94 of the
783 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Taos
are about the electrical system —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2022.
I bought my 2022 VW Taos with only 16,000 miles and one previous owner. In 2023. In 2025 with only 42,000 miles the head gaskets were leaking and needed replaced. This was a COMMON issue that somehow isn’t a recall? Yet 90% of complaints on this list, including mine are for this exact reason. It was under warranty and was fixed, however in 2026 with only 68,000 miles my ECP, ABS, check engine light, and emergency transmission light all are on. My car is currently stuck in 2nd gear as a precaution to not destroy the transmission. The mechanism needed to fix this was quoted to me as being 1,500 to 2,000 JUST FOR THE PART! Not including labor and other fixes to go along with it. This isn’t cheap, reliable or safe. And the car is pretty much a waste at this point.
NHTSA complaint #11764104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta Volkswagen diagnosed a failed 5F module; the center display screen is completely inoperative; the rearview/backup-camera image therefore does not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse; VW says the module is on national backorder with no ETA; and the vehicle is being used by a [XXX] driver. Volkswagen Customer Care has already been contacted but could not help and that the repair is covered under warranty but cannot currently be completed so the vehicle remains unrepaired and is being operated without a rear view camera display . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11764239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
No back up camera. Entire display screen went black. Software crash? Tried rebooting by holding down buttons, locking and walking away. Nothing still black. No words on the screen. This concerns me because of the kids that play in the yard and my older kids that back out with the car. It will cost me $200 just to perform a scan for faulty codes. And then, if it’s a dead control module, just the part is $900. Can’t afford this, but need the back up camera. Car is no longer under warranty. Shouldn’t this be a safety recall? The side panels next to the speedometer won’t load anything either. Anything except the speed won’t come up in the middle, just loops and says “starting compass” then “compass is not available”. No setting on the display screen, no radio or phone, etc. just black. The speed, mi. to empty, temp., and cruise control work. Along with the gas gage and temp. gage. I read it may need a USB update using an OTIS machine? Infotainment update.? TSB-91-23-03?
NHTSA complaint #11759242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing this complaint because Volkswagen is refusing to honor its factory powertrain warranty to cover a catastrophic internal engine failure on a vehicle with only 22,531 miles. The vehicle is well within its manufacturer's powertrain warranty limits. I have provided Volkswagen with two official receipts proving routine oil changes, GEICO insurance records proving the accident caused no front-end or engine damage, and an official email from Volkswagen stating there were no pre-existing issues with the vehicle. Furthermore, the engine issues align closely with known fuel system and engine defects currently being litigated in the class-action lawsuit Hardy v. Volkswagen. The vehicle suffered an acute mechanical/electronic failure the engine revved past 4,000 RPM, but the vehicle experienced severe sputtering, shaking, and minimal forward propulsion. The EPC (Electronic Power Control) warning light illuminated on the dashboard. Volkswagen dealership at middletown even states via email as attached can not determine the exact cause of the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11756316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brake grinding constantly Infotainment overheating and shutting down Additional money on car insurance due to android auto failure with infotainment system Odometer doubling milage during infotainment failures Wipers going by themselves Windows go down when pressing up SOS BOX making random beeping noises Driver Chair constantly sinking back down Warning lights constantly coming on
NHTSA complaint #11751949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There have been multiple complaints of the mechatronics unit failing prematurely. I am facing that right now and it should be under warranty but is being challenged. So many people have mentioned the mechatronics unit failing prematurely upon research and discussion with the dealership. The car stalled on the freeway and I was unable to accelerate. It was confirmed and being worked on by the dealer. All regular maintenance has been done. “Trans in emergency mode. You can keep driving.” Showed up 5 minutes before the car stalled
NHTSA complaint #11747765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Toas since purchase, will lose its safety features for an indefinite amount of time. It will come back and go away. I have photo documentation of this. It will also at random times apply the brakes because it thinks I'm going to collide with something when nothing is there. This vehicle is faulty
