2022 Volkswagen Taos Brakes Problems

Electronic parking brake engaged randomly when getting gas and would not disengage letting me leave the pump

NHTSA ID

11739825

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

leaking head gasket

NHTSA ID

11737959

Incident

May 13, 2026

Component or system that failed or malfunctioned Rear brake rotors and rear brake pads. Both rear rotors have been diagnosed as requiring replacement along with rear brake pads. The front rotors and pads are reported to be in normal condition. The vehicle and all replaced components are available for inspection upon request. Safety risk Degraded rear braking performance increases stopping distance and could lead to brake vibration, uneven braking, or reduced control during emergency braking, posing a potential safety risk to the driver and others. Confirmation or reproduction of the problem The issue has been confirmed by a dealership service department, which recommended replacement of the rear rotors and rear brake pads. The vehicle has approximately 16,000 miles and is just over 4 years old. During the service visit, dealership staff stated that this type of rear brake wear occurs frequently with these vehicles. The dealership also indicated that Volkswagen previously replaced rear rotors and pads under warranty for similar issues at approximately 24,000 miles or 2 years, but that this coverage is no longer available. Because this vehicle was driven significantly less than average, it did not reach those mileage thresholds within that earlier timeframe. Inspections performed The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership service center. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives at this time. Additional details / driving conditions The vehicle has been driven very infrequently, with low-mileage trips on flat roads in Charleston, South Carolina. There has been no aggressive driving, towing, mountainous driving, or heavy stop-and-go use. The front brakes remain in normal condition. Given the low mileage, light usage, and prior warranty replacements for similar conditions, rear rotor and pad replacement at this mileage appears premature and abnormal.

NHTSA ID

11711528

Incident

Jan 16, 2026

Since we bought the vehicle new in 2022, it has had an ongoing brake noise at low speeds. It sounds like a screeching or grinding, and I only hear it when I press the brake pedal. It is most noticeable right after startup when driving slowly. The main issue I am reporting is uneven rear brake pad wear, which may indicate the rear brake system is not applying evenly or not functioning correctly. The component involved is the rear brake system (rear brake pads and related parts). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. A Volkswagen dealership confirmed an uneven wear condition. On 12/31/2025, the dealership performed an inspection and recorded that the left rear brake pad measured 3 mm while the right rear measured 8 mm. They recommended replacing the rear brake pads but did not diagnose or repair the cause of why one rear side is wearing much faster than the other. In prior visits, the dealership stated the noise was related to the type/quality of brake pads used. When I contacted the dealership again about the ongoing noise and the uneven wear, they stated they did not have a solution to correct the underlying problem and referred me to Volkswagen Customer Care, indicating they cannot get the brakes functioning beyond replacing pads. Volkswagen Customer Care then advised me I would need to work through the dealership. I believe this creates a safety risk because uneven rear brake wear may mean the brakes are not working the same on both sides, which could affect stopping distance or braking stability, and could lead to brake problems if one side wears out much sooner than the other. There have been no warning lights or messages. The symptoms began soon after purchase in 2022 and have continued over time.

NHTSA ID

11711515

Incident

Dec 31, 2025

My car is only 14,200 miles and the rear brakes are gone, I need to find help because is a safety concern and VW doesn’t want it to replace because the extended warranty is already expired, but nobody, either the VW or the dealership where I bought my car informed me regarding this issue and the extended warranty. The issue is not only for me there are a lot of customers having the same issue and VW and the dealership want me to pay for their original cheap brakes, the dealer wants to sell me new brakes for $400.00. Customer Service did not want to help. This morning I almost crash when I tried to stop at the light.

