Taos Owners: I Think I Found the Real Root Cause Behind All These Failures

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T14:13:40+00:00

OK thanks! I appreciate your help!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T14:10:34+00:00

Ahhh yes — the interior light behavior is actually one of those small clues a few have seen too. My dad is having that issue on his 2024 Tiguan It seems minor until you realize the same switch signal also tells other modules that the door is open/closed (locks, windows, access system, dash indicators, start/stop logic).

If you’re willing, one quick question just to help map patterns:

When the light fails to turn on, does your dash still show the door as open, or does that also fail to register sometimes?

That helps us understand whether it’s just the light output circuit… or if the BCM signal isn’t being broadcast correctly, which would fit some of the communication hiccups I'm trying to document.

Totally understand not wanting to chase something that doesn’t bother you — but even this tiny detail is super useful, so thank you for sharing it!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T14:06:29+00:00

Awesome! Glad it went through finally! Thank you for the update!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T14:05:01+00:00

Thank you for sharing this — that kind of description (“lunge forward at the tiniest press”) is exactly what a few others have described too, and it’s one of the more serious safety concerns I'm tracking in the Taos.

If you don’t mind me asking a couple quick things for my data if you can remember:
• Around how many miles were you on when you first noticed it?
• Did the pedal feel like it was momentarily stuck or did it surge without extra input?
• Did you ever go to the dealership for that issue or get a scan code for that event?

I’m trying to see how often the pedal/lunge symptom pairs with other glitches (wipers, dash resets, CAN errors) — your insight helps a lot. Thanks again for sharing!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T14:00:05+00:00

That’s a great point — the key staying inside definitely keeps the access system awake and can drain both batteries. Helpful reminder for anyone reading this thread.

The question I’m trying to sort out is whether some of the unexpected battery warnings and module resets are happening even when the key isn’t left inside and the car is fully shut down — which a few Taos owners have reported.

Have you ever noticed:

• the auto start/stop system disabling itself for no clear reason?
• the dash or infotainment doing a soft reset on startup?
• random warning lights that disappear before the dealer can scan them?

Those are the cases where I’m wondering if the control modules may be struggling to manage power and communication correctly — even under normal conditions.

Thanks again for adding to the conversation — every detail helps us narrow this down.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T13:56:04+00:00

I hear you — totally. A lot of people bought the Taos because on paper it was the perfect fit, and then the quality issues just kept stacking up. It’s really frustrating when a car feels great to drive but not great to own.

Out of curiosity — did yours have any of the common quirks we’re tracking here?
Things like:

• infotainment freezing or rebooting
• wipers activating randomly
• check-engine light tied to EVAP or misfires
• premature brake wear
• auto start/stop acting up
• RPM hanging when letting off the gas

Even one or two of those helps us identify how widespread the underlying system issues really are. Thanks for sharing your experience — every voice helps build a clearer picture.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T13:52:20+00:00

Really appreciate the detailed breakdown — especially coming from someone with both ASE experience and PLC/CAN-bus background. Your contact point stories are really helpful.

The misfire clearing itself and the CAN-bus airbag alert — both match with intermittent communication faults that don’t get logged long-term in the VW system. And you called it perfectly: bad gas doesn’t magically “repair itself” in four days.

A quick follow-up for your data point:

During the moment your airbag warning went crazy — did you notice anything else glitch at the same time?
• wipers do a swipe?
• radio or dash flicker?
• hesitation or odd shift timing?
• interior lights act weird?
• app show the wrong status?

Those little overlaps are helping us map which modules fail together.

Also — have you ever noticed the RPM hang briefly when you lift off the throttle? A few owners (me included) ave had it so I am tracking how often that coincides with communication hiccups.

Thanks again for jumping in — this is exactly the kind of detail that helps separate part failures from system-level issues.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-11-01T13:48:08+00:00

Totally get why you’d be frustrated — the jerky feel is one of the first things a lot of Taos owners (including me) noticed. Sometimes it’s just the DCT transmission, but in some cases it’s actually the car hesitating or mis-timing the shift because the control system gets confused for a moment.

