2022 Volkswagen Atlas Owners Manual - Doors and central locking button

Doors and central locking button

 Introduction

The doors can be manually locked and in some cases unlocked, for example if the vehicle key or the central locking system is malfunctioning.

The central locking system allows you to unlock and lock all doors, the trunk lid, and the fuel filler flap from one location.

The vehicle can be locked when the ignition has been switched off or if the driver has exited the vehicle when the engine is stopped.

An image in the instrument cluster display indicates if one or more doors have not opened or closed correctly .  Do not continue driving! Open the respective door and close it again.

The image is also displayed when the ignition is switched off, and it turns off several seconds after the doors are closed and the vehicle has been locked.

WARNING

If a door is not closed correctly, it can open suddenly while driving and cause serious injuries.

• Stop immediately and close the door.

• When closing the door, make sure it engages securely and completely. When closed, the door must be flush with the areas of the vehicle body that are around the door.

• Do not open or close the doors if anyone is in the way.

WARNING

When the door is being held open by the door arrester, it may close by itself in high winds or on inclines, which can cause injuries.

• Always hold the door handle firmly when opening and closing the door.

WARNING

The area within the range of motion for the doors and trunk lid can be dangerous and there is the potential for injuries.

• Do not open or close the doors and trunk lid if anyone is in the way.

WARNING

Locking the doors carelessly can cause serious injuries.

• When the vehicle is locked from the outside, the doors and power windows cannot be opened from the inside.

• The central locking system locks all the doors. When the vehicle is locked from the inside, it reduces the risk of opening the doors unintentionally and of unauthorized people entering the vehicle. In case of an emergency or an accident, locked doors can make it more difficult for first responders to access the vehicle interior to help the passengers.

• Never leave children or people requiring assistance in the vehicle. All doors can be locked from the inside using the central locking button. This can result in locking yourself inside the vehicle. Individuals locked in the vehicle could be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.

• Depending on the season, the temperature inside the vehicle could become very high or low, which can lead to serious injuries, illness or death, especially for very young children.

• Never leave anyone in a locked vehicle. In an emergency, these people may not be able to exit the vehicle without assistance or help themselves.

NOTICE

When using the emergency locking or emergency unlocking feature, remove and reinstall the affected parts carefully and correctly to reduce the risk of vehicle damage.

Indicator light in the driver's door

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

The indicator light for the central locking system is located in the driver door .

Vehicle is locked: the red LED light blinks for approximately two seconds, and then flashes more slowly after that. The indicator light does not flash if the vehicle was locked using the central locking button in the driver's door .

Automatic locking and unlocking

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

Depending on how your vehicle is equipped, settings for the central locking can be configured in the Vehicle settings menu in the Infotainment system.

Automatic locking (Auto Lock)

The vehicle locks automatically at speeds of about 9 mph (15 km/h) or higher. If the vehicle is locked, the  indicator light will turn yellow in the central locking button.

Automatic unlocking (Auto Unlock)

If one of the following conditions apply, all doors and the trunk lid will unlock automatically:

• If the vehicle is stationary and the vehicle key has been removed

• For vehicles with an automatic gearbox: If the parking lock P is engaged and the ignition is switched off.

• Or: if the door handle has been pulled.

• Or: if airbags have deployed during a collision .

The Auto Unlock function makes it possible for first responders to access the inside of the vehicle.

Central locking button

Fig. 53 In the driver's door: Central locking button (general example).

1. Central locking button.

Fig. 54 In the driver's door: Button for powered opening of the trunk lid (general example).

1. Button for powered opening of the trunk lid.

 – Unlock the vehicle.

 – Lock the vehicle.

 – Open the trunk lid.

The central locking button functions both when the ignition is on or off, but only when all the doors are closed.

Only the trunk lid will open when the  button in the driver's door is pressed. All doors remain locked.

If the vehicle is locked from the outside using the vehicle key, the central locking buttons will be disabled.

If the vehicle is locked from the inside using the central locking button, then:

• The  indicator light in the button will turn yellow if all doors are closed and locked.

• The anti-theft alarm system will not be activated .

The doors can be opened from the inside by pulling the door handle. The  indicator light in the button turns off. The unopened doors and the trunk lid will remain locked and cannot be opened from the outside.

Opening and closing the driver's door in an emergency

Fig. 55 Driver’s door handle: prying off the cap.

