80 of the
762 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Taos
are about the fuel system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2022.
On July 30, 2026, while driving my 2022 Volkswagen Taos out of my apartment parking lot, the EPC and check engine lights illuminated. The vehicle shook, lagged, stalled, and could not accelerate normally. I parked and turned it off. An authorized Volkswagen dealer diagnosed a faulty spark plug. On August 12, the same failure recurred. The EPC and check engine lights illuminated, the vehicle shook, and it again lost acceleration. The dealer attributed the misfire to poor fuel caused by Arizona monsoon and dust-storm conditions and added a fuel additive. However, the only major dust storm around these dates occurred on August 19, after the first two incidents. No fuel-test results were provided to support this explanation. On August 20, the failure occurred a third time while I was driving on a major road. The vehicle shook and experienced a severe loss of propulsion and acceleration. The check engine light remained on after the engine was turned off. I had to restart the vehicle three times before I could move it into a parking lot. I was less than one mile from entering a highway, and the sudden loss of acceleration in traffic created a serious collision risk. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. On August 21, the dealer again attributed the misfire to poor fuel. It added fuel-system cleaner, filled the tank with 91-octane fuel, and test-drove the vehicle, but the misfire remained. The technician then reported that three spark plugs were fouled and required replacement. The same dangerous loss-of-power condition occurred three times within 22 days despite two prior repair attempts. The cause of the repeated misfires and fouled plugs remains unidentified. The vehicle is at the Volkswagen dealership and is available for inspection. There was no crash, fire, or injury.
NHTSA complaint #11758707 — 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.
On 7/9/2026, my 2022 VW Taos was brought to the dealer for being severely underpowered, check engine lights on, and a strong raw fuel smell inside the vehicle. On 7/10/2026, the dealer stated the vehicle was ready, claiming they replaced a turbo charge pipe O-ring. The service advisor verbally stated the vehicle had been successfully test-driven for 5 miles on streets and the highway. However, official paperwork only stated "cleared faults verified no leaks in system, vehicle is now operating as designed." Immediately upon driving home on the highway, as the vehicle reached 70–75 mph under load, a loud whistling noise and a sudden, dangerous loss of propulsion occurred simultaneously. The vehicle was returned to the dealer on 7/10/2026. On 7/13/2026, the vehicle was picked up after a second repair where the dealer admitted the plastic charge pipe (05E-145-673-Q) was actually fractured and had completely blown off the turbocharger during my highway drive, generating fault code P227900 (Intake Air System Leak). Upon reviewing the paperwork from both visits, I discovered the odometer had only increased by exactly 1 mile during the first service visit. The dealer completely failed to road-test the vehicle under actual highway boost loads before certifying it as safe, which directly caused a catastrophic structural engine failure and an emergency safety hazard at 75 mph.
NHTSA complaint #11750349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a 2023 VW Taos SE about a year ago (May 2025) as CPO less than 7k miles. It is still under the warranty; however, I already had to bring this Taos to the VW dealership for 3x. First was A/C was not cool enough. They found a leak. In June 2026, I had to bring due to the engine light being on. They found out EVAP fuel leak detection pump being faulty. And less than 1 month later (July 2026), once again the engine light came on. This time apparently EVAP canister is the problem and needs to be replaced . My Taos is currently at the dealership. I am reporting this, in case other Taos owners have similar experiences. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11749355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Taos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V258000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The parts for the recall repair were on back order. The contact stated that two local dealers were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11747149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be inspected; however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; but the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that an adjustment to the fuel system was performed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The failure was persistent. The contact stated that the failure had occurred with minor children inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed a fuel odor on the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with high and low fuel pump failures. The contact was informed that the high and low fuel pumps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,009.
NHTSA complaint #11745744 — 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.
The vehicle has intermittent hesitation/delayed acceleration from a stop and during low-speed stop-and-go driving. At times, engine RPM increases before the vehicle responds or accelerates normally. This creates a safety concern when entering traffic, turning, merging, or accelerating from a stopped position because the vehicle does not always respond predictably to throttle input. The concern was reported to a Volkswagen dealer in writing during a prior repair process and was later formally documented on a repair order as hesitation on acceleration. The vehicle has prior Volkswagen repair history involving a coolant warning/low coolant concern, head gasket repair, and later camshaft seal/belt cover repair. After the most recent repair, the delayed acceleration/hesitation concern remained unresolved. The vehicle is currently under review with Volkswagen Customer Care, but the safety-related drivability concern has not yet been fully resolved. Supporting documents include the 2025 written report of jerking from a stop, the 2026 repair order documenting hesitation on acceleration, and post-repair emails showing the issue remained unresolved. After I notified the dealer in writing that the hesitation/delayed acceleration concern remained after the most recent repair, I did not receive a documented response or resolution, and the concern remains unresolved with Volkswagen Customer Care.
