Model year record
2023 Volkswagen Taos recalls & problems
The 2023 Volkswagen Taos has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 110 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine (43 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2023 Volkswagen Taos.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2023 Volkswagen Taos SUV AWD
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
|---|---|
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 14.7% |
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Optional
2023 Volkswagen Taos SUV FWD
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
|---|---|
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 17.4% |
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Optional
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Taos
| City / highway | 28 / 36 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,150/year to fuel
Taos 4motion
| City / highway | 25 / 32 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 43 | — |
| Service brakes | 33 | — |
| Electrical system | 25 | — |
| Power train | 12 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | — |
| Unknown or other | 11 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | — |
| Forward collision avoidanceAdaptive cruise control; Automatic emergency braking | 9 | — |
| Lane departureAssist; Blind spot detection | 3 | — |
| Wheels | 3 | — |
| Back over preventionRearview system braking | 2 | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or other
Saturday night, [XXX], the infotainment screen went black and all associated functions ceased including the back-up camera. I believed the car was unsafe. I took the car to the dealer, Fitzgerald Automotive in Frederick Maryland, on Monday morning and later that afternoon they called to say the F5 component went bad and is backordered. They could not give me a date when that part would come in. Cost would be $2500. Car is just 6000 miles beyond the warranty in miles and less than 4 years old. I purchased the car at Fitzgerald and have had all service done since owning the car. Cost would be $2500. There was no warning. The dealer has now had my car for 3 weeks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT…
- Electrical system
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.
- Electrical system
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.
- Engine
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…
- Electrical system
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)
- Service brakes
Brake Recall for VW 2023 Taos - Nov 2024 (10 or 11K Mileage). Brake pads changed. Continued to hear Brake Squeeking: taken in 10/15/2025, 11/14/2024, 1/3/2025, 5/17/2025. 12 mm at initial recall dropped to 7 mm at 17,900 miles. Upon leaving dealership, tech states VW uses "refurbished brake pads." Dealer washed pads, and sent me home. I have all invoices, they are larger in size. Unable to attach
- Fuel/propulsion system
I went to the Fiesta Albqueurque VW June 2025 multiple times resulting in close to 2 weeks without a car. Found a oil leak and head gasket - bolt jam replaced. In XXX, car shook, took it to first Fiesta ABQ, who identified a low battery charge. However, the car continued to shake end of XXX and we then, took this to Rudolph volkswagon, [XXX], that blamed it on bad fuel (invoice attached). Check engine sign turned off for a day, and came back on on our major trip up north from [XXX] to [XXX]. This Dealership told us that we would be safe on the road from [XXX] to [XXX]. Yes, we made it but by sheer luck. third Attempt, took this car to [XXX], VW and they were able to change: CHANGED THE…
- Engine
Low coolant warning in red triangle showed up on my 2023 TAOS. Coolant in the reservoir was very low. I notice that there is a Technical Service Bulletin 15-23-01 rather than an official safety recall on 2022 and 2023 Taos 1.5T for head gasket coolant leak. There are many complaints regarding this issue on many message boards. We all fear that this problem will intensify as we all move out of powertrain warranty. Can you please instruct Volkswagen to have a recall on this issue? Thanks!
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.