2022 Volkswagen Taos: What to check before buying

Coolant disappears with no visible leak, and the low coolant light keeps coming back. Dealers often top it off or replace the reservoir cap. Many cars are later found to have a leaking cylinder head gasket. Reports run from about 13,000 to 68,000 miles. Several owners hit the problem just after their warranty ended and were quoted repairs of about $4,000. Parts backorders left some cars waiting for months. A smaller group reports stalling while driving, repeated check engine lights tied to the evap system, and engines that seized or needed replacement.

Coolant loss and head gasket leaks appear again. Dealers diagnosed them at about 20,000 and 33,000 miles, and one low coolant warning came at 87,100. Stalling is the other theme. In one report the car stalled at a stop when the driver pressed the gas. In another, a car stalled, was restarted, then would not stop and hit a fence. That crash injured the driver and totaled the car. Jerking at stops and a transmission fluid leak also appear.

Most of these reports describe stalling and sudden power loss. The EPC and check engine lights often come on, and a message limits the engine to 4000 rpm, sometimes at highway speed. Some cars will not restart. The infotainment screen and backup camera go black or reboot while driving, and the car warns that the key fob is missing while it is moving. Other complaints cover false automatic braking, safety systems shown as unavailable, and evap codes that return after repairs. One filing describes a frontal crash in which the airbags did not deploy.

The rear brake pads wear out far too early, often down to bare metal with no warning light, while the front brakes look nearly new. Owners report rear brake jobs between about 7,223 and 30,000 miles. Some have replaced them two or three times, often with new rotors too. Owners say the rear brake warranty was extended to 24,000 miles. Many missed that window because the wear was only found at the 30,000-mile service. Grinding noise, shaking when braking, and a leaking rear caliper also appear.

Head gasket leaks lead this category too. Owners report coolant loss, overheating warnings, and dealer diagnoses between about 19,200 and 68,000 miles, and some waited 2 months or more for parts. The second pattern is a delay when accelerating from a stop, followed by a sudden lunge. Drivers say this nearly caused collisions at intersections. Other reports include stalling at speed on nearly new cars, limp mode with a start/stop error, fuel smell in the cabin, and harsh shifting.

Turbo lag and throttle delay are the most common complaints. The car takes 1 to 2 seconds or longer to respond, then lurches forward. Stalling and power loss with the EPC light also appear. Several reports cover fuel problems. One is a gauge that reads half full when the tank is empty, which led to stalls. Others describe a strong gasoline smell in the cabin and a leaking fuel line or hose that owners feared could start a fire. Waits for parts kept some cars at the dealer for weeks.

Most of these filings are about waiting for recall repair parts, not about a failure on the road. Owners say dealers could not get the part or tool, and several had not had any problem with the car. The other reports describe power loss with the EPC and check engine lights on, sputtering, a car that would not go above 10 mph, and one seized engine. One owner had the evap valve replaced 6 times in 4 months at about 9,000 miles.

From a stop, the accelerator does nothing for several seconds, and then the car lunges forward, sometimes spinning the tires. Drivers describe near misses during left turns and in traffic. One filing reports a low-speed rear-end crash after the pedal failed to respond and then surged. Dealers often find no fault, though some tell owners they know about the lag and have no fix. A few 4Motion owners describe stalling while driving, including on a busy interstate, and dealers telling them not to drive the car until it was repaired.

The most serious report describes total loss of control. Steering and brakes stopped responding, and the car crashed with its side airbags deployed. Other filings describe brief steering stiffness along with shaking and a flashing check engine light. Another reports ABS, tire pressure, and driver-assist warnings that light up together and clear after a minute. One driver felt a strong front wobble at low speeds.