2024 Volkswagen Atlas window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I purchased this car brand new in 2024. As of today I have had 7 chips in my windshield. The first one which resulted in a replacement was February/ March 2025. I have replaced it once and filled 2 chips, but I currently have 4-5 chips in my windshield which needs to be replaced due to 2 of them being large. I am holding off on this replacement until I absolutely need to because the fear of replacing and then getting another chip. Some of the chips are small, but it seems to me anything that hits the windshield chips it. I have had several cars over the year and drive a lot of miles and have never had this issue with windshields. Another problem that I had when replacing was finding the proper windshield. When Safelight replaced it they did not use the OEM windshield at first. They replaced the windshield 2x with an off brand and the heads up display would not work properly. Then they finally used the OEM windshield from Volkswagen which of course costs more. So for the cost you would think you are getting better quality, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I have been to a couple of different window replacement companies over the last couple of years and they have all told me that the Atlas & Tiguans are known for windshield chips and they find that Volkswagen's glass is very thin compared to other companies.

NHTSA complaint #11758444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The center infotainment/display screen in this 2024 VW Atlas repeatedly goes black, freezes, and reboots itself while the vehicle is being driven, including at highway speed (about 43-55 mph). When it fails, the screen collapses to a clock only and shows "Navigation not available," "Telephone not available," and "App-Connect not available," then the entire head unit reboots on its own while driving. During these failures the driver loses the rearview/backup camera image, climate and audio controls, navigation, and phone functions - a serious safety hazard while the car is in motion. The problem is ongoing and has NOT been fixed. The vehicle has been to the Volkswagen dealer FIVE times for this issue (01/15/2026, 01/26/2026, 05/27/2026, 06/16/2026, and 06/30/2026). Repair order #436699 documents the screen "intermittently going black"; a dealer software update was performed and did not resolve it - the failure recurred. There is a 79-second video of the head unit rebooting while driving at 43-55 mph. This matches VW recall 26V473000 (2024-2026 Atlas, a low-voltage electrical event affecting display-screen functions) and TSB 91-23-03 (MIB3 infotainment freezing/rebooting/black screen). Losing the backup camera, controls, and displays while driving endangers the occupants and others on the road.

NHTSA complaint #11757211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The center infotainment/display screen in this 2024 VW Atlas repeatedly goes black, freezes, and reboots itself while the vehicle is being driven, including at highway speed (about 43-55 mph). When it fails, the screen collapses to a clock only and shows "Navigation not available," "Telephone not available," and "App-Connect not available," then the entire head unit reboots on its own while driving. During these failures the driver loses the rearview/backup camera image, climate and audio controls, navigation, and phone functions - a serious safety hazard while the car is in motion. The problem is ongoing and has NOT been fixed. The vehicle has been to the Volkswagen dealer FIVE times for this issue (01/15/2026, 01/26/2026, 05/27/2026, 06/16/2026, and 06/30/2026). Repair order #436699 documents the screen "intermittently going black"; a dealer software update was performed and did not resolve it - the failure recurred. There is a 79-second video of the head unit rebooting while driving at 43-55 mph. This matches VW recall 26V473000 (2024-2026 Atlas, a low-voltage electrical event affecting display-screen functions) and TSB 91-23-03 (MIB3 infotainment freezing/rebooting/black screen). Losing the backup camera, controls, and displays while driving endangers the occupants and others on the road.

NHTSA complaint #11757212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Windshield wipers go off randomly even with rain detection turned off.

NHTSA complaint #11747858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The rear light bar/tail light assembly fills with water and causing turn signals and light bar to intermittently not work. This occurred the first time that the vehicle was left out in the rain at approximately 65k. It is always parked covered and I do not drive in the rain. Many other Atlas have this issue much sooner if they are left in the inclement weather.

NHTSA complaint #11721813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The info system screen goes blank. It will intermittently go off and return on before shutting off completely. The info screen is the only way to operate the air controls. This makes the vehicle unsafe to operate when conditions require air adjustments to keep a clear windshield. This issue also causes numerous dash alerts. Rear and front collision plus maneuver braking.

NHTSA complaint #11694448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I have had this vehicle 6 months and am already replacing the windshield a second time. This time something very small hit windshield but first time it happened overnight and nothing had hit it - it was just a thin crack that grew and grew. First windshield break was in February 2025 and the second July 2025.

NHTSA complaint #11672562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

(Question 1) What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: The front windshield spontaneously vertically cracked across the center half an hour after the car was washed in the shade on a cool day. There were no rock chips which could have caused this. (Question 2) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The front windshield visibility was significantly impaired. (Question 3)Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? We have not yet taken it to the dealer but there is an indisputable crack. (Question 4) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. We plan to take the car to the dealership tomorrow to have them inspect it. (Question 5) Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No.

NHTSA complaint #11645863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Windshield cracked without a significant event occurring. Windshield appears to be weaker or defective. I have driven over 220k miles on another vehicle and only replaced the windshield once due to hitting a deer! This was less than one year of having the atlas and it was a small rock at lower speeds (30-35mph). There are numerous other complaints of cracked windshields on this model, even multiple replacements. I admittedly drive 25-30k miles a year but have never had road debris crack a windshield like that. I could see if I was following a semi-truck or garbage truck and had something significant happen but I expect the windshield to hold up against minor rocks and other road debris hitting it. It cracked/spidered immediately.

NHTSA complaint #11618572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Around the end of May 2024, a rock/pebble put a barely noticeable knick in the windshield of the vehicle. On July 20, 2024, a crack formed that may or may not have originated from this knick....after driving 1600 more miles and while the vehicle was parked over night. I believe this is a defect in the craftsmanship of the windshield, as it should be able to hold up to a small pebble hitting it, and the fact that it cracked 1600 miles and two months later is absurd. I have read multiple reports of the same thing happening to their VW Atlas's.

NHTSA complaint #11603761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The backup camera stopped working on March 19. Because the car is less than a year old, we thought it was a minor glitch and would go away on its own. On March 20, the backup camera was still not working. On March 21, with the backup camera still not working, we contacted the dealership to schedule an appointment to diagnose and fix it but the next available appointment isn't until June (three months from now). This is just a diagnosis appointment, not an appointment to fix the issue, and they said depending on the diagnoses we'd have to book another appointment to actually fix it which could be again months out in terms of availability. A non-working backup camera is a safety hazard and simply shouldn't be a problem on a brand new car less than a year old.

NHTSA complaint #11578809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.