Volkswagen Touareg Complaints
646 consumer complaints on file.
- #11508422February 21, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Protective coating on wires in the headlight and turn signal assemblies crumbled and disintegrated, causing all the lighting components and ballast for HID lights, light level adjusters and the fuses and relays to short out, sparks and potential fire hazard.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508252February 20, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After doing major research with other owners of like year and model I have discovered that i'm not the only one that is experiencing headlight electronics or headlight electrical system within the headlight assembly frying the electrical wires, cracking the brittle wire coating and exposing many of the electrical wires together within the housing unit of the headlight Assembly. This caused many short circuits Headlights Shutting off at random times but most importantly shutting off at night on a dark highway. Depending on the bumps and bruises of the streets would cause the Wires to touch each other and short circuit. Although this is a 17-year-old vehicle but I've never experienced electrical components being degraded this much For like Like age of any vehicle.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11504505January 30, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While using Adaptive Cruise Control, vehicle intermittently displays "ACC not available" cruise control completely disengages and does not allow for traditional cruise control functions. Typically ACC begins to function again after about 5 mins or by powering off and powering on vehicle. Vehicle has never been in an accident. All incidents occur in Southern California. Situation when it disengages can pose safety risk to due sudden loss of propulsion while keeping up with traffic, especially frightening when driving at an incline, i.e. Grapevine. Message is intermittent and can turn on 10 minutes into a drive or two hours into a drive. Unable to show dealer message. No advanced notice of ACC failing or issue with vehicle. Vehicle has had all maintenance done with dealer. No modifications to any component.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11502404January 18, 2023FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car at half tank will read as being empty. Fuel pump flange? The car will have gas and then randomly show fuel error and drop to empty. The car is drivable and then while drive will switch to empty back to half full mode. Less of the worry the adaptive cruise control and fwd collision warning freeze/not working
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11482652September 2, 2022SEATS
Power seat reclining function on passenger and driver side. Due to the top of the adjustment lever being positioned too close to the top of the set cushion, if you sit on the edge of the seat, the seat back will continue to recline until you get up if you notice it or it hits the back seat bottom cushion. if there is a child in the back seat it could cause injury. My daughter almost had her legs crushed when my mom delayed exiting the vehicle with the passenger door open and sitting partially on the seat. She did not even notice the seat reclining until it hit my daughters knees.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11482659September 2, 2022SERVICE BRAKES
When coming to a stop with the AutoHold activated, sometimes it comes to an abrupt stop instead of a smooth stop. Also when you have Autohold engaged, when you come to a stop and put the car in park, disconnect the seatbelt the parking brake engages(expected), however when you turn the car off (after you've already removed your foot from the break pedal) it slightly releases and reengages the brake causing a slight movement of the vehicle.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11480792August 23, 2022FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
A fuel smell is detected in my vehicle, as noted in Repair Available for Safety Recall 20Z4 – Fuel Pump FlangeCertain 2007-2010 MY Volkswagen Touareg / NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V151000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478400August 9, 2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated that there was an abnormal gasoline odor on the driver’s side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact looked underneath the vehicle at the gas tank and noticed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel tank onto the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 17V151000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477238August 2, 2022FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Gas leak (see pics). I started noticing a strong gasoline smell and my car keeps running out of gas almost immediately after filling up. This has not been inspected nor confirmed by a dealer. This is my only source of transportation and needs to be fixed ASAP. There is not a VW dealership where I live, the closest being in Mario, IL, or St. Louis, MO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11474003July 14, 2022POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2008 Touareg 3.6L/V6 Intake Manifold/Valve Cover explosion.... March 2021, several incidents while driving vehicle would completely shut off/ loose power, with no prior warning or apparent cause, leaving driver at a total loss of steering control, as well as leaving vehicle completely disabled supposedly resulting from battery dying. Engine code scanner findings: several cylinders misfiring, possible timing chain, & (P0456) EVAP leak (among others). Repairs performed: 06/25/21 valve cover & battery replacement. Shortly after repairs noticed (never before seen) oil leak caused from recently repaired (faulty part) valve cover, which was then replaced again. (Jump ahead to present) July 14, 2022, upon attempted ignition, quickly noticed vehicle TRYING to turn over for several seconds without success, so turned key to off immediately heard an extremely loud "BOOM" followed by smoke bellowing out from under my hood/ engine. Popped hood to inspect the cause & discovered the valve cover had blown its top right off, exploded into several pieces, exposing valves to naked eye. Vehicle was then stranded, not starting, engine would not turn over. Had to have it towed to shop, awaiting update & information.