Generally, all doors will lock when locking manually. Only the driver door will unlock when unlocking manually.

Note the information about the anti-theft alarm system .

1. Position the key bit or emergency key on the notch in the driver door handle from below.

2. Hold your index finger under the key bit.

3. Use the vehicle key to pry the cap off in the direction of the arrow  .

4. Insert the key bit in the lock cylinder and unlock or lock the vehicle.

5. Pull on the door handle and reinstall the cap.

Special considerations for manual unlocking

• An alarm is triggered when the driver's door is opened .

• An emergency start must be performed after unlocking .

• Switch the ignition on to turn off the alarm.

The electronic immobilizer will detect a valid vehicle key.

The anti-theft alarm system is not activated when the vehicle is manually locked using the key bit .

Locking the front passenger door and rear doors in an emergency

Fig. 56 On the front of the right rear door: emergency locking the vehicle with the vehicle key (general example).

The front passenger door and the rear doors can each be locked manually.

The anti-theft alarm system is not activated when this happens .

1. Open the door.

2. Remove the rubber seal  in the front of the door.

3. Insert the key bit or emergency key into the slot and turn it  .

4. Reattach the rubber seal.

5. Check that the door is locked.

6. Have the vehicle checked immediately by a suitably qualified professional. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

If a door is locked manually, it will unlock again when the vehicle is unlocked or if that door is opened from the inside.

Doors can be unlocked and opened from the inside by pulling the door handle.

Child safety lock

Fig. 57 Child safety lock:  left rear door,  right rear door.

1. Child safety lock is switched off.
2. Child safety lock is switched on.

The child safety locks are located on the inner door panels of the rear doors.

The child safety lock reduces the risk of the rear doors being opened from the inside.

When the child safety lock is switched on, the door can only be opened from the outside.

Switching the child safety lock on or off

1. Unlock the vehicle the open the respective rear door.

2. Bring the slot into the corresponding position.

WARNING

When the child safety lock is switched on, that door cannot be opened from the inside.

• Never leave children or people requiring assistance unattended in the vehicle when the doors are locked. Otherwise, they could become locked inside the vehicle. In case of an emergency, these individuals would not be able to leave the vehicle without assistance or care for themselves. Individuals locked in the vehicle could be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.

• Depending on the season, the temperature inside the vehicle could become very high or low, which can lead to serious injuries, illness or death, especially for very young children.

Troubleshooting

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

If the indicator light does not turn off

The red LED in the vehicle door flashes briefly and then stays on.

There is a malfunction in the locking system.

1. Contact a suitably qualified professional. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

If the turn signals are not flashing

The turn signals are not blinking as confirmation when locking the vehicle:

1. Check whether at least one of the doors, the trunk lid or the engine hood are not closed.

If the vehicle is locking automatically

The vehicle will lock again automatically after approximately 45 seconds if one of the following conditions apply:

• The vehicle was unlocked, but not opened

• The ignition was not switched on

• The trunk lid was not opened.

Locking with a second vehicle key

For vehicles with Keyless Access with push-button start: If a second vehicle key is used to lock the vehicle from outside, the vehicle key inside the vehicle is immediately disabled so that it cannot be used to start the engine; it is still possible to perform an emergency start, however .

1. To enable the vehicle key inside the vehicle so that it can be used to start the engine as usual, press the  button on the vehicle key inside the vehicle .

Locking the vehicle after an airbag deploys

The entire vehicle unlocks when an airbag deploys in a collision. Depending on the severity of the damage, it may be possible to lock the vehicle as follows after the collision:

1. Switch the ignition off.

2. Open the driver door and shut it again.

3. Lock the vehicle.

Automatic sensor deactivation

The sensors will deactivate automatically under the following conditions:

• If the vehicle is not unlocked or locked for a long period of time

• If a sensor is triggered too frequently

Reactivating the sensor pads:

1. Unlock the vehicle using the  button on the vehicle key.

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. If at least one window is open and the sensors in one door handle are permanently activated, then all windows will close .

It may not be possible to unlock or lock the vehicle using Keyless Access if the 12 V vehicle battery or button cell battery in the vehicle is weak or drained. The vehicle can be manually unlocked or locked .

If there is no valid vehicle key in the vehicle or one is not detected, a message will appear in the instrument cluster display. This can occur if another signal interferes with the remote control vehicle key or if the remote control vehicle key is covered by an object, such as a metal case .