Atlas Power Loss & Rough Idle Points to Throttle Sensor

Had the same symptoms on a 2018 VW Tiguan. The check engine light came on during highway driving, followed by significant power loss and unstable engine idling. The throttle sensor was indeed the core issue, specifically the electronic throttle control module failed. The repair required replacing the entire throttle body assembly since the throttle sensor is integrated. Not a DIY-friendly job as it needed dealer diagnostic equipment to properly calibrate the new unit. The repair took about 4 hours at the shop. This is considered a serious issue that affects both fuel efficiency and vehicle safety, since the throttle sensor controls air-fuel mixture and engine power delivery. Driving with these symptoms risks further engine damage. Before going to the shop, you can try disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes to reset the engine control unit. If the problem persists after reconnecting, professional diagnosis is necessary. The symptoms match exactly what happened with the throttle position sensor failure. Would suggest having it checked soon, as continuing to drive with erratic throttle response could lead to more expensive repairs.

Thanks for sharing your Tiguan experience, sounds exactly like what my Atlas is going through. The throttle body replacement fixed everything for you? My mechanic mentioned something about checking the air flow sensor too since poor air intake could cause similar symptoms. Did you happen to remember the total repair cost? Also curious if youve had any related issues pop up since getting it fixed. Planning to take mine in next week but want to know what to expect cost-wise and if I should have them inspect anything else while its there.

Just wanted to follow up, the throttle valve problem on my Tiguan was indeed the root cause. After fixing the accelerator pedal module which was causing irregular air flow and response delay, all those symptoms disappeared completely. The repair came to 265€ for the module replacement. The air intake system check they performed showed everything else was working properly. Since the repair 8 months ago, the throttle response has been perfect with no related issues. The engine runs smooth, and the power delivery is back to normal. The initial symptoms you described match my experience perfectly, especially the rough idling and sluggish acceleration. Getting the throttle sensor and pedal electronics fixed made a night and day difference in how the car drives. Would definitely recommend having them do a full air flow system inspection while its in the shop, but based on my case, the throttle control module is likely your main culprit.

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update everyone. The throttle body was indeed the problem, just like with your Tiguan case. My repair cost was a bit higher at 320€ but included a full air flow system check. The mechanic showed me the faulty throttle control unit, it was causing the engine idling issues and power loss. Once replaced, the response delay and rough running completely cleared up. The air intake system checked out fine, so no additional repairs needed. The whole job took about 3 hours and the difference in performance is incredible. Acceleration is crisp again and the engine runs perfectly smooth. Really glad I got it fixed before any additional problems developed. Thanks for helping me diagnose this, saved me from getting unnecessary extra work done. Will update if anything changes, but so far the car feels better than ever.