NHTSA ID

11700155

Incident

Nov 18, 2025

I took the vehicle in for its 80,000 service, which included a multiple point inspection on Oct. 24th, 2025. The dealer that serviced my vehicle for that specific service was the north park volkswagen in San Antonio. On October 30, 2025 at approximately 2:15 PM, I was driving down the highway when I felt something in the brakes crack. I had to use my whole body weight and a lot of force to stop the vehicle, which could have ended in a fatal accident. I took the vehicle to the nearest Firestone with the parking brake close to my hand, where a certified technician inspected it and found that a brake line had been improperly reattached using glue and duct tape, posing a major safety hazard. There was visible glue residue and tape wrapped around the brake line. Because Firestone could not obtain the necessary part and did not feel confident repairing a European vehicle, I then took my car to Ancira Volkswagen in San Antonio. Their technicians confirmed that the brake line repair using glue and tape would not have lasted long had it been at the 70,000 service over 6 months go further proving that this unsafe and makeshift repair was done recently. When I reported this issue to North Park Volkswagen, the service manager, Albert Zapata, was rude, dismissive, and denied all responsibility, implying that I could have caused the damage myself. This situation reflects negligence and a failure to perform a proper inspection or maintain safety standards. The workmanship and lack of accountability from North Park Volkswagen directly put my life at risk.

NHTSA ID

11698755

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

​This statement is to formally document my ongoing and serious concerns regarding my 2022 Volkswagen Taos, which has been in and out of the Pasadena Volkswagen, California, service department for the past three weeks due to a persistent fuel smell and related fuel system issues. ​Despite the recent maintenance and attempted repairs, the vehicle continues to exhibit these dangerous problems. Most alarmingly, during a recent incident, the vehicle almost completely shut off while I was driving on the freeway. This is a critical safety hazard, and the safety of my family is paramount. I cannot accept driving a vehicle that poses such a risk of breakdown in traffic. ​Adding to my unease with the fuel issues is the fact that this specific vehicle has also previously required repair for seized rear brake calipers. Given the numerous reported complaints about the 2022 VW Taos model and the repeated, severe issues my own vehicle has experienced—from brake failure to dangerous fuel system problems—I am profoundly concerned about its reliability and long-term safety. ​The continuing issues make it difficult, if not impossible, to drive this vehicle without significant anxiety. I request an urgent and definitive resolution to these safety-critical fuel problems.

NHTSA ID

11692175

Incident

Sep 22, 2025

My 2022 Volkswagen Taos is less than 4 years old, has 23,500 miles and I have had to replace the rear brake pads twice. After 14 months in service, the rear brake pads were prematurely worn and replaced under warranty extension at 8,900 miles. This is a known issue--see this bulletin from VW: [XXX] . But the root cause issue has not been solved. At 23,500 miles, the rear brake pads were at 2mm and I had to replace them again, only two years later. So every one (1) to two (2) years, the rear brake pads on a VW Taos have to be replaced. Make it make sense. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11691208

Incident

Oct 3, 2025

Took my 2022 VW Taos in for its 20,000 mile service. Upon picking up the vehicle I was told everything looks great and I'm going to want to watch my rear brakes, the pads are worn 50%. I inquired as to wear on the front, near new at 11. I had also asked if they could check on the sluggish or jack rabbit take offs. They said that had been corrected thru a computer update at a previous visit. I said it was minimally improved? and had hoped VW had figured out the cause. I dwellled on the rear brake issue overnight, discussed the situation with my BIL, and called my service advisor in the am to say we believe the sluggish/rapid acceleration isn't brake related, but rather the brakes aren't completely releasing during stop to acceleration. He said he suspected that also and discussed it with his service manager who agreed. He said they submitted an inquiry and are asking VW to look in to this and as my rearbrakes are out if warranty by my "in service date", to see if VW will waive the pad replacement for low odometer. I've complained about and filed a NTHSA report for the acceleration problem a couple years ago. This is still a serious safety issue and abuse of the paying public.VW needs to step up before someone has to die. Brakes are nothing you wanting failing doing 70 mphs on I-90 thru mountain passes. Please follow-up and seek a resolution from VW. In the meantime I saw someone posted VW has a new brake pad as if May 2025. Guess I'll be paying for the replacement. P.S. I still don't have 20,000 mile on it. Ridiculous to be replacing rear pads!

