Volkswagen Atlas AEB Defect Investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded its investigation into inadvertent activations of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The investigation aims to evaluate the scope and safety implications of these incidents, which involve sudden braking without apparent cause.

Key Highlights

Affected Models: 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles
NHTSA Case Number: PE23017 (upgraded to EA24004)
Reports Received:
- 69 consumer complaints about AEB issues
- 292 reports noted by Volkswagen, with 264 unique cases analyzed by ODI
- 8 reports of injuries and 2 crashes linked to the defect
Timeline: Investigation opened on September 28, 2023, and upgraded on December 18, 2024
Findings: MY 2019 Atlas vehicles show the highest rate of incidents compared to other Volkswagen models.

The investigation originated from consumer complaints about the AEB system activating unexpectedly, causing abrupt deceleration even when no obstructions were present in the vehicle’s forward path. Volkswagen acknowledged awareness of hundreds of such cases but suggested that some may stem from customer misunderstandings of the Front Assist system and its limitations.

Many complaints highlighted that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to replicate the issue or dismissed it as normal system behavior. The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas demonstrated a significantly higher rate of reported incidents compared to other Volkswagen models, while the 2018 Atlas showed rates comparable to peers.

The upgrade to an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) will focus on further examining the frequency, severity, and potential safety risks associated with inadvertent AEB activations in these vehicles. This phase will determine if a recall or other remedial action is necessary to address the problem.

For additional details, including ODI reports and related documents, visit NHTSA.gov.

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