The infotainment screen has become very much the control center of the modern automobile. Thus, when it stops working, it’s all the more frustrating for the end user. For some owners of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, it’s an altogether common occurrence with a rather oddball failure mode.
The story comes to us from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid causing headaches in their warranty discussions with VW, so we’ll refer to our source as Terrance. “I have become the recent owner of a brand new 2024 Atlas,” Terrance told The Autopian. “Literally the second time I started it, the screen looked like a 1980s TV in need of adjustment of the rabbit ears.” [Ed note: these things, for anyone too young to remember – Pete] The screen, which is key to controlling so much of the vehicle, was virtually unusable, the same day Terrance received the vehicle.
Terrance isn’t alone. The Internet is awash in stories of Atlas owners struggling with their infotainment screens going all snowy and weird on them. Let’s explore what’s going on, and what can be done to help.
Screen Woes
Terrance’s story is a frustrating one. The day you purchase a new vehicle should be one of excitement and joy. Instead, they were faced with a sticky problem almost immediately. “The first time it happened was one hour after taking delivery, with around 20 miles on the odometer,” says Terrance. “The second time was maybe two starts after that.” The problem isn’t continuous, but it does come back on the regular. “It hasn’t done it for a couple of days,” Terrance explains. “Our dealer acknowledges this is a common issue and wants me to grab a picture next time it happens.”
Head to Reddit, visit Facebook, or hit the forums – you’ll find plenty of owners tangling with the same issue. If you grew up in the era of analog television, the Atlas screen problems will look familiar to you. In many cases, the screen appears overlaid with a sort of snowy noise that you’d get on an old TV set when it wasn’t properly tuned to a broadcast channel.
While the failure pattern it does look like TV static, it’s worth noting that this is more coincidence than anything else. The VW Atlas uses a digital screen, and isn’t “tuned in” to anything. Instead, the noise is most likely due to some sort of failure of the electronics that drive the screen, or some type of digital noise or corruption entering the data lines that feed the screen. It’s worth noting that, appearance aside, the screen still appears to function normally while the problem is occurring, with the user able to flip between different parts of the infotainment system even while it’s in the noisy, distorted state.
Thankfully, there is a temporary short-term fix for this problem. It’s possible to perform a reset of the infotainment system by holding down the power button for some 45 seconds or so, as seen below on YouTube. This will usually clear the distortion on the screen. However, it doesn’t appear to prevent the problem from reoccurring at a later point.
Hank Dy has had much the same problem, and he can confirm this fix is only a band-aid for the real problem. “Happened right [on the] first day,” he says. “[The dealer tech] said, ‘No worries, just a small glitch,’ just do a hard reset and you should be good.” He’s found the screen issues come back around twice a week or so. “I need the rear cam when I back out, [it’s] useless with this display issue,” says Hank. “The display is still on back order and I [have been] waiting now for three months.”
Patricia tells a similar story of her 2024 Atlas Cross Sport. “Leased in March 2024, 4000 miles and this is what I came across the other day,” she says. “It was back to normal after leaving the car off for a few hours but I know my future will look like this again soon based on so many customers having the same issue!”
This issue is particularly annoying given how much of the vehicle is controlled by the infotainment system. The 2024 VW Atlas doesn’t just run audio and navigation via the touchscreen; the HVAC is run through the screen, too. It appears that it’s still possible to use the touch sliders to change settings when the screen is distorted, but it’s harder to see what’s going on in this state.
Some customers say they have been offered software updates which haven’t solved the issue. Others mention that they are waiting for their screens to be replaced, but parts are on backorder.
Perhaps most interesting, though, is the case of one Felicia Garcia, who notes that she has struggled with the problem for months. “I have since had screen parts replaced and the full screen replaced and this issue is still persistent,” she told the Volkswagen Atlas Complaints group. “The car is in the shop currently for round three on this issue – they said they are replacing connecting parts and wires this time but have already informed me ‘not to be hopeful.'”
At this stage, it appears the “static” or screen distortion issue is not reflected by public documentation or an NHTSA recall. While the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has been recalled, along with certain Golf models, it was due to a delay in the rearview camera being displayed on the main screen. Some, like Stephanie Wiese, say their problems only began once the recall work was completed on their vehicle. “Mine worked perfectly until they did the recall update, the next day it started,” Stephanie told The Autopian.
Stephanie notes the problem happens once a week or so. “I have to turn the car off, get out, and then lock the door with the keyfob, then I get back in and it works fine,” she explains. “There is no software fix for what I am experiencing, I’ve been told.”
You’ll find similar stories elsewhere, too. On Reddit, user ComplexCranberry7131 noted that they had “never had any issues with the screen” until after the recall. Whether that’s a causative factor, or just a coincidence, we can’t say at this stage.
The Autopian has contacted Volkswagen for its comment on this issue. Many owners will be hoping that a fix is in the works. The biggest concern for many will be whether or not the screens can be fixed, or whether replacement parts that work are available.
Interestingly, though, I did get one comment from someone who appears to work at a Volkswagen dealership. I’ve chosen to keep them anonymous, but here’s what they had to say:
Credit: Christina Jackson Marks
The truth is that technology has become a major selling point for modern vehicles. Consumers like technology when it works, and may even love it – but quickly lose patience when it doesn’t. It’s all the worse when malfunctioning modern technology gets in the way of using a vehicle’s basic, essential features. It’s also one thing for a vehicle to fail after some years of service, and a whole other matter when it reveals problems the week – or the day! – after delivery.
In this case, it seems the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas may have been quite the disappointment to many eager new buyers. Here’s hoping the German automaker can get on top of things.
Image credits: Reese Sells Cars Volkswagen Guru via YouTube screenshot, VW, Hank Dy, Patricia Fiorella Ciotto, Christina Jackson Marks, Stephanie Wiese
I think there is enough very clear data on Volkswagens to suggest this is both entirely predictable and only the beginning of Terrence’s troubles.
“Terrance”
(Not his real name) ha ha
Yeah, this is why it’s a bad idea put everything in the fucking screen!
I almost wanna say just sell me the car (wouldn’t buy new anyway) w/o all the electronic junk and everyone just put in their own aftermarket media center
(car stereo/maps/music) which some people do anyway
They are CAR makers, right? Just focus on the CARS and not all the electronic junk (yeah, it’s not realistic)
“Weird ‘Static’ Screen Failures” are just the ads trying to get through.
“We’ve been trying to reach you about your extended car warranty!”
Funny, I was just trying to reach YOU about taking out a very generous extended warranty on this POS!
“It’s not as big of an issue as people think” said the car dealership guy to people whose backup camera, HVAC controls, and Nav don’t work.
What a dick.
Quality issues with [insert German car company name here]? No way!
SNOW CRASH!!! the metaverse! You’re dead!
I’d pretend to be surprised, but given the myriad of issues a friend has had with his 2022 Atlas, I simply can’t. He had infotainment, window regulators, power seats, transmission, and cooling system issues all within the first year. He has had new problems he hasn’t told me about (because he realizes he complains about it too much already) pop up in the last year and a half, and plans to sell the thing before the warranty runs out. It’s a shame because it is a nice vehicle when everything works properly, but the way complains, that seems pretty seldom.