NHTSA ID

11679719

Incident

Jul 29, 2025

The vehicle has ongoing acceleration delay and jerking under normal driving, along with repeated premature rear brake wear and a major coolant leak that required head gasket replacement. The most recent incident occurred on August 8, 2025, immediately after picking up the vehicle from a service visit for the acceleration concern. Two separate throttle delays with a sudden jerk forward occurred at approximately 5:47 PM and 5:50 PM in moderate city traffic at 79°F. These incidents put my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk, as delayed acceleration can prevent safe merging, crossing, or passing. Within the first 25,000 miles of ownership, the vehicle has also required one rear brake replacement and a second replacement was recommended due to premature wear, which could reduce braking performance and stopping distance. Additionally, a coolant leak ultimately required head gasket replacement. Suspension components, including a knuckle, have also been replaced under warranty. The acceleration problem has been reported to authorized Volkswagen dealers, but was documented as “could not reproduce” despite occurring minutes after pickup. Coolant leak and brake issues have been confirmed and repaired or recommended for repair by dealers. There were no warning lights or error messages prior to the acceleration incidents.

NHTSA ID

11679701

Incident

Aug 8, 2025

Purchased the vehicle on 8/1/2022. Brought the Taos in for routine oil change and at that point the rear brakes were noted to be under 4mm. At that point, there were 7,223 miles on the vehicle. Volkswagen was aware of the problem already and had issued a recall regarding the rear brakes, so it was covered under the recall. I thought the problem was resolved. On 6/4/2025, my car had to be brought in for a separate check engine light issue. At that time, the rear brakes were noted to be at 1mm. The vehicle had 23,061 miles on it, but I was past the two years for the recall, so I had to pay out of pocket for new rear brakes & rotors. Had my car’s check engine light not gone on, I would not have known my brakes were almost gone. Again.

NHTSA ID

11672000

Incident

Jun 4, 2025

I own a 2022 Volkswagen Taos with about 45,000 miles. I have had to replace the rear brake pads and rotors THREE TIMES already within this mileage, which is extremely unusual. During the third replacement, a local independent shop discovered that the rear brake caliper was leaking brake fluid, so the caliper also had to be replaced along with the pads and rotors once again. The service shop disposed of the old parts but I have service records. A leaking rear brake caliper can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of brake failure, putting my safety and the safety of others at risk. This issue was confirmed by the independent shop during the third replacement. The first two replacements were done at an authorized dealer, but the caliper defect was not detected then. There were no warning lights or messages. The only sign was the unusually frequent need to replace the rear brakes three times in a short period, which may have been caused by an early defect in the caliper. I strongly request that NHTSA investigate this issue and consider whether a recall is needed due to the repeated rear brake failure in this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11668536

Incident

Jun 20, 2025

Rear brake pads and rotors failed prematurely at 17,000 miles and again at 34,981 miles. Both times the brakes wore down to metal-on-metal with no dashboard warning light. The front brakes remain nearly new, suggesting an issue with brake balance or failure of the front braking system. First repair was performed under warranty, but second failure occurred outside VW's 24k rear brake warranty limit. Check engine light also returned within 24 hours of software update. This poses a major safety risk due to sudden brake failure and lack of warning.

NHTSA ID

11668295

Incident

Jun 21, 2025

This is my second report as I have 2 VW Taos 2022 model vehicles. This vehicle also needed rear brake pads replaced after only 11233 miles. This is a low mileage vehicle and was outside of the extended warranty VW had offered and hence did not cover the repair. These faulty brake pads also damaged the rotors and they needed replacement too. This is a safety and a quality issue. VW needs to recall these faulty brake pads and cover previous repair costs. I did call VW customer care on 6/2/2025, they documented my concern but said they would not cover any repair costs beyond their original extended warranty but did document my situation with early brake pad wear on 2 VW Taos 2022 model vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11664471

Incident

Feb 12, 2025

Excessive break pad wear. Vehicle is 3 years old with only 18847 miles. Rear break pads have now been replaced twice (@11000 and @18847 miles). VW did have an extended warranty but that did not apply owing to the low mileage and lack of need to visit dealership for repair. Excessive break wear is a quality and safety concern. Problems with Taos break wear according to dealer is a known issue. They also stated that VW just released (May 2025) new brake pads to finally correct the issue. VW should recall the defective Taos 2022 brake pads.

