Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen TAOS vs FORD F 150
How the Volkswagen TAOS and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Volkswagen TAOS vs FORD F 150: The TAOS averaged 99 complaints per year over 5 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,162 per year over 10 years. The F-150 also had 151 recalls versus 9 for the TAOS. Both show serious issues, but the F-150 has a much higher reported rate. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen TAOS or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen TAOS
The Volkswagen TAOS is a compact SUV that has averaged 99 complaints per year over five years, with 9 recalls and 9 crash-related reports. Owner complaints center on engine stalling, brake problems, and electrical glitches, often leading to repeated dealer visits. While the total complaint count is lower than the F-150's, the rate per year suggests ongoing issues that can be frustrating for owners.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that has generated 11,621 complaints over ten years, averaging 1,162 per year, with 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports. Power train and electrical problems dominate, including transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. The high volume of complaints and recalls indicates a pattern of significant reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen TAOS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 495 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 99.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Volkswagen TAOS
- 01ENGINE199
- 02SERVICE BRAKES116
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM99
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM73
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER72
Owners report engine stalling while accelerating and hard starting, sometimes with warning lights like the EPC light. Some have faced catastrophic internal engine failure at low mileage, such as 22,531 miles, which can be dangerous and costly.
Complaints include rear brake issues and sudden unintended acceleration with automatic emergency braking failure, leading to at least one crash. These brake problems could affect stopping ability and safety.
Electrical complaints often mirror engine stalling and include warranty disputes over engine failures. These issues can cause unpredictable vehicle behavior and dealer repair challenges.
Fuel pump failures and hard starting are reported, with trouble codes like P0148. This can lead to stalling or difficulty starting, leaving owners stranded.
“I have brough my vehicle into the dealership on 3 separate occasions, all of which were the same safety issue - the engine would stall while accelerating and would shut off. However the 3rd incident was the most dangerous. On [XXX], I was driving southbound o…”
“Incident 1: Noticed hard starting one morning. After stopping for gas various engine warning lights illuminated (including EPC light). Took to VW dealer few days later, found trouble codes stored (P0148). Fuel pump replaced few days after diagnosis. Incident…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that have nearly caused collisions. These issues can severely impact drivability and safety.
Electrical complaints include lead frame issues and output speed sensor failures causing highway limp mode. These can disable the vehicle unexpectedly and require costly repairs.
Reports include rear window defroster shorts causing the back window to shatter. This is a surprising and potentially dangerous defect that owners may not anticipate.
Although not detailed in the sample, exterior lighting is a top complaint category, suggesting frequent bulb or housing failures that can affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Volkswagen TAOS — 9 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Display…
The risk: An instrument panel that does not display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswa…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Taos vehicles. In the event of a rear-end crash, the fuel pressure sensor may dislodge or separate from the fuel tank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
The risk: A fuel tank with a dislodged or separated fuel pressure sensor can leak fuel after a rollover crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a fuel pressure sensor wiring harness extension, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recal…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Taos vehicles. In the event of a rear-end crash, the fuel pressure sensor may dislodge or separate from the fuel tank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
The risk: A fuel tank with a dislodged or separated fuel pressure sensor can leak fuel after a rollover crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a fuel pressure sensor wiring harness extension, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recal…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Taos vehicles. The underhood fuel supply quick-connector may detach from the fuel supply line causing a fuel leak in the engine compartment.
The risk: A fuel leak may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak also increases the risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the connection and replace the fuel supply line and connector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volk…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Volkswagen TAOS or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen TAOS has far fewer issues per year (99 vs. 1,162 for the F-150), but both have serious reported problems. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint rate means a used buyer is more likely to encounter transmission or electrical faults, while the TAOS may have fewer but still notable engine and brake concerns.
Key differences
- The F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the TAOS has under 500 in 5 years, indicating a much higher reported problem rate for the F-150.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, whereas TAOS complaints focus on engine stalling and brake problems.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 9 for the TAOS, suggesting more widespread safety-related defects.
- Crash-related reports are much higher for the F-150 (330 vs. 9), though this may reflect the larger number of vehicles on the road.
- Check for engine stalling or hard starting during a test drive, and ask for any stored trouble codes like P0148.
- Inspect rear brakes for uneven wear or noise, and verify that automatic emergency braking functions correctly.
- Test the transmission for limp mode or rough shifting, especially when accelerating or at highway speeds.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of electrical shorts or cracked glass.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, especially for engine, transmission, and brake systems.
- Test drive on highways and in stop-and-go traffic to check for stalling, limp mode, or brake issues.
- For the F-150, specifically ask about lead frame and output speed sensor repairs.
- For the TAOS, check for fuel pump and engine control module software updates.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Volkswagen TAOS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 35 |
| 2025 | 11 | 345 |
| 2024 | 55 | 638 |
| 2023 | 109 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 317 | 3493 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Volkswagen TAOS or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen TAOS vs FORD F 150
- Volkswagen TAOS total complaints
- 495
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Volkswagen TAOS total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Volkswagen TAOS avg complaints/year
- 99.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen TAOS
- Volkswagen TAOS top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN