What 72 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Volkswagen Alltrack

BODY SEAMS NEAR VEHICLE SUNROOF ARE NOT WELDED PROPERLY - RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE WATER LEAKAGE INTO THE CAR AND FOGGING INSIDE THE CAR AT ALL TIMES THAT OBSTRUCTS VISIBILITY

NHTSA ODI 11184512

PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEAKS WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. WINDOWS FOG UP, STAINS HEADLINER AND MOISTURE WILL OVER TIME CAUSE MOLD IN VEHICLE. IN COLD TEMPERATURE FROZEN CONDENSATION OBSERVED INSIDE OF VEHICLE WINDSHIELD AND BACK WINDOW MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11181731

MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH WATER INTRUSION. DECEMBER OF 2017 I TOOK THE CAR INTO VW OF POHANKA, MARYLAN. THEY REPLACED THE HEADLINER, DRAINAGE TUBES, AND SMOOTHED OUT THE WELDS TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOTICED THAT THE LEAK IS BACK WITH WATER STAINS ON THE A-PILLAR AND OVERHEAD. THE PROBLEM IS WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE WATER HAD LEAKED INTO. WE ARE AFRAID THAT THE WATER INTRUSION MAY CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD AND DO NOT WANT ANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES DUE TO THE WATER LEAK. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS LOCATED ON THE B-PILLAR AND THE POSSIBLE HEALTH ISSUES OF MOLD AND RUST. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS DURING THE RAIN SEASON.

NHTSA ODI 11175989

PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEAKS WATER INTO INTERIOR, CAUSING CONDENSATION ON ALL INTERIOR GLASS AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT. THERE IS SO MUCH CONDENSATION THAT AC/DEFROST SETTINGS CANNOT REMOVE IT IN A TIMELY MANNER. IT TAKES SO LONG THAT ONE TRIES TO DRIVE EVEN BEFORE FULL OUTWARD VISION HAS BEEN RESTORED, INCREASING RISK GREATLY.

NHTSA ODI 11173521

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR IT CAME LIFTED WITH BIGGER WHEELS AND TIRES. THEY DID NOT TELL US IT WAS AFTERMARKET AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT KEEPS BLOWING THE REAR SHOCKS. IT BLOWS THE REAR SHOCKS AND BASICALLY YOUR DRIVING JUST ON COIL SPRINGS . WHICH MEANS LACK OF CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE.IT HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11156600

INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM RESTARTS EVERY FEW MINUTES DURING OPERATION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED.

NHTSA ODI 11155541

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE, VIN: [XXX] A 2018 GOLF ALLTRACK SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DOWNSHIFTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION. THIS OCCURRED ON A TWO-LANE RURAL HIGHWAY AND AT ABOUT 60 MPH DOWN TO 40 MPH. THE YELLOW "!" ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE LIKE "TRANS ERROR, REV UNAVAILABLE, SEE DEALER". WHILE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY SAFELY, THE TWO VEHICLES BEHIND WERE CAUGHT OFF-GUARD BY THE SUDDEN AND RAPID DECELERATION. I CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE AND THE PADDLE SHIFTERS WERE ALSO NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. MAXIMUM ROAD SPEED WAS 41 MPH @ 9100 RPM, SO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE. THERE WAS NO DEALER IN THE AREA, SO I CYCLED THE KEY OFF THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE AND OBTAIN SERVICE. THE DEALER REPORTED THERE WAS AN "INTERNAL PART FAILURE" OF THE TRANSMISSION. HAD THIS CONDITION PRESENTED IN A HIGH TRAFFIC OR ADVERSE WEATHER SITUATION, IT WOULD HAVE LIKELY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11154690

PURCHASE THE CAR ON APRIL 2018 ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST AROUND 3 P.M. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SR 14 GOING AROUND 55 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF CHARRED GLASS FALLING DOWN FROM THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF THE EXPLOSION WAS SO LOUD THAT FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WAS SHOOTING AT MY CAR VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS THAT DEBRIS ON THE ROAD OR PASSING CARS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE EXPLOSION OF THE SUN ROOF I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE WERE NO CARS NEAR ME AND AFTER I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE THE SUNROOF BLEW UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IT'S NOT WILLING TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY

NHTSA ODI 11140311

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ALLTRACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS BLOCKED AND LEAKED WATER INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF THE WOODLANDS (855-436-0113, LOCATED AT 16785 INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH, THE WOODLANDS, TX 77385) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NEGLIGENCE BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STOOD BY THE DEALER'S RULING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. *DT UPDATED 11/2/18*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED ANY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH MUD IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE DRAINS TO BECOME BLOCKED, WHICH THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11139439

DEFECTIVE TIRE. 8,000 MILES ON TIRE AND A SIDEWALL BUBBLE DEVELOPED ON THE TIRE. PRIOR TO BUBBLE APPEARING, TIRE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO UNUSUAL IMPACT.

