Volkswagen Fire Risk Sparks Taos Recall

Volkswagen is recalling nearly 40,000 Taos sport utility vehicles due to a fuel tank defect that could cause fires in crashes.

The vehicles are prone to leak fuel in the event of certain rear-end and rollover accidents, the automaker recently told federal regulators. “Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire,” Volkswagen said.

The recall covers certain 2025-2026 Taos subcompact SUVs. Faulty wiring harnesses are to blame, Volkswagen said in a recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“A new fuel tank pressure sensor wiring harness that was too short was implemented in the 2025 model year Volkswagen Taos,” the company told NHTSA. “In the event of a severe rear-end collision, tension in the wiring harness may cause the fuel pressure sensor located on top of the fuel tank to become dislodged or separate from the fuel tank.” 

“If this happens, fuel will leak from the tank in the event of a subsequent vehicle rollover,” Volkswagen said.

The company plans to notify owners of recalled vehicles by June 19. In the meantime, Taos drivers can check the NHTSA website to see if their SUVs are covered by the recall.

Volkswagen will ask owners to bring their cars to authorized service providers for inspection and repair. 

“At no cost to owners, dealers will install an 80 mm wiring harness extension to the existing affected wiring harness,” the automaker said in the recall report. “This extension is intended to reduce tension on the fuel pressure sensor in the event of a severe rear-end collision.”

Safety Concerns, Legal Rights for Volkswagen Drivers

This is just the latest safety issue for Volkswagen and its drivers. That includes a string of recent recalls over various fire risks.

The company also recently recalled some 50,000 Jetta sedans over a transmission problem that Volkswagen said could lead to fires. Loose wiring in the vehicles’ automatic transmissions could short-circuit, causing fires, the company said in a recall report.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen said it was recalling some 700 ID.4 SUVs, citing defective battery cells. The company warned owners to park outside until their cars are repaired to avoid fires that start in cars and potentially spread to houses and other structures. 

Fortunately, VW and other drivers in California have important rights and protections regarding malfunctioning or defective vehicles. Namely, you do not need to wait around for a recall to get your cars fixed in certain situations.

The lemon law requires carmakers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles under warranty. It also forces the companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) covered vehicles that they are not able or flat-out refuse to fix.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.