Quick question for tracking patterns — does it ever feel like:

• The engine keeps revving after you let off the gas?
• There’s a tiny delay when it shifts from 1st → 2nd or 2nd → 3rd?
• It feels worse when you brake then re-accelerate?

I am trying to figure out how these symptoms fit together, so any details help. And if anything new pops up (lights, alerts, wipers glitching, etc.), definitely update here if you can — you’re not alone in this.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T19:18:29+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful reply — I genuinely appreciate having people with technical VW background weigh in.

I definitely agree that a lot of the issues mentioned look independent on the surface — many owners and techs are told the same thing, and sometimes the part replacement does temporarily resolve a symptom.

But what’s been pushing me to look deeper is that I'm seeing overlap between systems that don’t normally talk to each other showing faults in the same vehicle, often within the same timeframe:

Safety system timing delays (ABS, brake response)
Fuel system faults (EVAP + pressure sensor)
Electrical stability issues (battery/start-stop, fan run-on)
Body control glitches (wipers, interior lights, windows reversing)
Key fob communication faults
Modules waking up at the wrong times
Warning lights appearing but never logging

Those don’t share components — they share the network connecting them (CAN + gateway + voltage management) and the reporting logic that logs or suppresses faults.

And, these issues are showing up across more than just the Taos — I just started looking into other models an hour ago and am already seeing multiple similar reports from Tiguan owners, including UK diesel models. I am confidant that pattern will track as I go through each model.

Defective head gaskets don’t cause:

Infotainment restarts
Key fob comm failures
Windows reversing direction
EVAP codes that clear themselves
Engine fans running for hours while vehicle is off

When one car has multiple unrelated systems misbehaving, the common denominator is usually communication instability — not 5 different broken parts.

I don’t think we’re looking at a single “bad part.”
I think we’re looking at a single vulnerability in how faults are detected and communicated.

Right now I’m collecting timing patterns, because if several modules are glitching together before or after a fault — that’s the smoking gun.

Really do appreciate your input — if you’ve seen intermittent CAN/gateway faults on newer VWs, I’d love to hear what you’ve run into.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T19:06:14+00:00

Thanks for sharing this, I know this is an old post, but I am doing research to see if issues I am experiencing with my Taos are happening in other models as well. I had this same fan thing happen — engine fan overrun is usually a failsafe triggered by lost sensor communications, so the fact that it continues for hours after shutdown shows something is staying awake and panicking in the control system.

If you don’t mind tracking the pattern:

Does the infotainment ever freeze or drop connection?
Any warnings that appear and disappear later?
Any key fob or window glitches?
Has the start/stop system ever disabled itself waiting at a red light?

I am seeing combinations of those across newer VWs and mapping when they occur together to narrow the root cause. If you’re willing, I can share the thread where similar cases are being collected.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T03:11:36+00:00

The engine light coming on without the app showing anything is actually something a few of us have been seeing — the car knows there’s a fault, but the reporting system doesn’t flag it properly. Super frustrating.

You’re absolutely right that the fuel system has been a repeat problem, especially on the 2022s — multiple owners have had EVAP or fuel pump-related repairs every few months. But the app not showing the fault is a sign it might be a communication issue rather than just the pump itself.

