going in reverse ) parallel to the curb, at maybe 2 MPH and 10 inches from curb, I got yellow stop, stop !!!!!!! Message followed by sensation of hitting an object and being thrown into the seat. Only there was no object. Ran out of a car, nothing and nobody there, at least for 50 yards. An auto-brake engaged. That is really broken. Interference caused it to do that ? Overheated computer in 90 degree sun ? 2) transmission logic: unrelated to above, when going in slow traffic 2-10 MPH, pressing gas shifts transmission into higher gear instead of lower, resulting in hit-like engagement and actual inability to rev the engine and accelerate. Slow and deep pedal movement does downshift and accelerate but too much. All cars are like that and I test drove several. 3) transmission logic: related to (2) above, paradoxically in sport driving mode, when trying to accelerate and merge highway from 10 MPH, transmission shifted up several gears, not allowing to rev the engine, and resulted in RPM decay /power loss -- very scary. That launch was timely aborted, and driver later merged the road in manual "tiptronic" mode. 4) improper gas pedal calibration: compared to other german, japanese and american cars, vw atlas has abnormal and unsafe gas pedal calibration. From a stop, only lightly feathering the pedal results in civilized controlled motion. Normal gas pedal pressure results in a car rocketing forward uncontrollably. Vw has to talk to some other manufacturers and get their gas calibration consistent with other cars, so it can be driven steady and safely at slow speeds when necessary.