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BrakesPart report

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Brakes Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
10%of 51 total for the year
Median mileage
3,000miles
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the brakes of the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, 10% of the 51 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The autonomous braking activates out of no where while driving. Violently hard and nothing around. A message appears on the dash board saying it can not sense hands on steering wheel. Also while backing up it will activate and no one is near the car or it even activates in an empty parking lot. The car jolted so hard when this happens and everyone went flying forward. No ..the dealer has had the car for 8 days and says they can not replicate the problem. He asked me for permission to drive it to Land O Lakes and I said no the car is very dangerous and that is a huge liability . …”

NHTSA complaint #11684583, filed 2025-09

“Grinding plus vibration when you turn the wheels slightly and brake hard. Could be a stuck or dragging caliper, uneven pad wear, or a bent dust shield rubbing the rotor. Might be bolts that weren’t tightened right on the brake and suspension parts.”

NHTSA complaint #11764205, filed 2026-09

“The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the brakes independently engaged. The contact was unable to disengage the brakes. The vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road with several warning unknown lights illuminated, and undisclosed messages were displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle, and after several restarting attempts, the contact was unable to disengage the brakes. The contact was unable to move the shift lever. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that an undisclosed update was needed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11688942, filed 2025-09, 3,000 miles

“Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen Atlas R-Line Incident Description: While driving on the freeway in rainy conditions through a construction zone, I applied the brakes to slow down. The brake pedal suddenly went soft, lost hydraulic pressure, and sank toward the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop or slow down properly, creating an extreme safety hazard and a feeling of sliding without braking power. Approximately three hours later, the vehicle was stopped on a downward-inclined driveway to let out a passenger. …”

NHTSA complaint #11766580, filed 2026-09

“Failure of brake booster and master cylinder. Failure caused breaks to malfunction, not allowing the vehicle to break appropriately. To break, you had to step on the break very hard, break pedal did not have usual pressure. No leakage visible on the ground outside of the car. When starting the car (usually you must press on breaks) it was already obvious something was wrong. After starting the car got a warning light about break malfunction and was alerted to contact my local dealership. The car was taken to a Volkswagen dealership and is currently being repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #11756552, filed 2026-08

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202617%
2025510%
20243721%
20231511%
20225027%
20219820%
2020415%
20197916%
20187516%

Other parts of the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Electrical system
18 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
13 complaints
Other or unknown
12 complaints
Engine
7 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
7 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
4 complaints
Lane departure
4 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
Exterior lighting
2 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Suspension
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology