Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen Taos, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 18 | 17% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 12% |
| Power train | 6 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 Ta
NHTSA complaint: Engine
At highway speeds, the speedometer does not show actual moving speed. I’ve noticed it will be ranging 5-10 mph difference. Car will display 65 mph but police radar and gps will say a speed in the 70s. Everything stock.
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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 c
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 enoug
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
am reporting a recurring rear brake issue with my vehicle. The rear brake pads and rotors have required replacement approximately every 20,000 miles, which appears abnormal given that the front brake pads have never requ
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The brakes have prematurely worn to 1mm at 20,000 miles. Volkswagen is aware and has issued a TSB regarding the premature wear, however they failed to notify us during the first 2 service appointments that the wear on th
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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,
NHTSA complaint: Power train
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 67 | good |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 92 | excellent |
| Performance | 46 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 18 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 67/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2023 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.