Atlas ACC issue

56197 Views 60 Replies 36 Participants Last post by Rick4464, 13 d ago

Bigwoof1

Discussion Starter · May 22, 2018 (Edited by Moderator)

Got a new 2018 Atlas and the ACC (front assist sensors) keep giving a fault and shut down. Have made one trip to the dealer so far. Trying to contact them again to let the know it still isn’t fixed. The dealership it was purchased from is about 65 miles (one way) away. Has anyone had a problem with the ACC?
It works great on my Passat.

Thanks for any input.

21 - 40 of 61 Posts

akatch

· #21 · Feb 7, 2019

Problems with ACC continue. Follow up from Aug 2018 post

mexcano said:
Well I wish I had read all of this prior to purchase. We were excited to take our 2019 home. It had 3 miles and on our way home we noticed a little orange icon with an ! symbol. Drove the car 5 days around town, to work, maybe 200 miles.

Roadtrip time - get on the road and cruise control won't engage. You turn it on, the little orange icon comes on. Now I know what it is! Then when we press "Set" we get a message, "ACC UNAVAILABLE" then we move from screen to screen and see "ACC De-activated" so we call dealer. They said they had never heard of any issues and we should be able to "activate" by going to settings. No option there.

Very, Very frustrated with this technology and atlas. I road trip at least once a month, its very frustrating to drive 400-600 miles at a time with no cruise control!

I guess it needs to go back to the dealer. I pray they can fix it.

Well, I wish I had better news for you Mexcano. Since I first posted about this problem back in Aug of 2018, I have not been able to fix the problem with my Altas's ACC.

My VW service department has attempted to fix the problem several times. I've had the vehicle in the for service four times since August of 2018. It's now February or 2019. My Atlas now has 3000 and the ACC has never worked. Well, at least not for very long.

The first time they "fixed it", it worked for one trip. Three miles home from the VW dealer/service, then it stopped working. They "fixed it" a second time and it worked for about one week. I now have another appointment scheduled for next week to take that Atlas back in for service. All told, my brand new Atlas with the ACC that has never worked, has been in for service four times and for over 30 days total.

I have written letters and have been in contact with VW, North America, corporate office in MI. The regional, service tech for VW, North America, East, and the service manager for my local dealer. Everyone is trying to fix this issue for me. They are simply just not able to fix it.

I'm not considering seeking retribution via the New York, New Car Lemon Law. Given the repair history attempts, I have met the requirements of the law. However, it does require one to bring legal suit against the manufacturer and apply to the court for relief under the law. I expect this will take a considerable amount of time and energy, which I'm not looking forward to.

The shame of it is, other than the ACC issue, I really like the Atlas. I love the interior and exterior design. It's more fun to drive than the Ford Explorer I had prior to this. I'm hoping next week's scheduled trip to the service department will be my last but I'm not counting on it.

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hfqkhal

· #22 · Feb 8, 2019

mexcano said:
Well I wish I had read all of this prior to purchase. We were excited to take our 2019 home. It had 3 miles and on our way home we noticed a little orange icon with an ! symbol. Drove the car 5 days around town, to work, maybe 200 miles.

Roadtrip time - get on the road and cruise control won't engage. You turn it on, the little orange icon comes on. Now I know what it is! Then when we press "Set" we get a message, "ACC UNAVAILABLE" then we move from screen to screen and see "ACC De-activated" so we call dealer. They said they had never heard of any issues and we should be able to "activate" by going to settings. No option there.

Very, Very frustrated with this technology and atlas. I road trip at least once a month, its very frustrating to drive 400-600 miles at a time with no cruise control!

I guess it needs to go back to the dealer. I pray they can fix it.

My bet is they will look at the fault and they will clear it and you will be on your way.

mexcano

· #23 · Apr 3, 2019

Well update, multiple visits and finally determined the camera in the front came broken.

From reading here, my assumption us that its a cheap product since alot of people have similar issues.

The kicker? Dealer ordered the parts march 4th. As of today, vw said it will be “at the earliest may 28” before parts can arrive. Seriously? 5 months with no cruise control because your camera came broken on a new atlas and you can’t replace it?

atlassask

· #24 · Oct 2, 2019

Atlas ACC Issue

Happened to me now twice. First time dealer in Kelowna BC. fix it by re-calibrating the sensor . Now second time happened within one month. Going to dealer again. It did rain or snowed both times it happened. Can still drive without cruise control but it is disappointing that it happened now twice. Going to check transmission too. If sudden stop and engaging reverse gear to park sometimes there is loud bang that i can hear in the transmission. It happened at least three or four times already. Anyone else had this issue? It feels like it would want to go into a forward gear before going into reverse. Driving cars for more than 30 years and never experienced anything like this before.

