Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 75,000 model-year 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles.* The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. A software error may cause the Mexican.-made instrument cluster to fail to display required information at vehicle startup, including vehicle speed, engine speed (RPM), gear/mode indicators, and warning telltales. In this condition, the instrument cluster does not comply with FMVSS No. 101, Controls and Displays.
“When the ignition is switched on, the instrument cluster may read incorrect or corrupt Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) data required for proper system initialization. If invalid data is detected, the software discards the data and applies default configuration values. However, the instrument cluster and the immobilizer system are not designed to operate using these default values, which can result in the instrument cluster failing to function as intended. Software revisions introduced over time significantly increased NVM access and data traffic within the instrument cluster, thereby increasing the likelihood of NVM-related errors,” Volkswagen said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning.
“The failure occurs at vehicle start-up, and is readily noticeable to the driver,” Volkswagen said.
*AutoInformed on
Chronology
- October 2024: Initial claims identified and analysis began.
- February 2025: Technical analysis showed that vehicles will not start if topic is present. Topic handled as quality issue since no vehicle start was possible.
- February 2025 – February 2026: Ordinary software development cycles continue.
- 5 February 2026: Due to the number of claims of vehicles with no-start condition, the topic was presented in the Pre-Product Safety Committee. During the meeting, a potential second failure mode was identified that could potentially lead to a condition that the vehicles would remain start-capable after failure. Further analysis requested.
- 16 February 2026: Confirmation that, in rare cases, vehicles could remain start-capable after failure. New evaluation of topic initiated.
- 18 March 2026: Topic was presented in Product Safety Committee and a non-compliance was determined.
Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. Federal safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 22 May 22026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 90Z5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Volkswagen Recalls 2025 Jetta and Taos Vehicles for IP failures
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 75,000 model-year 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles.* The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. A software error may cause the Mexican.-made instrument cluster to fail to display required information at vehicle startup, including vehicle speed, engine speed (RPM), gear/mode indicators, and warning telltales. In this condition, the instrument cluster does not comply with FMVSS No. 101, Controls and Displays.
“When the ignition is switched on, the instrument cluster may read incorrect or corrupt Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) data required for proper system initialization. If invalid data is detected, the software discards the data and applies default configuration values. However, the instrument cluster and the immobilizer system are not designed to operate using these default values, which can result in the instrument cluster failing to function as intended. Software revisions introduced over time significantly increased NVM access and data traffic within the instrument cluster, thereby increasing the likelihood of NVM-related errors,” Volkswagen said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning.
“The failure occurs at vehicle start-up, and is readily noticeable to the driver,” Volkswagen said.
*AutoInformed on
Chronology
Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. Federal safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 22 May 22026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 90Z5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.