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Volkswagen · Compact SUV

2023 Volkswagen Taos

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
100 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns0
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA102
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA31 mpg
202720262025202420232022

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Taos, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 102 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TaosGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo283631$2,000
Taos 4motionGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo253228$2,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45682, 45422.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (0)

Source: NHTSA recall database

No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2023 Volkswagen Taos. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
102complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2023: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2025: 32 · 2026: 21

Most-cited components

Engine41
Service Brakes32
Electrical System21
Power Train12
Fuel/Propulsion System10
Unspecified10

What owners describe

“Engine cooling system has lost coolant. Very concerned because it is not leaking or evaporating - has entered the engine.”Oct 27, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The throttle response from a stop in the Taos is not immediate. Sometimes it will take 2 seconds to react to throttle input. There have been times where you accelerate and it will go extremely slow ans then a sudden burst of acceleration. This can be extremely dangerous when pulling into a roadway with traffic. There i…”Oct 22, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“After setting the emergency brake in wet conditions, rear pads fuse themselves to the rear rotors. When the E-Brake is disengaged, the car wont move. The solution is to stand on the gas until enough power dislodges the brake pads. After this exercise, there is a high spot on the rotors that needs to be scuffed off befo…”Oct 2, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Taos model years

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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