Get Maintenance -> Vehicle care Guide for Volkswagen Atlas SUV Second Generation (2024-2025)

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You can ﬁnd more information about maintaining your vehicle and the nature and extent of the maintenance on the website:

Vehicle care

Vehicle care information

Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehicle.

The longer dirt remains on the surfaces of vehicle components, the more difﬁcult it may be to clean and care for them. Long-

term exposure can make it impossible for dirt to be removed.

For questions regarding care products or for vehicle components that are not listed, consult a suitably qualiﬁed professional.

Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Suitably qualiﬁed professionals can provide you with suitable accessories. Volkswagen recommends the use of Genuine

Volkswagen Accessories, which you can acquire from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility. Read and follow the usage instructions on the packaging.

WARNING

Cleaning, impregnating and caring for vehicle components incorrectly can irreparably damage and impair the vehicle's

safety equipment, such as the airbag modules. This may cause serious injuries in the event of an accident.

Always use suitable cleaning agents. More information can be obtained from suitably qualiﬁed professionals.

Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Never use cleaning solutions that contain solvents.

Clean and maintain vehicle components only according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

WARNING

Cleaning the vehicle incorrectly may result in serious injuries.

Protect your hands and arms against components with sharp edges, for example when cleaning the inside of the

wheel housings.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using cleaning agents.

WARNING

Dirty, foggy, or icy door windows reduce visibility and can impair the vehicle's safety equipment. This can cause accidents

and serious or fatal injuries.

Only drive when there is clear visibility through all windows.

Do not use water-repellent window solutions on the windshield. This can cause intense glare under poor visual

conditions.

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WARNING

Care products may be poisonous, highly ﬂammable and corrosive. Using care products incorrectly or using unsuitable

care products can cause burns and poisoning and may lead to accidents and serious or fatal injuries.

Note the package insert.

Only store care products in their sealed original containers.

Keep children away from all care products.

Only use care products outside or in well-ventilated areas so that no harmful vapors are inhaled.

Never use turpentine, engine oil, fuel, nail polish remover, or other highly volatile ﬂuids for vehicle care.

NOTICE

Cleaning dirt with aggressive and solvent-based products can cause permanent damage to vehicle equipment, for

example even with only brief exposure on seat cushions or decorative parts.

Do not allow dirt to dry.

Have stubborn spots removed by a suitably qualiﬁed, authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility.

Washing the vehicle

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒

and Vehicle care information.

Washing your vehicle regularly prevents exposure to contamination, which may damage the paint.

Matte-ﬁnish vehicles require special care due to the particular properties of the paint.

To ensure that your vehicle is washed correctly and appropriately, note the following information ⇒

, ⇒

.

WARNING

After the vehicle has been washed, the braking efﬁciency may be delayed due to damp or (in the winter) icy brake discs

and brake pads. This will increase the braking distance. This can cause a loss of vehicle control, accidents, and serious or

fatal injuries.

Press the brake pedal carefully several times to dry the brakes and clear the ice from them, as long as the visibility,

weather, road, and trafﬁc conditions permit.

NOTICE

Improper car washes can increase the risk of severe vehicle damage.

Always follow the steps described for vehicle care and cleaning.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.

NOTICE

Wet vehicle components may freeze in cold weather, which will stop them from working properly.

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In cold weather, never direct a jet of water at locks, doors, or the trunk lid.

Removing stubborn dirt on matte paint

Soak insects or bird excrement that have adhered to the surface immediately with water and spray with a special cleaner

for matte paint.

Remove tar splashes on the paint surface with commercially available tar removers. Residue must not be removed by

intensive rubbing.

Remove tree resin and rust particles with special cleaner for matte paint and a cleaning clay bar. Slide the cleaning clay

bar over the affected areas without pressing down on it.

Spray grease and ﬁngerprints with a special cleaner for matte paint and rub with a soft microﬁber cloth.

Rinse gasoline residue immediately with plenty of water.

Automatic car washes

NOTICE

Washing the vehicle incorrectly can damage the matte paint surface and destroy the matte paint ﬁnish.

Never use washing programs with wax treatment.

Only use cleaning agents free of solids and abrasives, such as cleansing shampoos or insect removers, for

cleaning purposes.

Do not use insect sponges or rough sponges.

