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Volkswagen Taos: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Volkswagen Taos problems by model year, from 426 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2022 (65%, 200 drivetrain complaints) and 2023 (53%, 57 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 2 Volkswagen Taos years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Volkswagen Taos year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2023 (53%).
By raw volume, the 2022 drew the most drivetrain complaints (200 of 257 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Volkswagen Taos year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Taos | very high | 65% | 200 | 317 | 1/2 | 6 |
| 2023 Taos | high | 53% | 57 | 109 | 2/2 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Volkswagen Taos years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Volkswagen Taos engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Volkswagen Taos involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2021 | 21V615000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm): software | 2022 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V651000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2022 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V687000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm): software | 2022 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V214000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2022 |
2 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2022 | 22V176000 | suspension | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V514000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Volkswagen Taos
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Volkswagen Taos
What are the worst years for the Volkswagen Taos?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Volkswagen Taos years are the 2022 (65% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2023 (53% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 2 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Taos?
No Volkswagen Taos year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2023 (53%).
Does the Volkswagen Taos have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 2 scored years, 257 of 426 relevant NHTSA complaints (60%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2022 and 2023.
Is the Volkswagen Taos reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 2 Volkswagen Taos years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 60% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Volkswagen Taos?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Volkswagen Taos years we track, out of 6 in total: 21V651000 (Aug 2021, 2022), 22V687000 (Sep 2022, 2022), 23V214000 (Mar 2023, 2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.