Jackmorgan

· #25 · Nov 11, 2019

It seems that your adaptive cruise control system has some issue. I also had problem with my ACC and had to replace radar sensor. I used this one https://xenons4u.co.uk/vw-3qf907561d-adaptive-cruise-control-radar-sensor.html to get rid of the problem. You should check it out this might be a solution to your problem.

Glfhck

· #26 · Mar 10, 2020

2018AtlasSEL said:
We have a 2018 SEL Premium with about 17k Miles and are having issues with the ACC and the lane assist/keep Systems. My dealer is telling me it’s due to the car being out of alignment... I’m not feeling good about the service advisors explanation.p, but he says the toe and Camber is off... so the vehicle needs to be aligned and then the sensors/cameras need to realigned.... it’s over $400 for both services as they say it’s not a warranty issue. Any help or possible more explanation would be expected. I’m going to fight with the dealer a bit and get vw involved f the dealer doesn’t help. We’ve had sensor issues since day one as well as a bunch of other small issues along the way. Frsutating for a 50k+ brand new vehicle. Glad we leased it.... couple years and it’ll be all there problem.

I ran into the exact same problem, dealer says it’s $89.95 for alignment and $187 for camera calibration, he says an error message will come on when they do the alignment, but if it’s out of alignment now why no error message to begin with. I think the dealers are trying to fleece owners! The dealer won’t do alignment with out the camera work, I told him to shove it up his -ss

Han P

· #27 · Aug 3, 2020

ACC - Don't start me off..... Bought my 19th VW/AUDI/PORSCHE, a 2018 VW Atlas 3.6 SEL Premium 4 Motion w/Technology. 5,000 miles in and the front right axle broke... Few weeks later evaporations canister went, then again, then again, then, then again and then one more time. Both cats replaced, hard shifting transmission, accelleration issues, snd subsequently the ACC failed. Delaminated VW badge so replaced under warranty. Three months later, ACC fails again, yellow caution triangle, disabled messages on the dashboard. Booked the car in to get it fixed and they told me it's not covered. VW Area Service manager clams there is no financial assistance available, after VW dealership tells me it wear and tear/service issue rather than a defect. Disturbing detail, every time the car is in for service and they install a software updated, **** happens to the car afterwards. Ran great for 4 months until oil service and updates, and here we go again. I have a great relationship with my local dealer, but their hands appear to be tied by VW, and they'll have to charge me the rate of $495 for an alignment, which in their words, may last 5 miles. They've seen it before. I'm at a point of just yanking the fuse out and have no cruise control etc., and get rid of the yellow warning lights on the cockpit. My worst VW experience thus far, all the other ones have been excellent. Atlas received a 13% reliability rating..... it means 'run for the hills'!

There's too much to list - axles, electronics, headlights failing at night, evap systems, wrinkled leather seat on a rarely used position, catalytic converters, transmission shift issue, sensors, cruise control, headlight adjustment system, main battery failure - it's too crazy for words. Currently engaged in buy-back procedure with VW under the FL Lemon Law.

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Han P

· #28 · Sep 16, 2020

Han P said:
ACC - Don't start me off..... Bought my 19th VW/AUDI/PORSCHE, a 2018 VW Atlas 3.6 SEL Premium 4 Motion w/Technology. 5,000 miles in and the front right axle broke... Few weeks later evaporations canister went, then again, then again, then, then again and then one more time. Both cats replaced, hard shifting transmission, accelleration issues, snd subsequently the ACC failed. Delaminated VW badge so replaced under warranty. Three months later, ACC fails again, yellow caution triangle, disabled messages on the dashboard. Booked the car in to get it fixed and they told me it's not covered. VW Area Service manager clams there is no financial assistance available, after VW dealership tells me it wear and tear/service issue rather than a defect. Disturbing detail, every time the car is in for service and they install a software updated, **** happens to the car afterwards. Ran great for 4 months until oil service and updates, and here we go again. I have a great relationship with my local dealer, but their hands appear to be tied by VW, and they'll have to charge me the rate of $495 for an alignment, which in their words, may last 5 miles. They've seen it before. I'm at a point of just yanking the fuse out and have no cruise control etc., and get rid of the yellow warning lights on the cockpit. My worst VW experience thus far, all the other ones have been excellent. Atlas received a 13% reliability rating..... it means 'run for the hills'!