If your vehicle has matte paint, never select a wash program with wax or drying aids.

If your vehicle has matte paint, only use textile car washes, never brush car washes.

For vehicle with decorative and protective decals, never use a wash package with hot wax.

Choose car washes without brushes.

Also ensure that the underside of the vehicle is washed regularly and thoroughly to remove any residue.

Observe the information provided by the car wash operator, particularly with regard to attachments on the vehicle, e.g.

spoilers ⇒

.

The windows are closed and the outside mirrors are folded in.

The electronic parking brake is switched off.

Vehicles with steering lock: If the vehicle is mechanically towed in the car wash, the steering must not be locked

⇒ Steering information.

Vehicles with an automatic transmission: If the vehicle is mechanically towed toward the car wash, the transmission

must be in the neutral position

.

The windshield wiper ⇒ Window wipers and the rain/light sensor ⇒ Rain/light sensor are switched off.

If applicable: the roof antenna has been removed.

NOTICE

Car washes which mechanically scan contours may damage the vehicle and attachments, e.g. spoiler.

Follow the information provided by the car wash operator, especially if there are attachments on the vehicle.

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Only wash the vehicle in facilities speciﬁcally designed for that purpose. This will reduce the risk of water contaminated

with oil from entering the sewer system.

Pressure washers

Fig. 193 In the hood space: do not use a pressure washer.

Never use rotating nozzles. Observe the manufacturer's instructions.

Only use water up to maximum +60 °C (approximately +140 °F).

Move the water jet evenly with a distance of at least 50 cm (approximately 20 inches) between the spray nozzle and all

parts of the vehicle.

Do not direct the water at the same spot for a long period of time.

If possible, do not direct the water straight at sensitive vehicle components, e.g. rubber seals, side windows, glossy trims

tires, sensors, camera lenses, decorative and protective decals.

Never clean icy or snow-covered door windows with a pressure washer.

NOTICE

Strong streams of water or vapor could activate the sensors in the door handles if a valid vehicle key is located near the

vehicle. This may cause the windows to open and moisture may enter the vehicle interior. This could lead to damage to

the vehicle interior.

Never direct the jet of a high pressure cleaner or a steam jet directly towards the sensors in the door handles.

If the jet of a pressure washer or a steam jet is directed towards the sensors in the door handles, the vehicle can be

unlocked.

Hand washing

Individual contaminations on the paint can be removed with a cleaning clay bar.

1. Clean dust and large dirt deposits from the vehicle with plenty of water.

2. If your vehicle has matte paint, remove insects, grease spots and ﬁngerprints with a special cleaner for matte paint. Apply

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the product using a microﬁber cloth with gentle pressure.

3. Clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a washing glove, or a washing brush with light pressure. Start at the roof, and

continue to work from the top down. Only use a cleansing shampoo on stubborn dirt.

If your vehicle has matte paint, clean from top to bottom with a neutral cleansing shampoo and a microﬁber cloth. Wash

the microﬁber cloth thoroughly at frequent intervals.

4. Clean the wheels and side members with a clean sponge.

5. Rinse with plenty of water.

6. Let the vehicle air dry.

7. Remove water residue with a leather cloth.

If the contamination on the paint cannot be removed by hand washing, individual areas of contamination can be removed

with a cleaning clay bar.

Exterior care and cleaning

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒

and Vehicle care information.

NOTICE

Incorrect cleaning and care can cause vehicle damage.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Never use cleaning objects that are too hard or abrasive.

Door windows, glass surfaces

Remove wax residue, for example from care products, with a suitable glass cleaner or the Volkswagen Genuine cleaning

cloth.

Remove snow with a hand brush.

Remove ice with a plastic scraper. When doing so, scrape in one direction only.

Defrost the ice with a suitable deicer or Volkswagen Genuine deicer.

Clean the wiper blades or, if necessary, replace them.

Paint

Always treat surfaces with extreme care to prevent paint damage.

Immediately clean any slight contamination, e.g. deposits, insect residues, cosmetics with a clean, soft cloth and mild

soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap to one liter of water or with cleaning clay.

Clean spilled fuel or operating materials immediately.

Dampen rust spots with soap solution. Then remove with a cleaning clay bar.

