2022 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS Complaints

Paint failure and separation of clear coat and top coat from the body. Paint failure on rear trunk under the window.

My 2022 Toas AWD stalls while driving at speed, mimicking the failing fuel pump recall #23V-214 but the VIN is not included on the recall list.

No back up camera. Entire display screen went black. Software crash? Tried rebooting by holding down buttons, locking and walking away. Nothing still black. No words on the screen. This concerns me because of the kids that play in the yard and my older kids that back out with the car. It will cost me $200 just to perform a scan for faulty codes. And then, if it’s a dead control module, just the part is $900. Can’t afford this, but need the back up camera. Car is no longer under warranty. Shouldn’t this be a safety recall? The side panels next to the speedometer won’t load anything either. Anything except the speed won’t come up in the middle, just loops and says “starting compass” then “compass is not available”. No setting on the display screen, no radio or phone, etc. just black. The speed, mi. to empty, temp., and cruise control work. Along with the gas gage and temp. gage. I read it may need a USB update using an OTIS machine? Infotainment update.? TSB-91-23-03?

On July 30, 2026, while driving my 2022 Volkswagen Taos out of my apartment parking lot, the EPC and check engine lights illuminated. The vehicle shook, lagged, stalled, and could not accelerate normally. I parked and turned it off. An authorized Volkswagen dealer diagnosed a faulty spark plug. On August 12, the same failure recurred. The EPC and check engine lights illuminated, the vehicle shook, and it again lost acceleration. The dealer attributed the misfire to poor fuel caused by Arizona monsoon and dust-storm conditions and added a fuel additive. However, the only major dust storm around these dates occurred on August 19, after the first two incidents. No fuel-test results were provided to support this explanation. On August 20, the failure occurred a third time while I was driving on a major road. The vehicle shook and experienced a severe loss of propulsion and acceleration. The check engine light remained on after the engine was turned off. I had to restart the vehicle three times before I could move it into a parking lot. I was less than one mile from entering a highway, and the sudden loss of acceleration in traffic created a serious collision risk. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. On August 21, the dealer again attributed the misfire to poor fuel. It added fuel-system cleaner, filled the tank with 91-octane fuel, and test-drove the vehicle, but the misfire remained. The technician then reported that three spark plugs were fouled and required replacement. The same dangerous loss-of-power condition occurred three times within 22 days despite two prior repair attempts. The cause of the repeated misfires and fouled plugs remains unidentified. The vehicle is at the Volkswagen dealership and is available for inspection. There was no crash, fire, or injury.

The infotainment system on my 2022 Volkswagen Taos began displaying a persistent "frozen software update" notification approximately six days prior to June 28, 2026. This condition disabled normal use of the radio and, most significantly, the vehicle's backup camera — a federally required safety feature. The vehicle was brought to an authorized VW dealership for a scheduled 110,000-mile service completed on June 27, 2026, with resolution of this software freeze as the primary concern. The issue remained unresolved following that visit. Prior guidance to leave the vehicle running while parked to allow the update to complete was followed with no change in the condition. The vehicle was returned to the dealership on the evening of June 28, 2026, with an additional appointment scheduled for the morning of June 30, 2026, specifically to address the unresolved defect. As of this filing, the backup camera and radio functions remain impaired due to this unresolved software failure, despite a dealer service visit.

Per VW TSB 15-23-01, Volkswagen explicitly admits that the original engine production head gasket design is defective. A leaking head gasket can cause sudden engine overheating, power loss, or catastrophic engine failure while driving. This seems like a major , dangerous issue that should be covered under a recall

I am submitting this complaint because the driver's seat belt does not fit me properly despite using all available factory adjustments. I am an adult female who is 5 feet 2 inches tall. The driver's seat is adjusted to its highest position, and the shoulder belt height adjuster is set to its lowest position. Even with these adjustments, the shoulder belt crosses and rubs against my neck instead of resting across the middle of my shoulder and chest. This has been an issue since I purchased the vehicle. The discomfort has become increasingly severe over time and now causes me to repeatedly reposition the belt while driving because it presses against my neck. I am concerned that the restraint system does not properly accommodate shorter adult drivers. While the seat belt remains fastened, the fit is poor enough that it creates a distraction during vehicle operation and raises concerns about occupant protection in a crash. I am requesting that NHTSA evaluate whether the seat belt geometry in the 2022 Volkswagen Taos provides an appropriate fit for shorter drivers and whether similar complaints have been reported by other owners.

On 7/9/2026, my 2022 VW Taos was brought to the dealer for being severely underpowered, check engine lights on, and a strong raw fuel smell inside the vehicle. On 7/10/2026, the dealer stated the vehicle was ready, claiming they replaced a turbo charge pipe O-ring. The service advisor verbally stated the vehicle had been successfully test-driven for 5 miles on streets and the highway. However, official paperwork only stated "cleared faults verified no leaks in system, vehicle is now operating as designed." Immediately upon driving home on the highway, as the vehicle reached 70–75 mph under load, a loud whistling noise and a sudden, dangerous loss of propulsion occurred simultaneously. The vehicle was returned to the dealer on 7/10/2026. On 7/13/2026, the vehicle was picked up after a second repair where the dealer admitted the plastic charge pipe (05E-145-673-Q) was actually fractured and had completely blown off the turbocharger during my highway drive, generating fault code P227900 (Intake Air System Leak). Upon reviewing the paperwork from both visits, I discovered the odometer had only increased by exactly 1 mile during the first service visit. The dealer completely failed to road-test the vehicle under actual highway boost loads before certifying it as safe, which directly caused a catastrophic structural engine failure and an emergency safety hazard at 75 mph.

While driving at highway speeds, the a low coolant caution light came on. We immediately pulled over before the engine overheated and added coolant and brought the vehicle in for repairs. This Taos currently has 43,000 miles and needs its head gasket replaced for the SECOND time. The first head gasket was replaced on 12/23 with 16,000 miles under a technical bulletin by VW. This is a know issue for this vehicle. With a head gasket failure, this can lead to engine overheating and seizing. This needs to be a recall.

There have been multiple complaints of the mechatronics unit failing prematurely. I am facing that right now and it should be under warranty but is being challenged. So many people have mentioned the mechatronics unit failing prematurely upon research and discussion with the dealership. The car stalled on the freeway and I was unable to accelerate. It was confirmed and being worked on by the dealer. All regular maintenance has been done. “Trans in emergency mode. You can keep driving.” Showed up 5 minutes before the car stalled