NHTSA ID

11664386

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

- The head gasket failed twice in less than one year on my 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The vehicle also experienced a fuel pump failure, rear brake pad wear down to metal-on-metal, and the underbody panel detached while driving due to being improperly secured after a dealership repair. Yes, the components may be available for inspection upon request through the dealership. - The second head gasket failure resulted in coolant loss, which can lead to engine overheating and potential failure while driving. The underbody panel detached while I was on the freeway, posing a serious safety hazard to me and other drivers. The brake system issues, including vibration and scraping noises, raise concern about brake reliability and stopping ability. - Yes, all issues were confirmed and addressed by authorized Volkswagen dealerships: DeMontrond Volkswagen (Conroe, TX) and Momentum Volkswagen (Houston, TX). - The vehicle has been inspected and repaired multiple times by Volkswagen-certified service technicians. No inspections by police or insurance have taken place. - No warning lamps appeared before the head gasket failures. The brake issues were first noticed as vibrations in the brake pedal after a service visit, followed by scraping noises, which were later diagnosed as metal-to-metal contact. The underbody panel incident occurred suddenly after leaving the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11659345

Incident

Apr 19, 2025

I have just replaced the rear brakes on my 60k mile Taos for the second time. I am far from the only person I have seen multiple online reports of brakes being worn down by the 20k mile mark. Not only is this issue unsafe, it is expensive for the car owner. VW extended the warranty to 24k miles. But only on the first set of brakes

NHTSA ID

11655053

Incident

Apr 16, 2025

Since I have bought my car, I’ve had continuous problems. The car has stalled multiple times the most recent time that it stalled. It was in the middle of the highway leaving me in a very unsafe situation and after that happened, I took it to the dealer ship and only then were they able to identify that there was a problem with the starter, even though the previous two times that I took the car to the dealership since it stalled they weren’t able to find a problem I’ve had a valve replaced on the car I’ve had tires replaced on the car i’ve had the brakes changed multiple times even though I’ve only had the car for three years my windshield wipers have been randomly going off on the car for the full three years of me having it and the service center at Volkswagen has not been able to find a diagnosis for the issue and to me that’s really unacceptable to tell a paying customer that there’s no way to fix a problem on their car I’ve also had issues with the coolant level, always going below the max amount and even after checking, they weren’t able to find issues with it. Also, my gas cap randomly opens. Also, this last time a couple days ago when my car stalled the steering wheel and gearshift both locked and I was not able to move it, and there was no proper response as to why that happened when I picked up my car from being serviced. Overall, I’ve continuously had problems with this car since I bought it and I’ve contacted Volkswagen customer care back in 2023 and now again at the beginning of 2025 and they have been very unhelpful and I want this problem resolved somehow because I do not feel safe driving such an unreliable vehicle and my family bought two of the same exact cars on the same exact day but my car is the only one that has had all these problems, but the other car is perfectly fine and it doesn’t have such extreme issues. I am filling out this form to hopefully get a better resolution since Volkswagen has done an awful job at resolving this matter

NHTSA ID

11640897

Incident

Jan 13, 2025

Head Gasket Leaking Coolant, yes it's available for inspection Engine could cease to operate properly Head gasket leaking was confirmed by Volkswagen Dealer No, I had a low coolant light, manual says add fluid This is a very HIGH COST REPAIR Brake Pads were worn out at 16,000 miles, replace ourselves because out of warranty at the time

NHTSA ID

11628901

Incident

Jun 4, 2024

Rear brake pads worn out at 30,000 miles. Never had a car ever need rear brake pads replaced before even after 150,000 miles. I understand some owners have had the rear brakes pad on this vehicle totally worn out at 10,000 miles. VW extended the warranty from 12k to 24k miles, so they must be aware they have an issue of premature wear. 24k miles falls between the regularly scheduled service intervals so when I took my vehicle for regularly scheduled service at 30,000 miles I was told they were worn out and now have a large expense. Pretty convenient for VW it seems. A lot of folks who do not take their car back to a dealership for oil changes every 10,000 miles are easily going to have rear brake failure as most places that change oil don't look at the brakes at all, and who anticipate rear brake wearing out in the first place.

NHTSA ID

11623013

Incident

Sep 20, 2024

Rear brakes had premature brake pad wear and needed to be replaced at 11k miles and 14 months of vehicle ownership (Dec 2023) - warranty extension was granted due to low miles and length of owners. Once again rear brakes have premature pad wear and need to be replaced at 19k miles and 2 years of ownership. This has cost has been denied by both the dealership and VW. Premature rear brake pad wear (replacing pads every 7-9k miles) is a defect, not an anomoly.