There's too much to list - axles, electronics, headlights failing at night, evap systems, wrinkled leather seat on a rarely used position, catalytic converters, transmission shift issue, sensors, cruise control, headlight adjustment system, main battery failure - it's too crazy for words. Currently engaged in buy-back procedure with VW under the FL Lemon Law.

9/14/2020 -Atlas has been at dealer again. Radio failed, switches off for no reason and must do a hard reset, works for another 2 minutes and fails again. New module ordered and installed. In 7 days the car has been back to dealer for low coolant warning three times. The whole fri$%#’n Christmas tree on the dashboard lit up again but no faults found.. just keep adding coolant every other day.
No longer trust the car or assume it’s reliable.
VW decided the car is fine and WILL NOT BUY BACK.... I have so much information on the issues with this Atlas, it’s ridiculous. Some interesting reports from VW Chattanooga also, could prove to be pretty useful when I get the media involved. They did offer me 10% trade assist if I get a new one..... Like **** I will! Asked them if I can use it on a new Mercedes GLS instead...

Extremely unhappy! Not done with this piece of **** yet.
Rant over!

Fred

· #29 · Sep 22, 2020

Bigwoof1 said:
It just shuts off the cruise control. I will get pics of the error and post the, shortly.
[/QUmy 2019 does the same thing to me. I have an appointment next week with the dealership. what was the resolution to fix the problem?

Fred

· #30 · Sep 22, 2020

akatch said:
Yes! New lease vehicle and first week out the "ACC is unavailable". And a big yellow "!" appearing in a triangle in the center dash display. I took it to the dealer service. They diagnosed and said the front ACC unit was bad.

They had to special order the part from VW (2 days). They put the new unit in but they we not able to get it to calibrate (1 day). They contacted VW and they recommended that they replace the front grill. Special order (3 days). That appeared to work. I picked up the Atlas and drove home (8 miles) with the ACC working fine.

I parked the car and went out to drive it a few hours later and got the "ACC is unavailable" message and the big yellow "!" again. Unbelievable. Thinking of just having it disconnected so I don't have to look at the warning light anymore, and just be done with it.

At this point my new car has been in the shop equal to the time I've had it to drive. It's a tough choice. It feels wrong to spend $45K on a new car and not have it work perfectly but it also feels wrong to make payments for a car that's sitting in the shop. Plus, the inconvenience of going back and forth to the dealer on the NYC subway.

I was just now searching the internet for any info about this problem and came across this website. I have not found anything else yet. Has anyone else had a similar experience or have an opinion on what I should do next?

I am having the same issue. What was the resolution? I have an appointment with the dealership next week.

Han P

· #31 · Sep 23, 2020

Fred said:
I am having the same issue. What was the resolution? I have an appointment with the dealership next week.

Resolution as per my VW dealer - Bring it in, we'll charge you $495 for an ACC alignment and can't guarantee the work. They stated that they fixed another one for $495 which lasted 5 miles before it went ^@%$$# haywire again. No guarantee on the repair as it's deemed service/wear and tear. I know what I'm gonna tear next.... I am almost done with VW USA, service substandard, resolution is not a word they understand that well. 10% trade assist is what they offered me instead (i.e., we know it's wrong, but please buy a new one from us). So I asked them if they could transfer the trade assist to the nearest Mercedes Benz dealer, so I can get a reliable car. $52,000 worth of trouble with this one! >> RANT OVER <<

Steven

· #32 · Oct 21, 2020

2018AtlasSEL said:
We have a 2018 SEL Premium with about 17k Miles and are having issues with the ACC and the lane assist/keep Systems. My dealer is telling me it’s due to the car being out of alignment... I’m not feeling good about the service advisors explanation.p, but he says the toe and Camber is off... so the vehicle needs to be aligned and then the sensors/cameras need to realigned.... it’s over $400 for both services as they say it’s not a warranty issue. Any help or possible more explanation would be expected. I’m going to fight with the dealer a bit and get vw involved f the dealer doesn’t help. We’ve had sensor issues since day one as well as a bunch of other small issues along the way. Frsutating for a 50k+ brand new vehicle. Glad we leased it.... couple years and it’ll be all there problem.

I also just returned from the dealer where I bought my 2019 Atlas 2 years ago...they gave me the same song and dance about alignment and recalibrating the computer. I called another dealer and their service manager basically said "no...the computer/sensor is not related to the alignment. Your car may or may not need to be aligned, but that is irrelevant." Taking it in to that dealer tomorrow...I will let you know the verdice.

