What Volkswagen Taos owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Volkswagen Taos safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| 2025 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 147 |
| 2024 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 231 |
| 2023 | 109 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 322 |
| 2022 | 317 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 485 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Volkswagen Taos complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The transmission completely failed, first it was showing emergency transmission in safe mode messages, if you stopped the car turned it off and back on it would go away. After getting a transmission flush the day after my car's transmission completely failed...leaving me in the middle of the road with no power to go forward or backwards. I got towed back to the dealership and am basically being told to replace the transmission entirely with no reason as to why this has happened at only 57,000 miles. Yes it is available for inspection if needed at the dealership. My safety was put at risk because I was stranded in the middle of the road with no way to move my car without towing it. There ar…
During a routine multi-point inspection, my 2024 Volkswagen Taos rear brake pads were found completely worn down to 1mm at just over 24,000 miles. Premature rear brake pad wear on 2022â2024 VW Taos vehicles is a widely documented defect that degrades braking performance, increases stopping distances, and poses a serious safety risk if pads wear down to metal-on-metal unnoticed. Volkswagen issued a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty extension for this exact issue. However, because my mileage slightly exceeds 24,000 miles, both the dealership service manager and Volkswagen Corporate Customer Care refused to cover the repair or file a goodwill claim, leaving me with a $978.97 dealer repair quote. …
On XXX, I first noticed harsh jerking from the transmission of my 2026 Volkswagen Taos (VIN [XXX], purchased new XXX, ~8,000 miles). On XXX the instrument cluster displayed "transmission in emergency mode," accompanied by severe vibration, RPM fluctuation at low speeds, and a loud grinding/rattling noise. My minor child was in the vehicle at the time and was frightened. After the vehicle sat parked, the warning cleared, but abnormal sounds and vibration remained. I brought the vehicle to Gunther Volkswagen of [XXX], on XXX, where it has remained since awaiting transmission repair (a loaner was provided). I am concerned the transmission could fail or lose motive power again without warning. I…
1. Wipers go off randomly when its in off position. And gets worse in hot, sunny weather. 2 windows go all the way down when trying to go up. Worse during the rain. 3. Lane assist deactivating in early morning or during the rain when I need them most.
I bought the vehicle 3 years ago and currently it is at the shop to have the engine wiring harnes repaired. A few weeks ago, my dashboard started glitching. On 9/19/2026, my vehicle would not start. The check engine, EPC, low battery voltage, and traction light came on. I had to call someone to give me a jump so that my vehicle would start. It was impossible for the vehicle to keep a charge and it kept acting up in traffic. The dealership now wants to charge me about $650 for a new battery. I believe that the faulty engine wiring harness caused the battery to die prematurely and I should not have to pay for it.
I bought the vehicle 3 years ago and currently it is at the shop to have the engine wiring harnes repaired. A few weeks ago, my dashboard started glitching. On 9/19/2026, my vehicle would not start. The check engine, EPC, low battery voltage, and traction light came on. I had to call someone to give me a jump so that my vehicle would start. It was impossible for the vehicle to keep a charge and it kept acting up in traffic. The dealership now wants to charge me about $650 for a new battery. I believe that the faulty engine wiring harness caused the battery to die prematurely and I should not have to pay for it.
The infotainment touch screen on my 2023 Volkswagen Taos has completely blacked out and failed, leaving my backup camera entirely inoperable. This has created a severe blind-spot hazard where I cannot safely reverse. On top of this failure, the vehicle has a chronic history of being in and out of the dealership service department for unresolved fuel system problems, specifically regarding the fuel injectors and fuel lines under warranty. The dealership has repeatedly failed to permanently fix this fuel defect. Now, the car actively loses engine acceleration and drops into a dangerous slow crawl ('limp mode') at busy intersections when the air conditioning is running, forcing me to turn off t…
A recurring fuel-odor and drivability problem began while the vehicle was under manufacturer warranty and was never permanently resolved. In September 2022, a Volkswagen dealer documented code P2421 for an EVAP system vent valve stuck open and performed a software update. In June 2024, another Volkswagen dealer documented a strong fuel smell intermittently entering the passenger compartment but found no leak and made no repair. In April 2025, the vehicle was reported to sputter when accelerating from a stop. In July 2025, fuel odor at startup, poor fuel economy, and slow acceleration were again reported, but no leak was found and the vehicle was declared to be operating normally. In June 20…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Repair or Replace Information
Brake rotor resurfacing
Resurfacing Rotors during Perfect Delivery Inspection
Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Customer states MIL-on, Transmission warning light on, harsh shifting; Coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, Low coolant level, Visible coolant leak, or Coolant warning message in instrument cluster; Customer states no start condition; Customer states no start condition; Customer states wind noise and or water ingress; Customer states there is a noise when pressing the brake pedal; Customer states there is a leak from the front of the vehicle
Update Programming of the Engine/Motor Control Module -J623-
Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Customer states MIL-on, Transmission warning light on, harsh shifting; Coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, Low coolant level, Visible coolant leak, or Coolant warning message in instrument cluster; Customer states no start condition; Customer states no start condition; Customer states wind noise and or water ingress; Customer states there is a noise when pressing the brake pedal; Customer states there is a leak from the front of the vehicle
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: Part number 3Q0-959-435N software version number 1307 has incorrect coding.
Battery Checking Procedure before replacement
Warranty Alignment Worksheet
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Replacement instruction
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2021–2026, owners most often name: engine, service brakes, electrical system. 495 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