Have corrosion removed by suitably qualiﬁed professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

In the event of paint damage, consult suitably qualiﬁed professionals and have the paint damage repaired. Volkswagen

recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

A preservation treatment protects the vehicle paint. When water no longer clearly beads up and drips off clean vehicle paint,

the vehicle should be retreated with a wax protectant if not earlier.

For matte paint, apply a special wax for matte paint with a soft sponge to the cleaned vehicle. Remove excess wax with a

microﬁber cloth.

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Polishing is only needed if the appearance of the vehicle paint is poor and a shiny ﬁnish can no longer be achieved using

protectants.

NOTICE

For matte ﬁnishes, the surface will be irreparably damaged if you polish the paint.

Never polish matte-ﬁnish surfaces.

Even if a wax protectant is applied regularly in an automatic car wash, Volkswagen recommends protecting the vehicle

paint at least twice a year with a suitable hard wax or Volkswagen Genuine hard wax.

Plenum chamber, hood space

Fig. 194 Between the hood space and windshield: Plenum chamber (general example).

Perforated cover of the water box.

WARNING

Working on the engine or in the hood space carries a risk of accidents and ﬁre. Serious injuries may occur.

Always note the necessary actions and the safety precautions every time before working in the hood space

→ page , Safety precautions for working in the hood space .

If you are not familiar with this type of work, arrange for it to be done by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

NOTICE

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The plenum chamber drain can be blocked by leaves and dirt. Water that cannot drain may leak into the vehicle interior

and cause damage.

Have the area under the perforated cover regularly cleaned by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility qualiﬁed in this respect ﬁg. 194. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

NOTICE

Water introduced manually into the plenum chamber, for example with a pressure washer, can cause considerable vehicle

damage.

Remove leaves or other loose objects on the perforated cover with a vacuum or by hand ﬁg. 194.

Ensure that large amounts of water do not collect in the plenum chamber, for example if you use a pressure

washer.

Always have the hood space cleaned by a qualiﬁed professional. Volkswagen recommends contacting an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Sensors, camera lenses

Fig. 195 In the rear of the vehicle: Rear View Camera system on the handle (general example).

Clean the area in front of the sensors or the camera with a soft cloth and solvent-free cleaning solution.

Clean the sensor areas of the rain/light sensor, the camera window on the windshield and the glass surfaces (depending

on the vehicle equipment).

Remove snow with a hand brush.

Never use warm or hot water.

Defrost the ice with a suitable deicer or Volkswagen Genuine deicer.

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Decorative and protective decals

Remove contaminants as described for paint. For matte decorative decals, use a suitable plastic cleaner or a

Volkswagen Genuine plastic cleaner.

Treat the vehicle every three months with liquid hard wax. The vehicle must be free of dirt and dust before treating. Apply

using only clean, soft microﬁber cloths. Do not use hot wax, even in a car wash.

Remove hard contaminants gently with ethyl alcohol and then wash with warm water.

For decorative and protective decals, the durability and coloring are influenced by environmental factors, such as solar

radiation. Decorative decals may show signs of wear and aging after approximately one to three years, and protective decals

after approximately two to three years. In very hot climates, the decorative decals may fade slightly within one year and the

protective decals within two years.

Trims made out of chrome-plated plastic, aluminum or stainless steel

Clean surfaces with a suitable chrome and aluminum product or Volkswagen Genuine chrome and aluminum products.

Chrome-plated trims can be protected with a suitable hard wax or Volkswagen Genuine hard wax.

Headlights, taillights

Remove contamination with a soft, damp sponge with a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap

to one liter of water. Do not use cleaning solutions containing alcohol and/or solvents.

Remove stubborn dirt with a suitable chrome and aluminum product or Volkswagen Genuine chrome and aluminum

products.

Wheels

Remove contaminants and road salt with plenty of water.

Clean dirty alloy wheels with a suitable rim cleaner or with Volkswagen Genuine rim cleaner. Volkswagen recommends

applying a suitable hard wax or Volkswagen Genuine hard wax to the rims every three months.

Repair damaged protective paint layers immediately with a paint pen. If necessary, contact an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer

or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Remove brake dust with a suitable rim cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine rim cleaner.

Door lock cylinder

1. Defrost the door lock cylinder with a suitable door lock deicer or Volkswagen Genuine deicer.

Do not use any door lock deicers with degreasing substances.

