NHTSA Opens Investigation into Fuel Leaks and Fires Regarding Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen Atlas fuel leaks are under a NHTSA investigation for 2018-2020 VW Atlas vehicles where the government body is reviewing consumer complaints of fuel leaking into the fuel injectors, which may cause a fire.

Customers report illuminated warning lights, fuel odors and fuel spewing from the engine compartments. The area is filled with hot engine components, and leaking injectors make the fire risk higher than fuel leaks from other areas of the vehicle.

VW says out of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Atlas SUVs, the 2018 models have higher warranty claim rates for the fuel systems.

Per the documents filed with NHTSA:

Summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 3 complaints from vehicle owners and a number of EWR field reports alleging that the fuel injection system is leaking at or near the fuel injectors in 2018-2020 MY Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with 3.6L engines. ODI also observed that warranty data for the fuel system was higher for the MY 2018 Atlas.

Fuel injectors are leaking fuel near engine compartment components that operate at high temperatures. Consumers allege a fuel leak, fuel odor, and/or illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) alerts them to the condition. Some complaints allege fuel ?spewing from the engine compartment. Fuel leaking in the engine compartment has a higher potential risk of fire as the components are operating at higher temperatures compared to other areas of the vehicle. No fires have been connected to this issue to date.

ODI is opening this preliminary evaluation (PE) to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem as well as fully assess the potential safety-related issues of fuel leaks for the 2018-2020 MY Volkswagen Atlas. ODI will assess fuel leaks in general with an emphasis on leaks in the engine compartment related to the fuel injectors.

The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the following identification numbers:11382958 11218819 11218780