NHTSA upgrades 2019 Volkswagen Atlas probe to engineering analysis: Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On December 18, 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA24004) into 2019 Volkswagen Atlas, concerning the forward collision avoidance. An Engineering Analysis is the second, deeper stage of an NHTSA defect investigation, opened when ODI wants a closer technical look; it can end with NHTSA asking the manufacturer for a recall. It follows Preliminary Evaluation PE23017. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- EA24004 (Engineering Analysis)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
- Listed
- 1 make/model/year entry in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Volkswagen |
|---|---|
| Model | Atlas |
| Model years | 2019 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
On September 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23017) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Front Assist automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Volkswagen indicated that it is aware of a total of 226 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Volkswagen stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of Front Assist and its limitations. However, many consumer complaints alleged that Volkswagen dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or stated that Volkswagen dealerships informed the consumers that this braking is considered normal Front Assist operation. ODI's analysis shows that MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles have the highest rate of unique incident reports alleging AEB inadvertent activation when compared to their Volkswagen peers. To date, ODI has received a total of 44 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of Front Assist in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. In total, ODI reviewed 187 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include four reports on injury incidents and one report involving a crash. PE23017 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety-related consequences of inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for EA24004, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 481 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 7 crashes, 10 injuries. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Atlas | 481 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens engineering analysis EA24004
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search EA24004 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.