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 averages 95 complaints per year over 5 years, with engine stalling and brake issues, while the F-150 averages 1,131 per year over 10 years, with transmission problems. The F-150 has 145 recalls, the Taos 9. 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, a compact SUV, has a moderate complaint rate of about 95 per year over five years, with engine issues dominating. Owners report stalling during acceleration, which can be dangerous, and fuel system problems. Brake complaints are also frequent, with grinding and noises. Electrical issues often accompany these, suggesting interconnected failures.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year over a decade. The powertrain, especially the 10-speed automatic transmission, is a major source of complaints, with harsh shifting and loss of power. Electrical problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common. This truck has a long history of recalls and incidents.
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 | 473 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 94.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 287 |
| 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
- 01ENGINE194
- 02SERVICE BRAKES113
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM92
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER70
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM69
Owners report the engine stalling while accelerating, sometimes shutting off completely, which can be hazardous in traffic. Fuel pump failures and related warning lights are also noted.
Brake systems exhibit loud grinding, squeaking, and even a burnt smell, with issues on both front and rear brakes. Some owners report persistent problems despite multiple dealer visits.
Electrical failures often accompany engine stalls, with instrument clusters going blank and screens shutting off. These can be disorienting and may indicate deeper software or wiring issues.
“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 TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a frequent source of complaints, with hard, jerky shifts between gears and occasional loss of power or shutdown. Owners describe clunks and bangs during normal driving.
Electrical issues include false warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which can be annoying and may affect safety features.
Headlight problems are common, with recalls issued for headlights, but owners also report failures that may reduce visibility at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
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 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Volkswagen TAOS or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen Taos has fewer complaints per year (about 95) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Taos's engine stalling is a serious safety concern. In practice, the F-150's higher volume reflects its longer sales history and broader usage, but the transmission issues are widespread.
Key differences
- Taos: engine stalling and fuel system issues are prominent, with brakes also problematic.
- F-150: transmission harsh shifting and loss of power are the top complaints, with electrical glitches.
- Taos has fewer complaints per year, but F-150 has more recalls and incidents overall.
- F-150's exterior lighting issues are notable, while Taos has fewer lighting complaints.
- Test drive the Taos to see if the engine stalls during acceleration or if there are any hesitation or warning lights.
- Listen for brake noises like grinding or squealing, and check for any burnt smell after driving.
- During a test drive, pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check if the dashboard shows any camera or sensor warnings, and test the pre-collision assist if possible.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if recalls were addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the engine and fuel system on the Taos.
- For the F-150, have the transmission fluid checked and consider a transmission diagnostic.
- Check for any outstanding recalls and ensure they are fixed.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive including highway speeds to feel for shifting issues.
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 | 1 | 24 |
| 2025 | 9 | 329 |
| 2024 | 51 | 617 |
| 2023 | 102 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 310 | 3432 |
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
- 473
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volkswagen TAOS total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volkswagen TAOS avg complaints/year
- 94.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen TAOS
- Volkswagen TAOS top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN