2023 Volkswagen Taos Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#2 most-complained of 4 Taos years
The 2023 Volkswagen Taos ranks 2nd worst of 4 model years with a complaint index of 67 and a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 46% of complaints, with brakes at 31% and electrical issues at 23%, though no recalls have been issued for this year.
- Complaints
- 109
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29.5
- 26.5 city / 34 hwy
Top 2023 Volkswagen Taos problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine50 (46%)
- Brakes34 (31%)
- Electrical System25 (23%)
- Fuel System12 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain12 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (9%)
- Other10 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (5%)
- Lane Departure3 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unexpected acceleration or a lag between throttle input and engine response, in one case leading to a low-speed collision.
- Some vehicles displayed engine overheating warnings, reduced power messages, and exhaust control malfunction alerts within the first day of ownership.
- Drivers report the transmission stalling or failing to engage reverse, sometimes requiring multiple restarts before the vehicle would move.
- Electrical faults triggered check engine lights along with window regulator and battery failures shortly after purchase.
- Brake pads reportedly wore out unusually fast, and some owners described brakes grabbing, locking up, or failing to stop the car smoothly during hard braking.
- Driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and lane assist reportedly shut off unexpectedly while accelerating on the highway, accompanied by warning lights.
2023 Volkswagen Taos recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2023 Volkswagen Taos fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26.5 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 29.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2023 compared with other Taos years
Frequently asked questions
- Should I avoid the 2023 Volkswagen Taos?
- NHTSA data gives the 2023 Taos a Caution verdict, ranking 2nd worst among the 4 model years with data, with a complaint index of 67. It is not the worst year, but reported engine and brake problems are notable.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2023 Taos?
- Engine complaints make up 46% of all reports for the 2023 Taos, the largest single category, followed by brakes at 31% and electrical system issues at 23%.
- Does the 2023 Volkswagen Taos have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2023 Taos, compared to 6 recalls for the 2022 model year and 2 for the 2025 model year.
- How does the 2023 Taos compare to other model years?
- The 2022 Taos has the worst complaint index at 100 and an Avoid verdict, while the 2024 (index 33, Good) and 2025 (index 0, Best) model years score better than the 2023 Taos, which sits at index 67.