NHTSA complaint #11747436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The systems failing are electrical, engine, and fuel/propulsion systems. VW TAOS 2022 purchased Sept. 2023. Two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, I'm driving down the street and the vehicle began to lose power and start slowing down. It eventually cut off. About a week later, I experienced the same issue. I called the dealer and they had me to bring my car in. I was told that they couldn't find the problem, but that the car was misfiring. They "repaired" and returned it to me. As I drove on local streets and the interstate, I have problems with acceleration. The car does not pick up speed like it should and lags behind and then suddenly jerks forward (even after battery rest times during a stop). It rides a bit rough. Occasionally, my dashboard blacks out while I'm driving. My auto-start doesn't always work, even after the fob batteries have been changed. My gas seems to disappear and I find myself gassing up more often than I should be. I would contact the dealership, they'd coordinate service around my scheduled service dates and claim that they could never find or duplicate the problems that I'm having. The problems continue. My engine light came on while I was driving and stayed on. I was told to bring in my car. The dealership kept it from July-Sept 2025, replacing parts and then returned it to me. Two days later the engine light came back on and I had to return to the dealer again for service. After leaving a parking lot (Jun 2026), two blocks down the street the TAOS began to lose power, the engine light is flashing and the EPC code (engine control malfunction) light lit up. I called VW and they dispatched a tow. My TAOS was towed to Checkered Flag VW. My safety (and others) is at risk because the power loss just happens without warning. If a driver is not paying attention, they could run into the back of me or hit me on the side during a lane change due to the slow movement.
NHTSA complaint #11743911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In two separate instances the Autonomous Emergency Brake system was activated. Luckily there i didn't cause an accident. There was no one in front of me either times. Thats the worst of all the issues the vehicle has.
NHTSA complaint #11738657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUMMARY OF SAFETY HAZARD: I am reporting a catastrophic and unpredictable loss of motive power in a 2023 Volkswagen Taos (4Motion with DQ381 DSG Transmission). The vehicle presents a critical electronic sensor failure within the transmission mechatronics unit that causes the vehicle to enter an immediate "Limp Mode" without warning. This has resulted in several near-miss incidents where the vehicle became immobilized in active traffic and on high-speed roadways. TECHNICAL DATA OF FAILURE: Factory-level ODIS diagnostic logs (recorded Feb 3 and March 17, 2026) reveal that the transmission’s "Actual position clutch 1" reports a constant value of -0.69 bar. In an automotive hydraulic system engineered for positive pressure, a reading of -0.69 bar is a physical impossibility (a vacuum state). This indicates a total failure of the pressure sensor/TCU logic, leading to the unintentional disengagement of the primary drive clutch. DECEPTIVE REPORTING RISK: Authorized service centers have been documented falsifying the safety status of this vehicle. Despite possessing internal diagnostic logs showing the -0.69 bar vacuum failure, a dealership issued a final Service Order certifying "No issues found" and stating "Actual values match." This reporting practice is forcing a vehicle with a known, documented powertrain failure back onto public roads, creating a severe life-safety risk for occupants and other motorists. The vehicle is currently grounded to prevent a collision.
NHTSA complaint #11736005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The odometer does not read correctly upon fill up. Typically the fill up states I have 325 miles per tank but I can drive about 100 miles and it still reads 325 miles until empty, after which time the odometer drops extremely fast and isn't consistent with miles driven. Additionally, twice now, while driving the instrument cluster on both the radio and speedometer have blacked out and I have been unable to view my current speed or general information. I know there is a recall on select taos models facing this same issue and wanted to make sure that my vehicle is documented as having this same issue and may need a software update. My Taos was produced in [XXX] in February of 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11735382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2025 Volkswagen Taos is exhibiting active symptoms of a known safety recall involving electrical system malfunctions. The vehicle experienced multiple failures including the instrument cluster going blank, screens shutting off, and a false start condition where the dashboard illuminated with multiple warning lights. The vehicle became inoperable and required towing to a Volkswagen dealership. The dealership confirmed that the symptoms are consistent with the current recall but stated there is no available remedy at this time. They insist the vehicle be returned to me after only charging the battery, without any repair addressing the recall condition. I refused. I do not consider the vehicle safe to operate given the ongoing electrical failures and lack of an available fix. This complaint is being filed because a recalled vehicle is actively experiencing the defect, and the manufacturer is unable to provide a repair or safe interim solution.
