2018 Volkswagen Atlas · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 53owner reports
- 18,200median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 17, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026
111 of the 462 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 53 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 53 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (51 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the electrical system covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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 and remedy
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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 11,000 and 27,600 miles, from the 44 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Engine stops occasionally while driving and the car is moving. This has occurred even with Start/Stop turned off and while the vehicle is moving on the road. This has occurred several times over the past year. Typically the car can be re-started right away, although on a couple of times it was disabled (would not start) until multiple attempts over 5 minutes.”
Filed Sep 3, 2024
“Vehicle would indicate normal assistance features were no longer available. Then after sitting for the evening and trying to start in the morning the car would not turn over. Could recharge the battery and turn over no issues. Again after sitting for a little while the car battery would be dead again and not want to turn over.”
Filed Apr 24, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 53 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.
Other problems on this car
- Airbag warning light or recall 100 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 75 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 44 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 33 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 30 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 28 reports