NHTSA opens safety probe into 184,000 VW Atlas crossovers after braking complaints

WASHINGTON — The nation's top auto safety regulator has opened an investigation into more than 184,000 Volkswagen Atlas large crossovers after reports alleging unintended braking.

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation said it received 59 complaints alleging the unintentional activation of the front-assist automatic emergency braking system in 2018-19 Atlas vehicles. Of those complaints, five alleged minor injuries resulted from the issue.

Vehicle owners also claimed the braking system activation occurred with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path.

NHTSA said it has opened the investigation to determine the potential defect's scope and severity.

“Volkswagen takes safety extremely seriously. We are fully cooperating with NHTSA in this investigation,” Michael Lowder, a spokesperson for Volkswagen Group of America, said in a statement.

While automatic emergency braking, part of advanced driver-assistance systems, has the potential to save lives and reduce injuries by stopping or slowing a vehicle to prevent a crash, it has been problematic for some motorists.

In 2022, NHTSA opened investigations involving Tesla and Honda vehicles after receiving hundreds of complaints alleging unexpected activation of the system, characterized by some Tesla owners as "phantom braking."

In May, NHTSA released a proposal to mandate automatic emergency braking, including pedestrian detection, on all new light-duty vehicles. The agency also set minimum performance standards, calling for systems that can prevent or mitigate frontal crashes at higher speeds and work effectively in the dark.

NHTSA projects the proposed rule, if finalized, would prevent at least 360 deaths and reduce injuries on U.S. roads by at least 24,000 annually.