NHTSA complaint #11323877

Owner complaint summary

ONE WEEK AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, IT BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE DURING THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS: ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED / TAKING OFF FROM A STOP / AFTER VEHICLE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SOUND ON FIRST ATTEMPT. VEHICLE HAS AGAIN BEEN DROPPED OFF AT DEALER AS GRINDING NOISE CONTINUES AND GETS LOUDER AT TIMES. HAVE SEARCHED IN DIFFERENT FORUMS AND SOME STATE THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING PROPERLY PROGRAMMED TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. INSTEAD IT SKIPS 2ND GEAR (NOT A PROFESSIONAL OPINION AS I AM JUST QUOTING WHAT I'VE READ). SOME HAVE STATED IT COULD BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. STILL NO SOLUTION. YOU HEAR WOSSHING SOUND WHEN YOU START SLOW ACCELERATION FROM ALMOST STOP, NOT COMPLETELY STOP, LIKE 5MPH. IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME. THE ISSUE IS THAT VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT TO 2ND GEAR, STAYS IN 3RD WHEN IT'S AROUND 5MPH. THIS LOAD IS CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER AND PUMP TO WORK HARDER TO GET VEHICLE ROLLING. I BELIEVE IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENS IN 3RD GEAR AROUND 1500 TO 2000 RPMS. FOR ME, I HEAR IT THE MOST WHEN I AM ACCELERATING AFTER COMING TO A 'STOP'. ONCE I HEAR THE NOISE, I FLIP THE CAR INTO MANUAL MODE AND IT IS ALWAYS IN 3RD GEAR. ALTHOUGH YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ALMOST STOPPED, THE CAR IS STILL IN 3RD GEAR. DO THE SAME 'STOP' WHILE IN MANUAL MODE AND DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND, AND THERE ISN'T A NOISE. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TRIED OTHER NEW ATLAS' ON THE LOT AND FOUND SAME ISSUES. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. HONESTLY, MY NOISE SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND LOUDER EACH DAY WHEN MOVING AND UNDER A LOAD AT LOWER RPMS THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A SCREECHING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS GRINDING. HAVE BROUGHT THIS IN TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS 'NORMAL' FOR VW ATLAS VEHICLES. *TR