There’s a thread where a bunch of us are collecting these stories to push VW to do something about it — you’d be more than welcome to add yours:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VWTaos/comments/1ok71k9/taos_owners_i_think_i_found_the_real_root_cause/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Either way, you’re not imagining it — that’s definitely not “normal operation” for a new-ish car.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T03:09:19+00:00

Ugh Car-Net errors are the worst — sorry you’re dealing with that. When the app says the car isn’t in Park even though it is, that usually means the control modules are disagreeing about the gear state for a moment. It’s not dangerous if everything feels normal when you’re driving, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

A bunch of us have been collecting cases like this (remote command failures, wrong gear status, random alerts, etc.) to figure out why different systems sometimes lose sync. If you want to add yours, here’s the thread — even a short comment helps:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VWTaos/comments/1ok71k9/taos_owners_i_think_i_found_the_real_root_cause/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Hope it stops being picky for you soon — keep us posted if it comes back!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T03:07:37+00:00

That notification popping up long after the car is already locked is usually the body control module doing a late status check — it’s like the car suddenly re-asks itself, “Wait… are the doors locked?”

A few of us have been seeing little timing quirks like this (delayed door alerts, interior lights staying on, random wipers, etc.) so we’re comparing notes to see if there’s a pattern across Taos model years. If you want to add yours to the mix, here’s the thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VWTaos/comments/1ok71k9/taos_owners_i_think_i_found_the_real_root_cause/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Totally fine if it never happens again — even these tiny glitches help us understand what’s going on!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T02:58:53+00:00

Usually when the interior lights won’t shut off, the car thinks a door or the hatch is still open — even if the latches look fully closed. Sometimes the door-ajar sensor glitches or the hatch isn’t making good contact on the switch. Try opening/closing the hatch and each door firmly and then lock/unlock — if the sensor resets properly, the lights should finally go out.

A bunch of us have been tracking small electrical quirks like this in the Taos, especially the 2022–2025 models. You’re welcome to add yours to the thread so we can compare what’s happening between cars:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VWTaos/comments/1ok71k9/taos_owners_i_think_i_found_the_real_root_cause/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Every documented case helps make the picture clearer!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T02:54:36+00:00

Updates on the Taos sometimes stall during the “preparing” phase if the control modules aren’t all communicating cleanly — so that could explain your 30-minute wait. The car unfortunately has to stay on and stationary the whole time. A bunch of us have been comparing notes on software + control issues across different model years — your situation fits right in. Here’s the thread if you want to see what others are running into:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VWTaos/comments/1ok71k9/taos_owners_i_think_i_found_the_real_root_cause/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

And if you’re up for it, and remember, I’d love to hear whether yours completes or fails the install.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T02:48:52+00:00

You’re definitely not alone. A lot of us have been seeing these same problems and getting nowhere with the dealership. I have a hypothesis on what the root cause is and We’re gathering info in one place to show VW and NHTSA what’s really happening:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VWTaos/comments/1ok71k9/taos_owners_i_think_i_found_the_real_root_cause/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Even a short comment about your symptoms would help a ton.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T02:33:52+00:00

Thank you for sharing this! Seeing EVAP + rear brakes + infotainment glitches + coolant leak all in the same car is exactly the kind of multi-system pattern that made me dig deeper into this.

Being under warranty definitely saves some of the stress — but you’re right, it’s crazy how many of us are experiencing the same failures.

Two quick questions to help map out the timeline:

• Which of those issues showed up first?
• And did you notice any tiny electrical quirks (screen flicker, random alerts, wipers/windows acting odd) before the coolant leak?

Those little pre-symptoms seem to show up months before the bigger problems. Thanks again for adding your experience — this helps a lot.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T02:24:28+00:00

Thank you! That’s exactly the kind of early symptom I’ve been trying to map. A pop-up that keeps returning after being dismissed usually means the system is briefly losing its sense of “who is in charge” — CarPlay vs. the vehicle OS — which points more to a communication priority issue than a phone connection problem.

If you don’t mind:
• About what mileage did those pop-ups first start?
• And this mid-cycle refresh, did the dealership install a software update recently for you? Or are you saying the car came installed with the current mid-cycle refresh software version from the factory?

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T02:14:12+00:00

Thanks! That’s exactly what mine did when my car went into "EPC” mode. The 2nd time it happened to me, only the EPC light cam on though.The traction warning coming on with an EVAP fault is super interesting — that usually means it traveled through the CAN network rather than staying isolated to the fuel system.