Steven

· #33 · Oct 21, 2020

Steven said:
I also just returned from the dealer where I bought my 2019 Atlas 2 years ago...they gave me the same song and dance about alignment and recalibrating the computer. I called another dealer and their service manager basically said "no...the computer/sensor is not related to the alignment. Your car may or may not need to be aligned, but that is irrelevant." Taking it in to that dealer tomorrow...I will let you know the verdict.

Reactions: 1

Han P

· #34 · Oct 21, 2020

The main sensor is located behind the VW badge... The badge has delaminated and that refracts the signal, therefore the computer says it's wrong. Not the first time this happened as they also replaced the whole song and dance under warranty in March this year. Recently the car has been great apart from the fact that I've been driving without ACC since July 2020...

edtil

· #35 · Jan 21, 2021

Martin Bélanger said:
Hi all, I bought a 2018 Atlas in March 2018. I'm towing a camping trailer with it. The second time we went with the truck the accs went off. I brought the truck to VW and they recalibrate it. Or rien works Well for a couple of weeks, up To the moment we go back in camping towing the trailer, the acc went off again, that time I brought banc the truck to VW they had it in thé shop for a week and half, changed the front radar twice, but the calibration was still not holding on. They had several talks with Tech from VW canada To finaly discovery that the problem was in the programmation itself. The company that provide the acc system Odis bad To build a new programation from scratch. It took 2 month To do it and when they got it vw called me back, took à appointment and change back (again) the radar and acc system with the new programation. It's been two week now ans seems To be working Well. I just wait for the next time I Will be towing the trailer To see if it old then. It is à known problem et from VW and Odis (the comptant providing the acc system) so it is under waranty no one should be paying for recalibration or anything link To that problem.

once you connect the towing the ACC and lane departure systems turn off automatically.. you can't tow and have the car drive itself.. that's irresponsible. however, i'm not towing anything and my ACC and lade departure have started to give an error out of the blue. no accidents, no bumps, nothing. 2019 atlas sel.

edtil

· #36 · Jan 21, 2021

Han P said:
The main sensor is located behind the VW badge... The badge has delaminated and that refracts the signal, therefore the computer says it's wrong. Not the first time this happened as they also replaced the whole song and dance under warranty in March this year. Recently the car has been great apart from the fact that I've been driving without ACC since July 2020...

my acc and lane departure stopped working also. i do see some signs of peeling on the VW badge. was that your issue? did you fix it? how?

Fred

· #37 · Jan 21, 2021

Bigwoof1 said:
Got a new 2018 Atlas and the ACC (front assist sensors) keep giving a fault and shut down. Have made one trip to the dealer so far. Trying to contact them again to let the know it still isn’t fixed. The dealership it was purchased from is about 65 miles (one way) away. Has anyone had a problem with the ACC? It works great on my Passat.

Thanks for any inputs.

Welcome to owning a VW! I was told this is such a low priority for VW that a software update on this issue isn't even on the horizon. I have a 2019 Atlas SEL Premium and kept getting this error when the car had about 6k miles. Good luck!

Han P

· #38 · Jan 21, 2021

edtil said:
my acc and lane departure stopped working also. i do see some signs of peeling on the VW badge. was that your issue? did you fix it? how?

VW replaced the badge and something else that cost $900.00 (I guess it's the sensor module that lives behind the badge) - worked fine for a few months, then went OFF again, and ACC suddenly came back to life just before Christmas 2020. Drove from FL to NC with ACC on, working perfectly , stopped for gas on the way home with 600 miles to go and..... you guessed it. Ten months left on my lease and after 17 VW's - never again! Their attitude sucks - I have owned VW's in four different countries, Golf, Passat, Touareg, New Beetle, Jetta, Atlas. What a disappointment VW USA turns out to be!

Atrain

· #39 · Feb 9, 2021

I have been told by my dealer (and proven it out many times) that ACC won't work after remote start. My ACC works in every other situation other than Remote Start. Are others having this issue? This is pending a software update that hasn't happened in a year or so (Supposedly)

Reactions: 1

Han P

· #40 · Feb 9, 2021

Atrain said:
I have been told by my dealer (and proven it out many times) that ACC won't work after remote start. My ACC works in every other situation other than Remote Start. Are others having this issue? This is pending a software update that hasn't happened in a year or so (Supposedly)

Not in my case.... It just doesn't work most of the time. Software updates done at every incidence the car is at the dealership, it just remains more trouble than it's worth. On the upside - only 9 more months before we part ways! Will keep my other VW's and affiliated cars, but will NEVER buy an Atlas again. Never EVER!

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