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11469157June 14, 2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V583000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the fuel pump failed after the recall repair was performed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11461600April 21, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof glass of the car spontaneously exploded while driving on the interstate. No rock or object ever hit the glass, and it exploded, sending glass and debris all over myself and my passenger while driving 70mph. The noise was deafening and caused me to swerve as I was so shocked. I easily could have gone in the ditch or hit another car. To make matters worse I was 50 miles from home on a Friday evening so there was no way to get help. I have seen this issue on other Touareg’s but Volkswagen has denied accountability and refuses to cover it. The issue was repaired at a VW dealer and was $2143 to repair. The issue was inspected by my Progressive Insurance rep. This issue came out of nowhere and there were no warning signs.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11458770March 29, 2022ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Random engine hesitancy reducing acceleration while driving. Vehicle maintained by the dealer for all scheduled maintenance and service visits. Within 30 days of a manufacture's repair that dealt with the HVAC and air filter AND a service visit to change oil and rotate tires, the hesitancy during driving was more pronounced. The dealer's service center stated the air filter was flooded from an HVAC leak and a clog. I have found similar owners have had problems like this and VW will not address it systemically. I otherwise enjoy my vehicle, but am concerned that it will not accelerate when needed and is potentially dangerous without warning. It should not take loss of life or property to have this corrected.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11458241March 24, 2022ENGINE
Wet Air intake filter. Clearly showed water damage and rot on the air filter. This is a repeated issue.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11451182February 9, 2022FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There was a big rain last week locally. I drove through a couple big puddles but nothing that's super uncommon for the area. Almost immediately, my car's electric components started going crazy. ACC stopped working completely. Lane assists aren't working. There was an error that I think was shift lock, but it was red, and the car was driving really weird.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11441658November 25, 2021ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Leaking gas caught on fire put it out but now I have no head lights no high beams replaced everything still nothing. All lights on dash go crazy kills battery all the time and had to replace something in the rear end. Overall it has cost me $2500 and I still have no headlights at all and leaking gas. It’s my only vehicle I hope next time it doesn’t catch back on fire could have been worse and still could be. Somebody could get hurt and I have kids.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11441626November 24, 2021SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electronic Parking Brake lever light was flashing and dashboard showed parking brake error message. Drove car to VW Dealership, which diagnosed problem as likely bad Parking Brake Control Module (Part J540). Dealership ordered part, and stated I could drive car home. Within 1 mile of dealership, parking brake engaged automatically abruptly slowing car and error flashed on dash stating "Disengage Parking Brake." Pulled over, turned car off and back on, which disengaged parking brake. Returned to dealership and left car until it could be repaired. Had I been on the interstate traveling at a higher rate of speed, this may have caused an accident.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11439401November 4, 2021ENGINE
On my 2011 VW Touareg TDI there is an exhaust leak. Can be smelled within seconds of starting it. A turbo/EGR pipe cracks and the result is a serious exhaust leak under hood right next to where air is drawn into the cabin for HVAC. Parts are backordered with no ETA. Even though when driving there is exhaust getting into the car the dealer and VW corporate just says "sorry for the delay of the parts". This part failure seems to be a known issue- The VW dealer was told by corporate that installing a used part is not acceptable either. Currently been waiting 11 months on this part. The leak was noticed right after VW had to "fix" all the TDIs for the emissions scandal.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11437449October 20, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SEAT HEATER:MAT
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle a burning odor was present inside the cabin of the vehicle and smoke was seen coming from the front console. After stopping the vehicle to inspect the cause it was discovered that the front passenger side seat heater had malfunctioned burning a hole into the seat and the passenger's pants. During the incident, the passenger sustained a burn to the left thigh area. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 128,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11434728September 28, 2021FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I have a 2010 VW Touarge V6, recently it started leaking fuel out, after taking the car to VW dealership, they told me the fuel was leaking out from the fuel filter flange. VW had a recall on (2007-2010 VW Touarge) fuel filter flange back in 2017 (see below) https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V151-3759.pdf They acknowledges that there was a flaw in the fuel filter flange that the plastic part could crack and leak out fuel after some years. Back in 2017, I took the car to VW dealership and the recall repair they did on my car was to install a protective film on the flange (since they deemed that the flange was not broken when examined during the recall repair at the time). Now 4 years later, the flange is cracking and leaking fuel out, obviously the recall fix (protective film) did not stop the flange from cracking or fuel from leaking out. I have contacted VW customer care and stated that they failed to fix the fuel leaking hazard as the protective film was ineffective in stopping fuel to leak out from a now broken flange. I hoped they could cover the fix of the broken flange. VW customer service refused to fix the problem for me under the recall and asked me to be fully responsible for the fix, as they claimed that the "recall was done", despite that I showed they the recall details, and mentioned that the problematic flange was not replaced, and questions the effectiveness of the recall repair done in 2017. I feel I have to question whether the original recall fix was proper (that for un-cracking flange at the time, only a protective film was installed instead of replacing the problematic fuel filter flange, that had big leaking problems) So please help to investigate the case, and let VW know that they should always put customer's safety first. Looks to me, they used a cheap method (a plastic film) to avoid replacing an already inexpensive flange part, and in exchange, customer had to face such safety hazard and big car repair bill...
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0