WWYD - VW Atlas battery problem

[Susie]

Our road trip car is a 2018 VW Atlas, 1.5 year old, with about 13k miles on it.  It has an auto start/stop feature, that turns the car off when you are stopped for a certain period of time (e.g. in traffic or at a light), intended to improve mpg and reduce emissions.  It's default on, although you can turn it off with a button push every time you get in the car.  The default can't be changed, and AFAIK it can't be permanently disabled.

5 weeks ago (I remember because I had 6 day old DS with me), it autostopped at a light, and the battery died so the car couldn't restart (automatically or otherwise).  I couldn't move, it was on a curve, and there wasn't a shoulder to even push it to -- very unsafe place to be stopped.  I called police to come sit behind me with flashing lights until I could get it sorted, and H to come with our other car ASAP to take DS and get him into a cooler car.  When H came, the officer blocked traffic so H could get the other car close enough and we successfully jump started the Atlas.  We took it straight to the dealer, who kept it for 10 days and ultimately couldn't find anything to fix.  Lots of talk of no error codes, battery testing fine, car starting every day, etc.  We took it back, because there didn't seem to be much else to do.

Not totally surprisingly, today it happened again.  This time H was driving it.  A kind person helped him push it out of the intersection, and DD and I had to haul over to rescue them.  Again we jumped it, and again we took it to the dealer.  The service manager was there, and didn't inspire a lot of confidence.  They'll look at it on Monday.  

In the intervening weeks, we got a letter from VW extending the battery warranty on the Atlas to 3 years/unlimited miles.  I'm sure it was originally 2 years/24k miles or similar.  Seems clear to me that VW recognizes some kind of problem.  However, a quick google search turns up a whole bunch of car forum posts about this issue with the Atlas, and there doesn't seem to be consensus on a fix.  The service manager was all, but I thought we determined everything was fine last time!  (No, if it were fine, this would not be happening.)

I don't plan to take it home this time without a new battery, but would you be comfortable with that, assuming they don't find something specific to fix?  I really liked the car until this, but this is totally unacceptable, and "we have no idea why it's happening" does not work for me.  I hate pulling the "my babiesss" card, but I can't have my 3 year old and newborn riding in a car that randomly dies in traffic, and leaves us without climate control in winter or summer.  We're already starting to discuss how to offload it with the least financial hit and look for a Honda Pilot, should we feel that's necessary.

[aprilsails]

Yeah something is up with that. Your battery or your alternator is failing, and if they don’t have an error code on it then their diagnostics are shit. Based on the recall notice I expect VW corporate knows about an issue. The dealership may be playing things close to their chest though.

I would also insist on a new battery which should be able to hold up for a while. Based on the recall I’m thinking it’s a problem with their battery supplier and the anticipated charge life.

[Saudade]

So before the VW recall we had a Jetta TDI. A few years in to owning it the car randomly died while DH was driving on the interstate. He pulled over and was able to start the car. We took it in, no error codes, and since it was working "just fine" VW was like "welp??". It happened many more times with the same outcomes. The recall basically saved our ass on that because we were able to get rid of the car.

We never found a reason for it. Many reports of the same thing on the web. The service was terrible because never once did an error code trigger and since we were always able to restart it, it was deemed "not a big deal". Not to mention the car straight up turned off at 75 mph??! It always happened above 55mph, so never in town.

Due to all that I am vehemently anti VW. This isn't helpful, but I'm sorry that it's happening.

[Susie]

Saudade, we got this Atlas when we sold back our TDI Sportwagen.  Ugh!  We weren't having problems with it (besides, you know, the excessive NO emissions), but this not a great look for VW.  I've also had 4 Jettas in the last 20 years, one of which we have now, but yeah... definitely looking at other options.

[Saudade]

Jul 13, 2019 17:19:40 GMT -5 Susie said:

Saudade , we got this Atlas when we sold back our TDI Sportwagen.  Ugh!  We weren't having problems with it (besides, you know, the excessive NO emissions), but this not a great look for VW.  I've also had 4 Jettas in the last 20 years, one of which we have now, but yeah... definitely looking at other options.

One of the reasons we had purchased the Jetta was because the salesman made the NO emissions thing SO clear. It was amazing! (well, so we thought), but then we had problem after problem. It was a no brainer for us when the scandal broke. It was an easy out with a POS car. That being said, we both *absolutely* loved the car. It was so much fun to drive (stick + tdi) and was super comfortable. We got great gas mileage with it being diesel. 

[Susie]

We got the Atlas back today.  The battery was replaced after failing testing, and they also did a number of recalls that relate directly and indirectly to the electrical system:  software update to the infotainment system, replacement of capacitors, etc.  For now we're going to drive it and see how it goes.  I don't like it but... fingers crossed.

I also looked into our state's lemon law, if this keeps up.  This is a failure of a warrantied part on a car sold less than 2 years ago, with <18k miles, so in order for us to seek refund or replacement we'd need to have it in to be fixed unsuccessfully 2 more times (total of 4) or have it in the shop a total of 30 days by the 2 year anniversary of when we took delivery (11/30).  I hope we don't have to go that route because it sounds like a PITA, but I'm keeping all the paperwork and a running count of days in my head JIC.

[lo]

I hope that fix was it! Especially because we are also probably getting an Atlas in 5 months, lol.