NHTSA ODI 11132017

TRAVELING ALONG A SLIGHTLY HILLY ROAD AT 35MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SPIKED TO 3000RPM AND THE CAR'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. HAD TO APPLY BRAKES AND PULL TO THE SIDE. ONCE CAR REACHED 0MPH IT IDLED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN FUNCTIONING AGAIN. TOOK TO VW DEALER SERVICE CENTER NEXT DAY. THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM CODES. THEY CHANGED OIL, ROATATED TIRES AND RETURNED THE CAR. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED AND REOCCURED ON AUGUST 8.

NHTSA ODI 11121660

THIS IS THE SECOND RECORDED INSTANCE OF THIS ISSUE. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 27. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO 3000RPM AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED RESPONDING. HAD TO APPLY BRAKES AND PULL OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE VEHICLE REACHED 0MPH IT IDLED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AGAIN. TOOK THE VW DEALER SERVICE CENTER THE NEXT DAY. ONCE AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM CODES. SERVICE CENTER TRIED TO RETURN VEHICLE AGAIN BUT WE PERSISRED. MECHANIC OFFERED TO TEST DRIVE FOR A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF HE COULD RECREATE THE ISSUE BUT IT DID NOT REOCCUR. CONTACTED VW CORPORATE AND REGION CASE MANAGER INFORMED US THAT THEIR TECHNICAL TEAM WOULD WORK WITH THE SERVICE CENTER. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY STILL CONTINUE TO CLAIM THEY CAN FIND NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11121667

THE CAR IS ONE YEAR OLD, AND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS LEAKING. I CONTACTED VW AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THEY WILL NEED TO HAVE THE CAR IN THE SHOP TO SEE IF IT IS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE. THE WATER IS COMING IN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND ON THE CENTER CONSOLE ABOVE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL (LIGHTS, SWITCHES FOR SUNROOF, ETC) COMPONENTS. THE WINDSHIELD STAYS FOGGED UP WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MOISTURE IN THE CABIN. THIS AFFECTS VISIBILITY. VW SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR. A RENTAL CAR WILL BE COSTLY, AND VW HAS OFFERED NO LOANER TO ME.

NHTSA ODI 11115725

THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTS ON THIS CAR CONTINUALLY GO BAD. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF MIXED CITY AND HIGHWAY (NO OFFROAD) DRIVING, THE STRUTS MAKE A RUMBLE AT LOW SPEEDS ON ANYTHING BUT A FLAT ROAD, AND CAUSE A LOW WHINE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS (I.E. PARKING, RIGHT TURN ON RED). THE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM CURRENTLY ON MY 3RD AND THEY ARE MAKING THE SOUNDS AGAIN. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT 23,000 MILES AND HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. PREVIOUS FIXES OCCURRED AT AROUND 9,000 AND 20,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11115079

WATER IS LEAKING FROM SUN ROOF. I FOUND STAIN ON THE CEILING HERE AND THERE.

NHTSA ODI 11112275

THERE'S A WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF. THE CAR IS USUALLY GARAGE KEPT BUT I HAD IT PARKED OUTSIDE ONE WEEKEND WHEN WE HAD BAD STORMS AND THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE WATER STAINS IN MY HEADLINER AND THE WATER DRIPPING DOWN INTO THE BACK HATCH AREA. THE DEALER HAD TO SEND THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP TO HAVE THEM GRIND DOWN WELDS THAT HAVE CAUSED AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THERE'S STAINS IN THE HEADLINER AND AN ODOR THAT'S COMING FROM IT SO IT APPEARS TO HAVE MOLD. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO FIX THE LEAK AND INSTALL A NEW HEADLINER BUT I'M ALSO WORRIED OF ANY ELECTRICAL DAMAGE THAT MAY ARISE AS A RESULT. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 4 WEEKS NOW AND THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO REPAIR THIS. I FEEL LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE AND YET THEY STILL SOLD ME THE CAR EVEN KNOWING THIS COULD BE A POSSIBILITY. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2017 AND I BOUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR IN JUNE 2018. THIS IS MY SECOND VOLKSWAGEN BUT WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR THAT I CAN DRIVE AND NOT ONE THAT SITS IN A REPAIR SHOP FOR WEEKS NOT KNOWING IF THE ISSUE WILL ACTUALLY BE RESOLVED. FROM OTHER FORUMS I'VE READ, THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND MANY OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH THIS SAME PAINFUL PROCESS.