NHTSA complaint #11734340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a 2022 vehicle with approximately 47,000 miles that experienced a sudden and dangerous mechanical failure while in operation. While driving at approximately 37 mph, a dashboard warning message appeared indicating that the vehicle required attention but could continue to be driven for a short period. Shortly after the warning, the vehicle suddenly lost the ability to maintain proper gear engagement. At one point, no gear was engaged at all, creating a hazardous driving situation. I pulled over and turned the vehicle off. After restarting it, I was able to regain limited operation; however, the vehicle would not shift beyond second gear, significantly limiting its drivability and creating an unsafe condition in traffic. This vehicle has been consistently maintained at an authorized dealership according to all recommended service intervals, with no missed or delayed maintenance. The dealership later informed me that the failure was related to the mechatronic system and SOS system. I was also told that the repair would not be covered under warranty. This incident raises serious safety concerns due to the sudden loss of power and gear function while the vehicle was in motion. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed for potential defects that could affect vehicle safety and reliability. I am submitting this complaint so that the issue can be investigated and to help prevent similar incidents from affecting other drivers.
NHTSA complaint #11734067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Whole dash goes black while driving. Also fuel system is not up to par. Rear brakes fail after 6months on my third time changing them since I purchase the car.
NHTSA complaint #11732878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving home from work in rush hour so traffic was pretty heavy and all of the sudden my gas pedal would not accelerate my car at all. I was cruising at 8-10 MPH as it was stop and go traffic. About 10 seconds later my break pedal stiffens and I am unable to break. Neither the gas or break pedal were functioning. It is a miracle that no accident was caused. I turned on my hazards lights but I was in the middle lane so I was unable to pull over (as I could not accelerate or break). I put my car in neutral but that did not help anything. I ended up having to put my car in park and turn the car completely off and back on before the pedals would function again. I got my car towed after the situation as I was terrified to drive in case it happened again. The dealership told me since no lights or codes came up they can’t find anything wrong. They gave me my car back but I do not feel safe driving the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11719112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving down the interstate I noticed that the speed in my Taos was not matching what google maps or apple maps was showing. It is very difficult to figure out. I noticed this more than once. Even If I am going below the speed limit that is only shows me not speeding. The interstate I was on was a speed of 70. Normally I am at 75 both map systems were showing 78-80. I would adjust to below 70 and everything matched then. Something in the taos is not accurate and is off. I am always fearful that I am going to get pulled over being to under/over the speed. Even using the digital speedometer in the vehicle, it is not showing the correct speed. This causes me to be at risk for tickets and unnecessary fines. My 2021 Hyundai Elantra did not have this issue. It was digital and alway accurate. The taos is not. From my understanding Volkswagen is aware and don't care. I plan on to sell it before anymore issue come up like my grinding front brakes under 5,000 miles. I am done.
NHTSA complaint #11719215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear camera blacks out on the dashboard. Sometimes when I start the dashboard, the thing is dark. It doesn't come on even while driving. It mainly happens with the push start option. Occasionally, I've been driving on the highway. And it'll start flashing blinking and then blackout. Also, the gear shifting to accelerate on the gas get stuck. It won't shift, it'll go into neutral mode. Even though it's since drive mode
NHTSA complaint #11716375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since the purchase of my 2022 VW Taos in 2022, there has been a repeated issue of the check engine light coming on at random times. Each time it has happened the code indicates a problem with the fuel evap system. The issue has been fixed multiple times by replacing parts. There has been no fix for the issue and it still persists. Problems with the fuel evap system puts the drivers and passengers at risk. Being unable to determine an issue with the car and the safety of operating a motor vehicle due to continued negligence by the manufacturer is the opposite of a safe motor vehicle. Additionally, since buying the vehicle there have been repeated issues with the communications module. The module had to be replaced just days after purchasing it. Now, it is not working once again and if there was an emergency, the technology presented when purchasing the car, SOS, information, crash detection, location, etc, is not available to help me. VW presents these as safety features then does nothing to fix their equipment issues that ultimately render these options and functions useless.
NHTSA complaint #11714787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.