NHTSA ID

11615630

Incident

Dec 7, 2023

I went for my 30K mile warranty check. As I was as driving to the appointment the red engine light came on. It was the engine coolant. There is an issue with the head gasket on this model. I asked for it to be checked. The Service department said there is no leak and they replenished the coolant. I have read about this with many other VW Taos owners. I was also told I need new brakes. The brakes were replaced 16,000 miles ago. The brakes are substandard. This is the second time I've needed brakes on my car. I only have 29K miles on the car.

NHTSA ID

11611518

Incident

Aug 24, 2024

Good afternoon, I own a 2022 VW Taos since April of 2022, I took my car for service to the dealership for 10k and 20k. When my vehicle had approximately 14,000 miles I do not know if the technicians actually checked my rear breaks. One more thing I got a letter from VW company saying that the VW Taos had issues with premature worn out rear brakes, the warranty was extended for a period of time of 2 years or 24,000 miles. Recently close to 2 weeks ago my Taos started making really bad noises coming from my rear breaks, made and appointment for today 10:00 am 8/6/2024 at Emich VW in Denver Co. When 30k service was performed and rear breaks were checked the VW gave me the surprise that I needed new rear breaks replacement of pads and rotors, I informed them about the service bulletin of the issues with the rear breaks but they stated that because the deadline was on April/2024 it was not covered under warranty. This is very frustrating because VW should extend the warranty on something that they know is defective from the factory and they already knew the issues that they had with the rear breaks, now dealership gave a quote of over 900 dlls to get it fix, my safety was at risk including my family's because VW knew about this but they gave a deadline of 2 years knowing that the breaks will fail around 24,000 miles or after the 2 years, something is wrong with the break system and I know because I used to be a mechanic. It has been just over 4 months since the deadline on April and I would like to make VW responsible for this issues and fix my car for free under warranty.

NHTSA ID

11606889

Incident

Aug 6, 2024

First, I purchased my 2022 VW Taos (VIN [XXX] ) brand new from Rudolph VW in El Paso, Texas on [XXX]. For the most part, the vehicle has maintained its integrity until it was brought to my attention that the rear brakes needed replacement at 7, 230 miles. The brake replacement occurred April of 2023 and replaced by a warranty extension that was offered by VW and at no cost to me. As you can see, not too many miles are on the vehicle from date of purchase to the time the brakes were replaced in April of 2023. Based on my conversation with the dealership, VW is very aware of this problem based on the mere fact that the quality of the brake pad is not up to par. On June of 2024, I took my car in for a wheel alignment and was told once again the rear brakes were in need of replacement at a cost to me of $600. I was really confused and concerned how this can be since I don’t have a lot of miles on the vehicle YoY. After discussing this issue with the Certified VW Mechanic at the dealership, other Taos owners have experienced the same problem with the rear brake's wearing out too soon! I also got a second opinion from a reputable mechanic in my area, and was told the rear brakes shouldn’t be wearing out that quickly. While there, after additional inspection of the rear brakes, the mechanic made me aware the left rear caliper is damaged and requires replacement. At this point, I am seeking help to begin an investigation which I hope will create a recall. I thank you for your attention to this matter. If you require documentation, please let me know. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11604954

Incident

Jun 21, 2024

It is my understanding there have been reports of issues with the rear brakes on the 2022 Volkswagen Taos. Some owners have complained about excessive brake noise, premature wear, and in some cases, problems with the electronic parking brake. These issues have led to concerns about the reliability and safety of the braking system in the Taos. It’s also my understanding Volkswagen has acknowledged some of these problems and has issued technical service bulletins (TSBs) to address complaints. I am experiencing rear brake issues on my 2022 Taos' rear brakes as stated above. I have not been issued a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) nor has Volkswagon Corporate USA issued any recalls. My car has 18,000 miles and is scheduled to go in for service this Wednesday. When I called my dealership’s service department, the service manager stated he was aware of premature rear brake wear on the 2022 Taos. I find it hard to believe Volkswagon Corporate doesn’t know about this problem however the service manager does. An internet inquiry will prove TSB’s have been issued. One source is ChatGBT among other sources. I fully expect this to be covered under warranty and if it not, I would like to know how I can contact someone directly at the NHTSA if possible.

NHTSA ID

11596252

Incident

Jun 5, 2024