Care and cleaning of the vehicle interior

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒

and Vehicle care information.

The following overview gives recommendations for cleaning and caring for individual vehicle components.

NOTICE

Incorrect cleaning and care can cause vehicle damage.

Always follow the steps described for vehicle care and cleaning.

Do not use steam cleaners, brushes, hard sponges, etc.

Have tough spots removed by a suitably qualiﬁed professional. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

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Door windows

Clean the door window with a glass cleaner.

Wipe the door windows dry with a clean chamois or a lint-free cloth.

Textiles, microﬁber, leatherette

Regularly remove dirt particles that adhere to the surface with a vacuum cleaner so that the material is not permanently

damaged by scrubbing.

Remove contaminants with a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner.

For grease-based contaminants such as oil, use a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner. Blot

away the dissolved grease or dye with an absorbent towel. If necessary, treat afterwards with water.

For contaminants, for example from pens or nail polish, use a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior

cleaner. If necessary, treat afterward with a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of

water.

Never use leather cleaners, solvents, ﬂoor polish, shoe polish, paint remover, or other similar substances.

Never use pressure washers, steam cleaners or cooling sprays.

Natural leather

Remove fresh dirt with a cotton cloth and a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of

water. Do not let any ﬂuids seep into the cracks.

For contaminants, for example from pens or nail polish, use a suitable leather cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine leather

cleaner.

Treat dried spots with a suitable leather cleaner or with Volkswagen Genuine leather cleaner.

Remove any fresh spots of grease such as oil with an absorbent cloth.

Apply leather care to seats regularly and each time you clean. If leaving the vehicle parked for long periods of time, you

should cover the leather to protect it from direct sunlight.

Never treat leather with solvents, ﬂoor polish, shoe polish, paint remover, or other similar substances.

Plastic parts

Clean with a soft, damp cloth.

If a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water cannot remove stubborn stains, use

a solvent-free plastic cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine plastic cleaner, if necessary.

Trims, decorative trims made out of chrome, aluminum or stainless steel

Clean using a clean, soft cloth and mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water, in a

dust-free area.

Treat anodized surfaces with a suitable chrome and aluminum product or Volkswagen Genuine chrome and aluminum

products.

Controls

1. Use a soft brush to remove large dirt deposits as well as any dirt that is difﬁcult to reach.

2. Use a clean, soft cloth and a fairly mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water. Fluid

must not enter into the controls.

Displays and screens

Do not clean the instrument cluster display and the Infotainment system screen when they are dry.

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1. Switch the Infotainment system off to clean it.

2. Use a suitable clean and soft cleaning cloth or Volkswagen Genuine cleaning cloth with some water, suitable glass

cleaner, or an LCD cleaner ⇒

.

For stubborn dirt:

1. Wet and soak dirt with just a little water ⇒

.

2. Carefully remove dirt using a soft, clean cloth.

NOTICE

If the screen is cleaned with incorrect cleaning agents or when dry, it may be darkened, damaged or scratched.

Only apply gentle pressure.

Do not use any aggressive cleaners or products which contain solvents.

NOTICE

If the cloth used to clean the screen is too moist, the screen can no longer be operated or switched off.

Dry the screen and then leave the vehicle locked from the outside for at least two minutes.

Rubber seals

Clean with a soft, lint-free cloth and plenty of water.

Treat regularly with a suitable rubber care product or Volkswagen Genuine rubber care product.

Safety belts

1. Unreel the safety belt completely and leave the belt unreeled.

2. Remove large spots of dirt with a soft brush.

3. Clean the safety belt with a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water.

4. Let the belt webbing dry completely, then allow the belt to retract.

WARNING

Improper cleaning of the safety belts, their anchors and the automatic safety belt retractors can cause damage and impair

their function. This can cause serious or fatal injuries in the event of accidents.

Never alter the safety belts for cleaning purposes.

Never use chemical products to clean the safety belts and their components.

Do no use any corrosive ﬂuids, solvents, or sharp objects.

Do not allow ﬂuids and objects to enter the safety belt buckle.

Let the safety belt dry after cleaning before allowing it to retract completely.

Wood trims

Clean with a soft cloth and fairly mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water.

Cleaning the seat covers

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Maintenance -> Vehicle care for Your Volkswagen Atlas SUV Second Generation (2024-2025)

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