[ALLDRAKES]

My Atlas continues to struggle with a hard and erratic shift from 1-2 gear. Also when not coming to a complete stop the transmission is very unsure which gear it wants to be in and when you apply the accelerator it pauses and then jerks you forward finally accelerating. Off to the dealer again to demand a fix or a buy back.

 

[Atlas]

My Atlas continues to struggle with a hard and erratic shift from 1-2 gear. Also when not coming to a complete stop the transmission is very unsure which gear it wants to be in and when you apply the accelerator it pauses and then jerks you forward finally accelerating. Off to the dealer again to demand a fix or a buy back.

Did you go to the dealer already? If yes, what did they say?

Please keep us posted.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Said that and the LOUD hissing sound up until 22mph is "normal"......Bull crap the car didn't do any of it the first 3,000 miles or on my 30 mile test drive

 

[Atlasuno]

Take another Atlas on the lot for a drive for comparison - if it's normal, it will do it. My transmission shifts smoothly and quietly, almost imperceptibly. Maybe try another dealer. They may be happy to handle a warranty issue, as they get paid by the factory.
Transmission issues happen - statistically, there has to be a few bad of the thousands that are made. We had a bad manual transmission in a Mercedes we bought new one time. It would pop out of first when you went to take off. Factory replaced it.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

One way around it is to put your car in the snow mode for the AWD. This starts you out in 2nd gear.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Back to the dealer last week and took out the GM's Atlas and his was smooth as silk. We both drove mine and agreed its not right. Service manager felt the surging as well. Also the loud Shhhhhh noise continues between 5 and 23 mph. Was able to duplicate it pretty bad in D while accelerating. When I shifted it to M, it disappeared. Dealership is stumped. It goes in next Wed. and I am not taking tit back until they find a solution.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

So yesterday I really looked into what this tranny is doing. When I slow down to say 8mph it stays in 3rd gear yet. When you apply the throttle lightly it makes a SHHHHHHH !! sound and that stays until about 23 mph. Yesterday it made that sound between 28-33 as well. If you apply the accelerator harder at say 8mph like you would for everyday driving it is not sure what it wants to do, its pauses a second and then goes into 2nd gear and throws you back in the seat. It is very herky jerky when driving around town and through round abouts.

I drove it yesterday with the Master Tech and he saw and felt everything so we will see. Goes back in next week Wed.

 

[Unhappyatlasowner]

Hello,

We also purchased a 2018 VX Atlas. Doing the exact same thing, with regard to hissing/ SHhhhhhsssss crappy noise as we accelerate from app. 5 mph. It is in drive when this happens, and seems to be third gear. Folsom Lake VW (California) says "nothing wrong," and "normal sounds." This seems highly questionable. Sorry we bought this thing. Now have to deal with it. Money well spent. :/

 

[Unhappyatlasowner]

*VW not Vx obviously. Please let me know if you resolve, or conclude what the noise is. Ours seems to be consistent with transmission noise that could come from a worn torque converter, however, this car has now about two thousand miles on it. Horrible gas mileage also.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Been at the dealer since last week Wednesday morning. I talked with them today and they said they have no idea what it is. Giving it 2 more days and then its time to call VW direct.

 

[Psmit9223]

Any updates to this thread? Did the dealer figure out the shhhh sound? The struggle between 1-2 gear? Having same issue.. only 400 miles on atlas se.. waiting to take into dealer until I can see what answers others are getting.. very frustrated with brand new car.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Been at dealer for 26 days.......day 22 they called and said, "we have no answer yet for your problem".

 

[Psmit9223]

Dropped mine at the dealer tonight. Took the service manager for ride to duplicate sound. He heard it and thought it could potentionally be intake noise under heavy load, ie, going up hill in 1st. Got my atlas loaner and was able to get the same sound to occur at uphills. I am starting to think it is just how it is. Other than the sound and a bit of lag I’m not having transmission issues. Terrible gas mileage but it could just be because of an 8spd. I will let them do diagnostics tomorrow but I anticipate being told it is normal. I did contact vw to help them diagnose as I didn’t want to waste my trip to the dealer. If I hear anything else, will update the post.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Regional service manager got involved and said this is standard for the car to do this. Said 3% of people are complaining about it. Said the SSSSSHHHHHH sound is the baffles in the torque converter that are there because of the auto stop/start feature. Said they hooked up microphones and such and then emailed those to VW to compare to their findings. Said they have had 2-3 of them tore apart and that is the issue. Said the hard shifting is part of owning an 8 Speed. They had my vehicle 28 days.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

I can honestly say at this point the Atlas is the worst vehicle I have owned in my entire life:

-The transmission now makes the SSSSHHHHHH sound when traveling at highway speeds.
-It has developed a harsh 4-5 gear shift
-The shift from 1-2 second continues to get worse
-It stills throws you back your seat when it finally finds the gear it wants to be in when leaving a roundabout or yield sign
-The exhaust note has grown louder by probably 3fold since I purchased the car

Volkswagen corporate have been absolutely no help and claim these are all standard things that the Atlas does.

THIS IS THE WORST SUV ON THE MARKET BAR NONE !!!

I STRONGLY ADVISE ANYONE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW VEHICLE TO STAY CLEAR OF THE ATLAS !!!!!

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Hello,

We also purchased a 2018 VX Atlas. Doing the exact same thing, with regard to hissing/ SHhhhhhsssss crappy noise as we accelerate from app. 5 mph. It is in drive when this happens, and seems to be third gear. Folsom Lake VW (California) says "nothing wrong," and "normal sounds." This seems highly questionable. Sorry we bought this thing. Now have to deal with it. Money well spent. :/

I have turned my case over to a law office and they are fighting it out.

This transmission just keeps giving me quirks in addition to the above mentioned issue. Hard shifts from 1-2. A shift from 5-6 and then immediately back to 5th.

There is one way to avoid the 1-2 hard shift, start out in Snow Mode which starts in 2nd gear.

Cant wait to get word back from lawyer and get rid of this thing.

 

[VWRO]

I am having the exact same issues with my Atlas RLine. Any update from your lawyer on this matter? I’m trying to determine my next steps as well. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

Volkswagen is dragging their feet. maybe they think I will just go away.

$40K vehicle and just so frustrating.

I have my wife driving it now to keep the miles down and she cannot stand the abrupt shifting and herky jerky tranny either.

Still cant believe they don't have as recall on it yet. or at least an updated program for the tranny.

 

[ALLDRAKES]

The issue seems to be steadily growing worse. This vehicle just never seems to know what gear it wants to be in.

And VW still has no idea how to fix it.

 

[KarstGeo]

I have the same noise, not really a big deal to me. No shifting issues. It's when you slow down to a near stop and the tranny doesn't shift down to 1 or 2 staying in 3 and you accelerate...more so noticeable on inclines. Baffles in torque convertor sounds reasonable to me...definitely a tranny noise. May be able to be reduced with re-programming etc. at some point if VW figures it out. OP - sounds to me like you have two separate issues...1 is the tranny shifting problems which are not in any way related to the SHHHHHHHH noise you are hearing. Mine has had that noise from day 1. I have a feeling they all do it but many folks don't pay enough attention to hear it/think it's an issue.