The Volkswagen Taos spans 2022–2026 with 13 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2022, 2023, 2024 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2026, 2025, 2024. It delivers up to 31 mpg combined and 4-star NHTSA safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Volkswagen Taos is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2022 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Volkswagen Taos VIN — every digit explained
Every Volkswagen Taos carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Volkswagen and the country it was built in (real Volkswagen codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Taos.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- GermanyWV1 · WV2 · WVG · WVW
- USA1V1 · 1V2 · 1VW
- Mexico3VV · 3VW · 9BW
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Taos, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Taos have?
The Volkswagen Taos has 13 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2022–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2026 Volkswagen Taos recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:pressure Sensor
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Taos vehicles. In the event of a rear-end crash, the fuel pressure sensor may dislodge or separate from the fuel tank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk. A fuel tank with a dislodged or separated fuel pressure sensor can leak fuel after a rollover crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix. Dealers will install a fuel pressure sensor wiring harness extension, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97TH. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 29, 2026.
2025 Volkswagen Taos recalls 2
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:pressure Sensor
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Taos vehicles. In the event of a rear-end crash, the fuel pressure sensor may dislodge or separate from the fuel tank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk. A fuel tank with a dislodged or separated fuel pressure sensor can leak fuel after a rollover crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix. Dealers will install a fuel pressure sensor wiring harness extension, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97TH. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 29, 2026.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk. An instrument panel that does not display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90Z5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 22, 2026.
2022 Volkswagen Taos recalls 6
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 TAOS vehicles. The fuel delivery pump may break, which could cause a sudden engine stall.
Risk. A sudden engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20DV.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 TAOS vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. The engine control unit (ECU) software may cause a stall when coming to a stop.
Risk. An engine that stalls may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24iL.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
Suspension
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.
Risk. A broken rear suspension knuckle can cause a loss of stability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear suspension knuckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42L8.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Taos vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. The engine control unit (ECU) software may cause a stall when coming to a stop.
Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 5, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24HH.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Taos vehicles. The underhood fuel supply quick-connector may detach from the fuel supply line causing a fuel leak in the engine compartment.
Risk. A fuel leak may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak also increases the risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the connection and replace the fuel supply line and connector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20DB.
Best and worst years for the Volkswagen Taos
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 5 tracked years, the worst years are 2022, 2023, 2024 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2026, 2025, 2024.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Taos | Engine | Avoid | |
| 2023 Taos | Engine | Avoid | |
| 2024 Taos | Service Brakes | Avoid | |
| 2025 Taos | Electrical System | Best | |
| 2026 Taos | Structure | Best |
What are the most common Volkswagen Taos problems?
The most-reported Volkswagen Taos problems are Seats (1 reports), Tires (2 reports) and Engine (187 reports) — out of 460 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Volkswagen Taos specifications & dimensions
The 2022–2023 Volkswagen Taos measures 176″ long on a 106″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,430 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Volkswagen Taos window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | 176″ | 73″ | 65″ | 106″ | 3,430 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Volkswagen Taos cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Taos holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 100 cu ft of passenger volume and 28 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Volkswagen Taos tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Volkswagen Taos get?
The Volkswagen Taos returns up to 31 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,000/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2026 Volkswagen Taos (1.5L 4-cyl) gets 31 mpg combined and costs about $2,000/yr to fuel, emitting 287 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 6/10) — that's about $1,000 saved over 5 years versus the average new vehicle.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Taos | 28 | 36 | $2,000 | 287 | — | 1.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2025 Taos | 28 | 36 | $2,000 | 287 | 7/10 | 1.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2024 Taos | 28 | 36 | $2,000 | 286 | 7/10 | 1.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2023 Taos | 28 | 36 | $2,000 | 286 | — | 1.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 Taos | 28 | 36 | $2,000 | 286 | — | 1.5L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Taos stacks up against the most fuel-efficient SUVs, or calculate this Taos's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Volkswagen Taos have? Power & range
The Volkswagen Taos is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Volkswagen Taos tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Volkswagen Taos is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Taos's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
How much does a Volkswagen Taos cost to own?
A used Volkswagen Taos sells for a median of about $24,300 for a 2025 — most listed between $19,442 and $27,700, from 88 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Taos | $19,442–$27,700 | 6 | |
| 2024 Taos | $14,900–$24,500 | 22 | |
| 2023 Taos | $20,000–$22,995 | 42 | |
| 2022 Taos | $14,999–$20,995 | 18 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a Taos is worth today, or browse used-market prices for SUVs.
A Volkswagen Taos depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Taos loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $10,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Taos ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Volkswagen Taos to insure?
A Volkswagen Taos costs about $1,169 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 19% below the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (81, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the Taos's HLDI loss index. See Volkswagen insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Volkswagen Taos safe?
The Volkswagen Taos earns up to 4-star NHTSA overall safety — real government crash-test data. Ratings by year:
| Year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Taos | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2025 Taos | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2024 Taos | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2023 Taos | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2022 Taos | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested model years.
Want the safest pick? Compare crash-test scores across the safest cars and SUVs.
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How many miles does a Volkswagen Taos last?
A well-maintained Volkswagen Taos typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Volkswagen Taos’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Taos’s VIN free →All Volkswagen Taos model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Volkswagen Taos — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Taos | 1 recall | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2025 Taos | 2 recalls | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2024 Taos | 2 recalls | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2023 Taos | 2 recalls | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2022 Taos | 6 recalls | ★★★★☆ |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Taos?
By owner-complaint volume, 2022, 2023, 2024 drew the most reports. 2026, 2025, 2024 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Taos have?
13 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2022–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Volkswagen recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Taos get?
Up to 31 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
Is the Taos safe?
The Taos earns up to 4-star NHTSA overall crash-test safety; ratings vary by model year.
How many miles does a Taos last?
A well-maintained Taos typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Taos reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Taos is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Volkswagen Taos warranty?
New Volkswagen models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Volkswagen dealer.
Where is the Volkswagen Taos made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Taos's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Volkswagen may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Taos have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.