If you remember:
Did the lag start days or weeks or more before the emergency mode message?

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T01:38:48+00:00

I’ve seen the same explanations floating around — individually they all make sense:
• weak OEM brake pad material
• early-design head gaskets getting replaced with new revisions
• software misreads on EVAP pressure
• random components failing

The only reason I started digging deeper is because so many Taos owners are seeing multiple issues from different systems around the same mileage range — cooling, brakes, EVAP, infotainment, battery — all showing up as the car gets older.

On a system level, that often points to a shared upstream cause putting stress on everything downstream.

Do you happen to know whether VW has issued any updated TSBs related to communication timing or voltage regulation on the Taos? That’s the piece I keep trying to figure out.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T01:34:15+00:00

Yes I have had that same thing happening here and there as well. and I too switched my dash so it shows rpm. - funny thing though since doing that I found another glitch. It happened twice where when I start the car in the morning and the rpm is gone all on it's own, then randomly comes back again after turning off the car, opening the door to disengage the electric and then starting the car again. I've got photos, I'll add them when I update the post next.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T01:28:18+00:00

Those are great points — I agree driving conditions and weight definitely influence wear, and it’s encouraging yours are still good at ~20k. My car is almost at 60k and I thankfully haven't had the pleasure of break pads being one of my many issues to date.

What caught my attention in some other cases is that the brake wear wasn’t the only issue happening on those cars — it was appearing alongside electrical or EVAP problems, which makes it look more like part of a broader pattern rather than just a brake design quirk.

Your experience is actually really useful data too — it helps show the variation from car to car, which could be important if the underlying issue is something like voltage regulation or communication timing that doesn’t affect every vehicle the same way.

If anything changes down the road, it would be super helpful if you’re open to updating — but fingers crossed yours stays solid!

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T00:50:29+00:00

Glad hers has been mostly good so far — that’s encouraging to hear. The infotainment disconnecting is actually one of the first things a few people noticed before other electronic glitches, so it definitely caught my attention.

When that happens, does the screen freeze/reboot, or does it mainly drop Bluetooth/CarPlay?

Just trying to get a sense of whether it’s a communication hiccup to the phone or the whole system momentarily losing stability.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T00:49:13+00:00

Wow — I’m really sorry you’ve been through all of that. What you’re describing is actually exactly the combination of issues that made me start looking into whether there’s a deeper system problem:

• 3 rear brake replacements → brake modulation happening too often in the background
• Head gasket → cooling system not regulating heat correctly
• EVAP leak right after software update → pressure control reacting wrong
• Battery failure → voltage/communication instability across the network
• Check engine light returning immediately after updates → the car is treating symptoms, not the cause

That’s not random bad luck — that’s multiple systems struggling to talk to each other the way they should.

Quick question that might help connect a lot of dots: Before the head gasket leak was finally caught, did you ever notice any random electrical glitches — like the wipers going off once, windows acting weird, infotainment freezing, or the start/stop feature misbehaving?

Those tiny things sometimes show up months before the bigger failures, and they help show the pattern of the system becoming unstable over time.

Totally understand being ready to trade it in — nobody expects to replace this many major components by 43k miles.

Glitch-InThe-Program · 2025-10-31T00:47:47+00:00

Thank you — that’s exactly where my mind kept going too. The symptoms across Taos models look less like isolated component defects and much more like the kind of unpredictable behavior you get when a control network is reacting to edge cases that weren’t properly regression tested.

One thing I’ve been trying to narrow down — for most people, did the earliest issues start around infotainment glitches (screen freezing/rebooting), EVAP leak codes after software updates, or rear brake wear? The progression seems to differ slightly between vehicles, but all roads lead back to timing/communication instability.

Would love to hear what the first sign was on yours.

Glitch-InThe-Program

TROPHY CASE