NHTSA complaint #11740065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle has a known design flaw which causes the cylinder gasket to leak and require replacement. VW has only issued a Technical Service Notice which was no provided to owners regarding the part that needed replacement. They are correcting the problem with a differently designed part in order to try to cure the design flaw. This can cause catastrophic engine failure. It should have been a recall. I should have been notified and the car should have been repaired at VW’s expense. They have explained since your agency didn’t issue a recall, they dot need to inform the public. Now they are expecting me to pay $3000 to correct their design error and also pay for rental car while it is under repair. This is a major violation of the lemon law, and yet there are numerous verified complaints. Issue a recall on the 2023 Taos, they are clearly scamming owners and leaving them in danger with a vehicle that has a faulty engine part. Owners like me, should have their car repaired by the responsible party, VW
NHTSA complaint #11734447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle suffered a recurring mechanical failure of the fuel injectors and a flooded EVAP charcoal canister, causing the engine to run lean (Fault P2177) and lose power. This defect creates an unreasonable safety risk as it can cause the engine to stall or lose motive power unexpectedly at highway speeds. Furthermore, the fuel system defect led to a flooded EVAP system, which poses a potential fire hazard and fuel vapor accumulation. Volkswagen Technical Assistance confirmed the mechanical failure of all four injectors . The defect was initially misdiagnosed as 'fuel contamination,' which delayed the critical safety repair for over 25 days and resulted in a total electrical system failure (battery death) while the vehicle was inoperable.
NHTSA complaint #11734257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle: 2022 Volkswagen Taos Mileage at Incident: 61,170 On April 21, 2026, while driving shortly after leaving my home, the EPC (Electronic Power Control) warning light suddenly illuminated and the engine warning light began flashing rapidly. The vehicle immediately began jerking, hesitating, and losing power. It started slowing down unexpectedly while in motion. This created a serious safety hazard. I was forced to reduce speed and maneuver to the side of the road to avoid being rear-ended. The sudden loss of power in traffic placed me and other drivers at risk of a collision. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it, both warning lights disappeared. Notably, on April 3, 2026 (60,428 miles), I had an oil change performed. On April 6, the engine light came on and remained illuminated until April 18, then turned off without repair. Three days later, the EPC failure occurred. The dealership was unable to reproduce the issue but charged $190 for diagnostics and stated the problem was a cracked N80 valve line (small leak), quoting approximately $700 for repair. I am aware of reports involving similar issues affecting thousands of vehicles of this model year. Sudden loss of engine power while driving is a clear safety concern, especially when warning lights appear and disappear intermittently. The vehicle remains available for inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11732898 — 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.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an exhaust system malfunction warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was engine oil on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and during an oil leak inspection, the dealer found a fuel leak. The dealer confirmed that fuel was leaking from the vehicle and NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V651000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11728613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Incident 1: Noticed hard starting one morning. After stopping for gas various engine warning lights illuminated (including EPC light). Took to VW dealer few days later, found trouble codes stored (P0148). Fuel pump replaced few days after diagnosis. Incident 2: Driving on highway for ~10 mins. Experienced total power loss, warning lights came on (including EPC). Had to pull over on left shoulder creating hazard. Engine died and would not restart after stopping. Required police intervention to move vehicle safely to right side of road. Returned to dealer for diagnosis. After 7 calendar days only found 'bad fuel line clamp causing pressure drop.' Claimed fuel line clamp replaced and road tested to validate repair. Incident 3: Driving on highway for ~10 mins again; experienced total power loss, EPC light illuminated along with other warnings. Warning appeared that engine limited to 4000 RPM. Was able to cut across 3 lanes of traffic, creating safety hazard, to safely stop in parking lot. Once speed dropped below ~20 mph engine died completely and would not restarted. Towed to dealer for 2nd time now waiting on diagnosis.
NHTSA complaint #11726132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vin # [XXX] Evap system hose-canister parts regulator valve. Check engine light stays on and this started in June 2025. Gorman McCracken Volkswagen Longview Texas diagnosed. February 1,2025 Low engine coolant light continues to come on. We have had to add coolant for the last two weeks. About 3 gallons used. The back up camera and navigation screen goes black often and has to be reset. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11719840 — 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.
Brake System Failures (Multiple Occurrences): The vehicle has experienced repeated brake-related failures requiring multiple repairs. Brakes are a critical safety system, and repeated failures pose a serious risk to occupant and public safety. Despite repairs, the brake issues have reoccurred. 2.Fuel System Failures (Two Occurrences): The fuel system has failed on multiple occasions, requiring repeated service visits. Fuel system defects affect drivability, reliability, and safety, including the risk of stalling or fuel-related hazards. 3.Head Gasket Failure and Repeated Repairs: The vehicle required a head gasket repair along with a timing belt replacement, followed by additional head gasket-related repairs days later. A head gasket failure on a nearly new vehicle is a catastrophic engine defect and significantly diminishes the vehicle’s reliability, longevity, and resale value.
NHTSA complaint #11704771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has had repeated issues related to the fuel system, including strong fuel odor inside the cabin, a gurgling sound coming from the fuel tank area, and recurring check engine lights shortly after a previous recall repair was completed. The most recent diagnostic from the dealer indicated a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor (G400), but I was initially told the vehicle needed a fuel pressure release valve. There has been inconsistency in the diagnostics and explanations provided to me. The fuel smell in the cabin and apparent pressure issues in the tank created a safety concern for me and my passengers, especially while driving with windows closed or using cabin heat. I am concerned about a potential fuel leak or improper tank venting. The problem has occurred multiple times, including at least five check engine lights after the recall repair. The dealer has inspected the vehicle several times, but the issue has not been fully resolved, and additional related parts (such as the tank shutoff valve) were recommended for replacement. Warning lights included repeated check engine indicators, and the fuel odor occurred each time the issue recurred. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11701839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.