VW Atlas Fuel System Failure Causing Engine Stalls

I experienced similar issues with my 2019 VW Tiguan after changing the fuel filter. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, power loss, stalling, and an intermittent check engine light. My experience level with car repairs is moderate, I do basic maintenance but leave complex fuel system work to professionals. The main issue turned out to be an incorrectly seated fuel pressure sensor connection after the filter change. The workshop diagnosed it using their fuel rail pressure testing equipment, which showed irregular readings. The fuel regulator was actually fine, but the system needed proper bleeding and sensor recalibration. The fix involved: Proper bleeding of the fuel system, Resetting the engine misfire codes, Checking all fuel rail connections, Recalibrating the pressure sensor Total cost was 45€ for diagnostic and repair work. After this, the engine ran smoothly again with no more stalling issues. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Has any recent work been done on the fuel system? What error codes is the check engine light showing? Does the issue happen more during cold starts or when the engine is warm? Have you noticed any unusual fuel consumption?

At 80226km on my Atlas, I had the exact same symptoms you described. After the last service, a full diagnostic revealed a failing fuel pressure sensor, not the regulator as initially suspected. The rough idle and power loss issues cleared up completely after replacing the sensor and performing a fuel system purge. The real problem showed up in the scan tool readings, erratic fuel rail pressure fluctuations causing the engine misfire. A professional shop will need proper diagnostic equipment to verify the exact pressure readings. They should check all fuel system components thoroughly since multiple parts can cause similar symptoms. Worth noting the repair only took about 2 hours and cost 280€ total including parts. Much cheaper than replacing the entire fuel pressure regulator assembly.

Thanks for the update on your Atlas repair outcome. That fuel pressure sensor diagnosis matches what I found on my Tiguan as well. The erratic pressure readings really match the classic symptoms, rough idle, stalling, and that intermittent check engine light we both experienced. My shop also noticed those fuel rail pressure fluctuations during testing. One thing I learned is that faulty sensors often trigger similar engine misfire symptoms as a bad regulator, but cost way less to fix. The fuel system diagnostic equipment they used showed nearly identical irregular patterns to what you described. After my repair, I monitored the fuel consumption for a few weeks since unstable pressure can sometimes mask other issues. But once they purged the system properly and recalibrated everything, the engine ran perfectly with no more power loss or stalling. Good to hear your repair cost was reasonable at 280€. The proper diagnosis saved you from unnecessarily replacing the full regulator assembly. These fuel system issues can be tricky to pinpoint without the right testing equipment.

Good news, I had all the work completed and wanted to report back for others who might face similar problems in the future. The pressure drop causing the engine misfire turned out to be exactly what the fuel pressure sensor reading suggested. The check engine light codes confirmed the irregular fuel rail pressure. After replacing the sensor and doing a complete system purge, my Atlas runs perfectly with no more stalling or power loss. Key findings from my repair: Sensor replacement and recalibration fixed the issue, Total repair cost was 280€, Work took about 2 hours, No regulator replacement needed, All engine misfire symptoms resolved For anyone experiencing similar symptoms, make sure the shop does proper pressure testing before replacing major components. The diagnostic equipment readings will show if its truly a regulator issue or just a faulty sensor. Getting the right diagnosis saved significant repair costs in my case. Will monitor the fuel consumption for a few weeks to ensure everything stays stable, but so far the engine performance is back to normal with no issues.