[truck28]

I have brand new 2019 Atlas SEL. Has anyone else experienced inconsistencies when accelerating from a stop? Sometimes it is nice and smooth and other times the engine will rev real high to about 4000 rpms and then shifts really quickly. Because of this I feel like I have to concentrate real hard each time I pull away from a stop. It's not a good feeling.

 

[Titanus]

Have you tried experimenting with different drive modes to see if it makes any difference with throttle response? There have been reports of transmission woes from many different owners, noting hard gear 1-2 gear shifts and power lag. The Atlas uses a 100% electronically controlled transmission, so there could be a remedy with a simple software update. You can read about some of the other reported problems in this thread.

 

[truck28]

Thanks for the note. I did see those posts. It definitely has to do with shifting from 1 to 2. I was messing around with tiptronic shifting and leaving it in 2nd gear when pulling away from a stop is how I would expect it to normally drive. I could do without first gear. Piggybacking on someone else's comment that it seems to accelerate on its own when making that change from 1 to 2 especially when turning at a stop. Maybe I'll take it in to have someone from the dealership take a ride with me.

 

[hfqkhal]

Thanks for the note. I did see those posts. It definitely has to do with shifting from 1 to 2. I was messing around with tiptronic shifting and leaving it in 2nd gear when pulling away from a stop is how I would expect it to normally drive. I could do without first gear. Piggybacking on someone else's comment that it seems to accelerate on its own when making that change from 1 to 2 especially when turning at a stop. Maybe I'll take it in to have someone from the dealership take a ride with me.

Also have them do a reset for the trany and let it learn again.

 

[truck28]

I will try that. On a completely separate note when I started the car the other day there was this crazy high pitch whistling/alarm noise. Lasted maybe 5 or 6 seconds. Definitely not a typical warning noise. Have not been able to reproduce it though. Read through the manual too but nothing seemed to be it. As time passes I keep thinking "did that really come from the car?". Any ideas?

 

[hfqkhal]

I never hear it on mine or heard anyone say they heard such

 

[northstar]

These issues sure aren't helping VW's case now that more issues have stacked up and even having people move on to other brands as we're seeing on this forum.

 

[hfqkhal]

With 4 months of ownership I have zero complaints and zero issues The other 4 owners in my immediate neighborhood who have had theirs much longer than mine have nothing but praise for the Atlas. The high squeal could be an absolute coincidence of a noise from something else.

 

[MoeSTI]

The only issue (and it's probably not even a problem) that I've noticed is that 1st gear is an extremely short gear. The car seems to shift from 1st to 2nd gear at less than 10 mph under normal acceleration. This throws me off because i'm expecting to feel more pull in 1st gear.

I don't think that VW uses the DCT transmission anymore and so if the car is revving to 4k rpms before the gear engages - that's typically an issue w/ the torque converter. As mentioned above, since there are so many electronic controls - a reset of the control module should fix the issue.

 

[hfqkhal]

The only issue (and it's probably not even a problem) that I've noticed is that 1st gear is an extremely short gear. The car seems to shift from 1st to 2nd gear at less than 10 mph under normal acceleration. This throws me off because i'm expecting to feel more pull in 1st gear.

I don't think that VW uses the DCT transmission anymore and so if the car is revving to 4k rpms before the gear engages - that's typically an issue w/ the torque converter. As mentioned above, since there are so many electronic controls - a reset of the control module should fix the issue.

Try having it in Normal driving mode instead of Eco. I have tried both and recently settled on the Normal mode instead (for me the Eco was good OK and did not bother me). I don't see any difference in MPG but the shift is a bit better.

 

[truck28]

So I continue to hear the sound when I start my Atlas. It's definitely an alarm of some kind. High pitched siren sounding. Goes off probably 25% of the time. It lasts about 5-10 seconds but there are no warnings lights so I have no idea what it is.

 

[hfqkhal]

So I continue to hear the sound when I start my Atlas. It's definitely an alarm of some kind. High pitched siren sounding. Goes off probably 25% of the time. It lasts about 5-10 seconds but there are no warnings lights so I have no idea what it is.

record it and let the dealer hear it. And if you can reproduce it at the dealer it would be even better. I never hear/heard any sound when I unlock my Atlas and if I did I would for sure head over to the dealer.

 

[truck28]

Well, I was going to bring it to the dealer but I couldn't reproduce the alarm and it hasn't happened since. With the acceleration issue, this seems to be the over aggressive throttle tip in that some reviews have mentioned with the Atlas. I guess I just need to get used to it.

 

[northstar]

sometimes dealers are willing to hold onto a vehicle for a few days so they can replicate the issue, however sometimes that depends on your relationship with them

 

[schwebby]

Our Atlas DOES have this same inconsistent acceleration - both my wife and I notice this every time we drive it. You try ever so carefully to push the gas pedal down because you do not know how the vehicle will react - most of the time it will throw your head back at the touch of the pedal - terrible when hauling something you don't want to spill or slide around. The other day while going thru a roundabout I was trying to accelerate on the exit and I had the pedal pushed at least 1/4 of the way down then it finally (but slowly) ramped up. While passing it sometimes downshifts too many gears and will wind out for about 5 seconds at 5,000 RPM with my foot completely off the gas before it will upshift. VERY difficult to drive in city traffic or when parking. It has 3,000 miles and is in the shop for the 2nd time - has not has AC since we bought it - found out on a road trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama - made for a miserable trip. Had them look at AC and the throttle/transmission last week as well - was told they could not replicate the acceleration issue. So nothing was resolved. Contacted VW directly in hopes of a buyback - this has been a horrible experience since we bought it.

 

[CJ331]

Mine too!!! I showed them a video of it and it took them 2 days but they recreated it. they replaced a sensor or something but did NOT fix it. Goes in in 2 days again so they can see what it is. Anyone have any luck finding out what it is.

Our Atlas DOES have this same inconsistent acceleration - both my wife and I notice this every time we drive it. You try ever so carefully to push the gas pedal down because you do not know how the vehicle will react - most of the time it will throw your head back at the touch of the pedal - terrible when hauling something you don't want to spill or slide around. The other day while going thru a roundabout I was trying to accelerate on the exit and I had the pedal pushed at least 1/4 of the way down then it finally (but slowly) ramped up. While passing it sometimes downshifts too many gears and will wind out for about 5 seconds at 5,000 RPM with my foot completely off the gas before it will upshift. VERY difficult to drive in city traffic or when parking. It has 3,000 miles and is in the shop for the 2nd time - has not has AC since we bought it - found out on a road trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama - made for a miserable trip. Had them look at AC and the throttle/transmission last week as well - was told they could not replicate the acceleration issue. So nothing was resolved. Contacted VW directly in hopes of a buyback - this has been a horrible experience since we bought it.

 

[KarstGeo]

Sport mode greatly reduces this drama.