Used 2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) Consumer Reviews
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Everything was great until it wasn't
Kara Holm, Chattanooga, TN, 06/29/2018
Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
120 of 127 people found this review helpful
First of all, I loved my BRAND NEW Atlas when I bought it. Every time I walked up to it for the first two weeks, I thought "man, that Tourmaline blue R-Line SE w/ Tech Atlas is sexy as hell!" It looked so much better than the vehicles around it. Then I went to fill the tank up. The fuel door fell off. Okay, no big deal. I put it back on and kept going... only to find that EVERY TIME I FILLED UP, THE FUEL DOOR FELL OFF!! Tip. Of. The. Iceberg. Next, my vehicle starts taking longer to start up. I thought it may be the change of weather. My remote start isn't working either but I just figured I was doing something wrong when pressing the buttons. No big deal, right? WRONG. The next day, MY CAR WON'T START! It tries turning over, but won't fire! What in the world? I try 7 times before finally! It starts! I go drop the kids off at daycare and then head straight to the dealership. Mind you, I sell cars for a living, so any time spent out of work is money out of my pocket! I drop my vehicle off and am given a ride to my dealership. I get a call saying it's a fuel pump and they need to give me a loaner. I get picked up and go back to the VW dealership... more time away from my work! I am told the fuel pump is on an "intergalactic backorder" and that it will take over a month to possibly get the part in. One person has already been waiting 3 weeks for one. WHAT??? So they give me a Passat - a $400 a month car!! I immediately call VW of America and express my concerns. I get in contact with Jeff Newell, the new car manager at Village VW in Chattanooga and he works his magic and gets me a part from another dealership overnighted and I get my vehicle back within two days. This was the dealership working for me, NOT VW OF AMERICA. I go back to happily driving my car..... for two weeks until ANOTHER problem! My car starts acting funny again and my freaking fuel door is STILL falling off every time I get gas!! WTC?? I take it to the dealership again. It's a purge valve! So they replace that. I make my first payment and call VW of America about this service visit. I tell them something needs to be done about this. Their response? Oh, we have fixed it according to warranty. That's all we can do at this time. If it happens again, let us know. What? Okay. Fine. Only two issues, whatever, they have to work the kinks out I guess. I go on my merry way, driving my beautiful car that yes, I did still love. I wake up about two weeks later ON MY DAY OFF, get the kids ready, put them in the car and start it. I hear this loud, ungodly noise from inside my car. I open the door and it's even louder! I took videos of it, sent it to some guys in service and they said "That's not good. Drive it to the dealership NOW" GREAT. So instead of enjoying the day with my kids, I drop them off at daycare and go to the dealership. I spend over half the day there for them to tell my it's the cooling fans and motor... What. Oh, and they don't have a loaner but I can still drive my car... They tell me "Hey, it's going to take over a week for this part to come in. Drive your car and if it starts to over heat, pull over and call roadside assistance to tow it here." I LIVE IN THE SOUTH. WHERE IT IS 90+ EVERY DAY IN THE SUMMER!! So let me get this straight, you want me to drive around with my two babies in the car and if it over heats, pull over and call roadside?? And sit in my over heated car in almost 100 degree heat? WITH MY BABIES? You're crazy! Finally, after getting with the person who sold me the car, I get a loaner. I call VW of America and ask again for my vehicle get bought back or replaced or something! Because I no longer feel safe in this vehicle! Kim L leaves me a voicemail to call her back. I call her back within 15 minutes. Conveniently, she is already out of the office. Of course. I call her EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK. I leave voicemail after voicemail to PLEASE give me a call back! While waiting for a call back, my start stop error keeps coming on but no check engine light so the service tech tells me it should be fine. So still waiting for VW of America to call but my husband and I load up the kids and one of their big power wheel trucks into the Atlas for a day at the park on my day off, which is precious time because we both work 50-60 hours a week. I start the Atlas and guess what... check engine light. I bring it straight to the dealership again and they put us in a 2017 Tiguan... We try to fit the power wheel in the Tiguan and we can't. Park day cancelled. In the meantime, I decide to try calling Kim L at VW of America again. I get a voicemail that says she is now out of the office until July 2nd.... So she couldn't return my phone calls all week and now she is out of town for a long weekend? Lolol okay. There is only ONE person in the entire region that can help me, when I am located in the same city as the plant so hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of vehicles have been sold in this region alone. RIDICULOUS
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Hard not to be disappointed
SonomaHog, Antioch, CA, 09/18/2017
Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
313 of 334 people found this review helpful
With our minivan on its last legs, we were in the market for a new vehicle that could seat 7 (3 young boys and frequently shuttling their friends) and it looked like the Atlas fit the bill as we loved the styling and had a previous good experience with VW. We purchased an Atlas SE (w/tech) after seriously considering a Honda Pilot on August 10. After 3 weeks is when the problems start. On 9/4/17, my wife heads out to shuttle the kids to school when the EPC check engine light comes on and the car refuses to turn over and start (resulting in the obvious inconvenience and tardiness to class). After contacting VW roadside assistance, who apparently does no additional coordination other than calling the tow company (the local dealership in Fairfield CA had no idea we were coming in, resulting in additional delays), we were provided a loaner Jetta requiring us to change carpooling plans for the week. I fully recognize issues can arise, and it’s how they are dealt with that are important, and why we are disappointed. After 6 days in the dealership (and 115 miles “test driving” added to the car without any explanation), our 5 week old Atlas (now with 1890 miles) was returned with assurance that the issue was resolved (we were told there was a problem with the fuel system). My wife subsequently goes out to clean the car and finds minor/superficial damage to the plastic floor panels in the back as a result of the repairs that were obvious and were not reported which results in us having to call again to explain and coordinate replacement. 7 days later (9/15), we again load up the kids for a long day of soccer, and like groundhog day, the EPC check engine light comes on and the vehicle fails to turn over. After again coordinating a tow, and pushing back on another Jetta to ensure we have enough room for the weeks carpooling, we are back to wondering when and what the issue is. We really want to love the Atlas, but so far it’s hard not to be disappointed and second guess our decision not to go with Honda. Will keep you posted on how this is resolved.
