2023 Volkswagen Taos: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 101 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes (29% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 5 new complaints in the last 90 days
0
recalls
101
owner complaints
0
fire reports
10,185
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
NHTSA crash testOverall ★★★★★Front ★★★★★Side ★★★★★Rollover ★★★★★
4-star NHTSA overall safety ratingNo fire reportsNo recall campaignsWeak spot: service brakes (29%)Problems reported early (median 10,185 mi)
Common problems
Computed from 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Service Brakes (brakes)29% · 28 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)28% · 27 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)8% · 8 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)8% · 8 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control (unintended acceleration, cruise control)4% · 4 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance (automatic emergency braking, sensors)3% · 3 complaints
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2026
“head gasket well known issue with no campaign or warranty coverage Volkswagen issued an official TSB 15-23-01 (Head Gasket Leakage) acknowledging that the original factory head gasket design on early Taos models allows coolant to leak. The production line was eventually updated with a redesigned gasket. They denied coverage or even partial reduction in labor.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2026
“Only when lighter weight adults are in the front seat - if they move around at all the airbag sensor goes off. Meaning the airbags won't deploy if we get into an accident. Seems like a major flaw! Even if while they are moving around an alarm went off why would it not reset once the person stopped moving around? It stays off for sometime afterward and beeps constantly. This has happened repeatedly and was told to keep cell phones off the seats. Believe me, we make sure the phones NEVER touch the seats any longer but it still happens and for a bit I just gave up reporting it to service but it happened again when I picked up my daughter from jfk on Tuesday”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“My 2023 VW Taos Se has been diagnosed with head gasket failure. Denied "goodwill assistance." I did state that VW has issued a TSB (TSB 15-23-01. I currently have 80,380 miles on the vehicle. Known engineering failure, not wear and tear.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2026
“Air bags did not deploy after a direct driver side hit, and I was injured because of the accident. Car was declared a total loss by the insurance. The car is being held by State Farm if inspection needs to happen. I was hurt because of the car accident, and I fear for my life or my child's life if they would have been in the car. I want to prevent any future injuries. I was driving 50 MPH on route 60 when I was hit on my side. There was no warning light on prior to the failure.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2026
“I was told there was a leak in my coolant system that has happened to many other with the 22 and 23 taos. If out of warranty the claim would be almost 5k even though my car is only 2 years old. The work needed to be done is labor intensive and also a issues with the cylinder head gasket.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2026
“Rear brake pads needed replaced at 16,000 miles and need replaced again at 50,000. VW refuses to replace them or address the issue since the car is no longer under warranty.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2026
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2026
“Premature tire wear. OEM tires worn out after 32000 miles. Dealership states that tires are worn out and need to be replaced. Tires wearing out this fast indicates a problem in the suspension design of the vehicle that could lead to decreased traction and handling and contribute to an accident. Dealership/manufacturer are offering no explanation or solution to the premature wear issue.”Owner report · Wheels · Nov 2025
“Rear brake pads and rotors worn out at 32000 miles. Rear brake pads originally worn out and replaced under warranty at 16800 miles. Dealership states that the issue is no longer covered under warranty. This excessive wear is a safety concern as it points to a design flaw in the braking system that is causing unexpected braking pressure to be applied to the rear brakes which may be causing extended stopping distances and could lead to brake failure.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Nov 2025
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2023 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Drive typeAWD/All-Wheel Drive
How other years compare
Check your exact Taos by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Taos reliable?
NHTSA has 101 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2023 Volkswagen Taos. The most complained-about area is service brakes (29% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2023 Volkswagen Taos problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 10,185 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.