Transmission Not Engage Problems of Volkswagen Atlas

The vehicle was purchased 10/31/18 and on 11/4/18 we arrived at a relative's home in westchester. This area has no sidewalks or parking lane. We pulled onto the shoulder of the street to park. The street is a slight hill and the shoulder was very uneven. The front of the car was uphill. My husband had cut the wheels to th e road when pulling in. Once in park and the car off, he exited and walked behind the car to come round and help me get out on the rough shoulder. Before he made it to the front passenger door, the car started rolling backwards downhill into the street. I instictively went for the shift. The shift was already in the park position but the car was moving! because it was not a very steep hill, the elevation change at the transition from the dirt shoulder to the asphalt road stopped the car when the rear passenger wheel met the asphalt edge. This road is narrow and winding. We were fortunate noone was coming round the bend. The car came to a stop 30-40% into the car lane with no driver behind the wheel. In its simplest state it appears that the transmission park gear did not engage, yet it was definitely in the park position. This car does not have a manuel parking brake. To be honest, the hill would not have seemed to warrant the need for a parking brake if the parking gear were engaging properly. We have just contacted the dealer who claimed ignorance of any such problems ever existing. He suggested we make a service appointment & have the auto checked out. I suspect so they can formally tell us it is our imagination. After reading the complaints on file, I am sorry we did not look here before we purchased the vehicle. It doesn't seem that vw or any other car manufacturer seems anxious to correct design flaws until there are sufficient deaths.

See all problems of the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas 🔎.