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2018 Volkswagen Atlas for sale near you
3 of 47 listings
- V6 SEL Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $18,837In-stock online
- V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,998In-stock online
- V6 SE 4dr SUVMSRP: $11,9904 mi away
See all 47 listings
2000 Miles...visited dealership EIGHT TIMES!
pnav, Tahoe City, CA, 12/21/2017
Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
50 of 53 people found this review helpful
Only 2k miles. Engine light is on repeatedly with poor performance. Visited the dealership EIGHT TIMES for the same issue. They replaced the engine harness...ON A NEW CAR???? Now the cruise control stopped working and more "warning lights". Great concept...POOR POOR POOR execution by VW.
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Atlas catalytic converter replacement
Etiv, Georgetown, TX, 11/27/2018
Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Was excited about the new Atlas but reluctant to buy in the first year of production as and concerned with reliability given our experience with the “Touareg”. Check engine light on and I took it in. diagnosed as a fault that required a software update of the vehicles computer. Picked car up after reprogra. check engine light back on within 50 miles. Took it in for quick diagnoses told this was a different fault bring it in for complete diagnoses. After an entire day with tech coordinating with vw engineers I was informed my catalytic converter needed replacing. Converter was initially on back order for 4-6 weeks. Had to drive with check engine light on for 22 days service advisor emailed me to inform him if I experienced drive ability issues. Called vw customer service to complain as my county requires emissions testing. Part was bumped up and is here 21 days later. Gonna have it installed but my confidence in this atlas’s reliability has diminished. Will update any with any further problems.
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Chose the Atlas over all other 3 row SUV's
JIN, Granbury, TX, 06/04/2018
Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
I chose the Atlas over all the other 3 row SUV's I tested because, on an all around basis, it was the best choice at a great price... I selected the SE V6 FWD W/Tech since it had all the features I wanted at a price I could afford... I live where there is very little snow, if at all, so the FWD version was best for me... I didn't want a sunroof, I have a convertible for those fun in the sun days, no need for AWD or towing, but wanted all the necessary safety and tech features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind spot monitoring, remote start, etc... You get all these with the Tech package at very little extra cost... However, if you want a sunroof, towing package, and, all the tech goodies, you should look for the SEL model, which is only 2K more for all those extras... In most of the competitors models, especially the GM Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, you have to buy the top of the line models to get all the safety and other tech goodies you get with the Atlas w/Tech package or the SEL... Also, the GM models do not offer Apple Car Play or Android Auto... With those two connections, you really don't need the high priced and glitch prone NAV systems that cost way too much for what you get... I use the Android Auto App on my phone projected to the Atlas infotainment screen and it works great both visually and audibly through the infotainment system... The infotainment system with 8" screen in the Atlas is very intuitive and easy to use... Plus, it still has knobs and buttons for the AC, and, Audio systems so you can use them instead of having to do everything through a touch screen, where they are also available... With the Honda Pilot, all system controls are through the touchscreen and is a real pain in the A**... Yes, the Atlas has the hated stop/start, but it is easily cancelled by pressing a button on the dash to turn it off when you, which can't be done in some of it's competitors... This is one great new SUV... It's huge inside, the second and third rows have an enormous amount of room, cargo space with the third row up or down is terrific and with both rows down, it is absolutely huge... The ride is taught, but not too taught, and, it drives like a much smaller vehicle... The 8 sp transmission setup shifts smoothly and is non intrusive ( I hate CVT's), and, the engine, while not a 0 to 60 speed demon, is more than adequate for a family vehicle, the gas mileage is good for a V6 and the weight of the vehicle... In test driving the Atlas and it's competitors, it simply was the best all around package for me, and, with the price of the model I bought being more reasonable than it's competitors, it made my purchase decision easy... Yes, I was wary of a first year model, but the Atlas comes with a 6 year/72K bumper to bumper warranty, and, waiting 10 months into the model run, I felt comfortable with it's reliability... If you are looking for a 3 row SUV, do yourself a favor and test drive one... You might be very surprised at the "bang for your buck" you will get with the Atlas versus it's competitors... It has been one terrific vehicle for me and my family...
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