Volkswagen Atlas automatic emergency braking problems, 2018–2027
391 of the 2,473 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Atlas 2018–2027 name the automatic emergency braking (NHTSA’s “Forward Collision Avoidance” heading — forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking). The loudest years: 2021 (110), 2019 (96), 2024 (62). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Volkswagen Atlas automatic emergency braking problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the automatic emergency braking | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | 8 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 13 | 18% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 62 | 23% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 13 | 9% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2022 | 38 | 15% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 110 | 17% | — | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 | 23 | 17% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 96 | 20% | 15k | 2 investigations | the record → |
| 2018 | 36 | 8% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the automatic emergency braking. Nothing here is a rate.
When the automatic emergency braking complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 21 · 2022: 148 · 2023: 63 · 2024: 51 · 2025: 63 · 2026: 33
Across the model years, half of the 35 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the automatic emergency braking problem between 8,000 and 42,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the automatic emergency braking, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light illuminated, and the vehicle unintendedly came to a stop. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer.
While driving 70mph down the highway, warning lights on the dash flashed but I’m not sure which ones, windows automatically rolled down and the emergency brake tried to engage. This could have absolutely caused an accident if traffic weren’t light.
My car often will apply automatic braking system when no one or thing is in front of me. Luckily I have not been rear ended yet but it is very startling. Going down steep hills the emergency brake will turn on automatically. Happened the first week I owned the car and I had no idea what was going on.
Hello, I am the current owner of a 2019 VW Atlas with less than 13500 miles. In September 25, the Front-Assist Technology alert icon turned on the dashboard all of a sudden without any cause to my knowledge.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes independently activated. Additionally, the radio displayed a blank screen. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the cruise control was activated.
What is on file about the automatic emergency braking, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigations
- PE23017 Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Brakingopened Sep 28, 2023 · closed Dec 18, 2024
- On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward p…
- EA24004 Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Brakingopened Dec 18, 2024 · open
- On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward …
Other systems with a record on the Volkswagen Atlas
Source: the same files- electrical problems
- engine problems
- airbag problems
- exterior lighting problems
- fuel system problems
- brake problems
Every system, every model year: Volkswagen Atlas problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Volkswagen Atlas years have the most automatic emergency braking complaints?
2021, 110; 2019, 96; 2024, 62. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2024 (23%).
Is there a recall for the automatic emergency braking on the Volkswagen Atlas?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do automatic emergency braking problems show up on the Volkswagen Atlas?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 15,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 8,000 and 42,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Forward Collision Avoidance" heading cover?
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.