NHTSA ODI 11104887

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. FOLLOWING RAIN, WATER LEAKED INTO THE CAR FROM THE PANORAMIC ROOF AT THE A-, B-, AND C-PILLARS AND REAR HATCH ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE CAR. WATER DRIPPED FROM THE DASH ONTO THE FRONT FOOT WELLS. WATER ENTERING THE PILLARS COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH PILLAR-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROLS AND SYSTEMS MOUNTED IN THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI 11101498

SUNROOF LEAKING CAUSES EXCESSIVE MOISTURE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY ON WINDSHIELD AND INSIDE OF WINDOWS. WINDSHIELD FOGGING PROBLEM ON START UP AND IS EXASPERATED IN HEAVY RAIN WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MORE MOISTURE GETS INTO CAR. SUNROOF DRAIN HOLES ARE NOT CLOGGED AS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. WATER EVIDENCE IS SEEN AS STAINS DOWN BOTH 'A' PILLARS AND HEADLINER ABOVE PASSENGER AND DRIVER FRONT SIDE WINDOWS.

NHTSA ODI 11097329

2017 VW GOLF ALLTRACK: HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR FOUR MONTHS NOW AND JUST HAD THREE DAYS WORTH OF RAIN HERE IN MICHIGAN. THE FRONT OF THE HEADLINER IS COMPLETELY SOAKED ON BOTH A-PILLARS AND AROUND THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY WELDS THAT DIDN'T GET SMOOTHED DOWN AND THEREFORE PINCH THE TUBES THAT DRAIN THE TROUGH IN THE SUNROOF AREA NOT ALLOWING IT TO FLOW BACK INTO THE OPENING IN THE CAR. IN OTHER WORDS, VW SOLD ME A CAR WITH A KNOWN DEFECT! NOW I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR IN FOR SOME UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME, HAVE THEM TEAR THE INSIDE APART, TAKE THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP AND HAVE THE BODY SHOP GRIND THE WELDS DOWN SMOOTH, THEN INSTALL A NEW HEADLINER IN THE CAR. THAT'S ALL GREAT (NOT REALLY), BUT WATER IS INCREDIBLY DESTRUCTIVE, SO WHAT ABOUT THE WATER THAT'S RUN DOWN THE A-PILLARS AND GOTTEN IN TO THE INSULATION IN THE DOORS? OR THE WATER THAT RAN LIKE A FAUCET OUT OF MY OVERHEAD CONSOLE THIS MORNING WHEN I STARTED DRIVING THAT DUMPED ALL OVER MY ELECTRONICS AND TRANSMISSION COLUMN? WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF WATER THAT WON'T BE LOOKED FOR IN THIS APPARENT FIX OF A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEN TURNS INTO BLACK MOLD THAT I AND MY FAMILY BREATH EVERY DAY FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR?! THIS HAS TO BE CORRECTED AS THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD TO ME AND MY FAMILY WITH A KNOWN DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11093635

LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAMS. THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVERY HAD, WITH REGARDS TO ITS HEADLIGHTS AND MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE RANGE OF LIGHT IS SO INADEQUATE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THAT I AM ALMOST FEARFUL FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY. I LIVE IN A RURAL MIDWEST AREA WHERE DEER A PREVELANT, AND AM SO CAUTIOUS AND FEARFUL DRIVING AT NIGHT IN MY NEW CAR. I DO LOVE ALMOST LL OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE GOLF ALLTRACK, BUT DO HOPE THE NHTSA CAN STEP IN AN MAKE VW CHANGE OUT THE HEADLIGHTS BEFORE CONSUMER'S ARE KILLED FROM NOT BEING ABLE O SE AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11063855

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THERE IS CONSTANT BRAKE NOISE AND SQUEALING AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 25MPH) WHICH BECOMES LOUDER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT; BRAKING DISTANCE IS LONGER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. DEALERSHIP RESURFACING AND REPLACING PADS AND ROTORS DOES NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11058284

VEHICLE IS A 2017 VW GOLF ALLTRACK S WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION; LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD WITH ~400 MILES ON ODOMETER AND A LITTLE OVER 1/4 TANK OF 87-OCTANE GASOLINE. ISSUE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 10PM ON AUGUST 25TH, 2017. VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A RED LIGHT AT A HIGHWAY INTERSECTION CROSSING ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR DURING ACCELERATION, AND THE VEHICLE PROMPTLY LOST ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE HELP OF PASSING MOTORISTS WHO WERE KIND ENOUGH TO STOP AND HELP. THE "ENGINE" LIGHT AND "EPC" LIGHT WERE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. DURING THE 45 MINUTE WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK, MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER AND SOMETIMES "CATCH", BUT WOULD NOT START OR IDLE. HEADLIGHTS, BLINKERS, WIPERS, ETC. REMAINED FUNCTIONAL THROUGHOUT THE ORDEAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND REMAINS THERE FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE IS NO IDENTIFICATION OF A CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE AT THE MOMENT. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND MOTORISTS AROUND US: A NEW VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSING POWER AND ALL CONTROL FEATURES IS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND COULD VERY EASILY LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11019841