83 of the
945 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Touareg
are about the transmission —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
83
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Due to a leak in either the sunroof or the windshield water continuously drips down every time it rains onto the floorboard of the driver side of this vehicle, creating a sopping wet floor board that has 2 inches of water, which in turn soaks the whole electrical system for this vehicle. I mean the water continuously drips from the time you purchase this vehicle until forever I guarantee that anybody who has a v8 version of the 2005 Volkswagen Touareg has a sopping wet driver, side floor board! The water never has a chance to dry, especially in colder climates Mine went into limp mode due to this electrical system, failing. VW MECHANICS told me I needed a whole new engine w! When I did my research and I found out that this is very common on this model, and if there are some wires that inevitably get corroded from all the water that ruins the electrical system underneath the driver side floor board, and therefore the wires become corroded and severed which creates a real problem for the electrical system to function
NHTSA complaint #11541808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11474003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the power train was seriously impacted, it is no longer operational and available for inspection at the dealer now. This is absolutely a safety risk as there was power loss and inconsistency which could have been very dangerous depending on the level of control required by the traffic conditions. The dealer has diagnosed and insurance is scheduled to inspect. the manufacturer has been requested by us to do a root cause but no response from them - this is apparently a known issue (class action lawsuit) that has not been official recognized as a recall. a transmission warning came on prior to the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11429708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, CAR GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE RANDOMLY AND CREAKS ALONG AT 8 MILES AN HOUR, MOST RECENTLY LOST BRAKING POWER AND MESSAGE COMES UP "HYBRID ERROR, PULL OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION." THEN WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN IT WORKS FINE. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL AS THERE IS NO INFORMATION FOR THE MECHANIC TO GO BY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BOTH FUEL PUMPS AND PRE-FUEL PUMP MECHANISMS AND STILL THE ODD ERROR MESSAGE LACK OF CAR RUNNING. I AM THINKING ABOUT USING IT AS A PLANTER IN MY YARD, CURRENTLY IS IT LIVING WITH THE MECHANIC WAITING TO BEHAVE BADLY AGAIN, SO HE CAN TRY AND THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT DRIVEABLE BY AN ORDINARY CITIZEN. IT HAS HAPPENED, WHILE SLOWING DOWN, WHILE TURNING, ALL AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY HELP MUCH. I STILL CAN'T DRIVE IT. IT HAS 138K ON A HYBRID ENGINE. IT WAS REAR-ENDED AND REPAIRED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, BUT IT RAN FINE AFTER THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS IS A MYSTERY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11328777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER VW EMISSION REPAIR THE CAR STALLS IN SHIFTING GEARS AT LOW SPEED. I TOOK AT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES EVERYTIME THE KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND COULDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS NO FUEL COMING TO THE ENGINE OR THE CAR COMPUTER DO NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR UNTIL IT HITS 3000 RPM IN SPEEDS LOWER THE 35MPH. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WITH SPEAKING WITH VW DEALER ADVISORS THAT THIS AS A RESULT OF THE EMISSION REPAIR AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE SINCE IT'S KEEP STALING AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE JERKING FEELING FROM THE ENGINE. VW CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE KEPT CHANGING THEIR VERSION. AT FIRST, THEY SAID THE CARS COMPUTER WILL LEARN MY DRIVING PATTERN AND WILL ADJUST. THEN WHEN I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR THEY CLAIMED THIS IS HOW THE CAR SHOULD DRIVE AFTER THE EMISSION REPAIR. WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT STHOLMAN VW HE TOLD ME HE HA A CUSTOMER WITH THE SAME CAR IN FOR 3 MONTHS AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THAT ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11171023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
( STARTED NOTICING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 1 TO 2 YEARS AGO)WHILE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN 5TH GEAR AND SPEEDS OF UNDER 50 MI./HR, WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE AUTOMATIC DOWN SHIFT OCCURS WITH A VERY HARSH "KICK" TO A POINT THAT THE PASSENGERS FEEL THE JOLT. A FEW YEARS AGO, A SIMILAR PROBLEM REGARDING THE DOWN-SHIFT WAS SUBJECT OF RECALL WHICH THE DEALERS HAD TO INSTALL A "PATCH" ( UPDATED SOFTWARE) IN ORDER TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11109524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS HAPPENED TO THIS MY 2012 TOUAREG. THE ENGINE RANDOMLY DIED, EVEN ON FREEWAY, WHICH IS TOO DANGEROUS. THE PREVIOUS TIME IN IN JAN,2018 AND THIS TIME WAS ON FEB, 5TH, 2018. I WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP, THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT ANYTHING. SAYING EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND THEY COULDN'T SUGGEST ANYTHING. BUT IT IS EXTREME UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE ISSUE RANDOMLY HAPPENS. PER HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4965979-CAR-RANDOMLY-DIES-WHILE-DRIVING-ON-FREEWAY, SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG VW VEHICLES, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT IS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM OR OTHER RELEVANT PARTS. VW SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSE AND FIX IT. THANKS, LIANG
NHTSA complaint #11067295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE INTERMITTENT SUDDEN FORCEFUL JERKS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. ALSO CAR HESITATES WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PETAL AT TIMES, LIKE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MERGE INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. ALSO AT TIMES, WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND, OR THAT SOME UNDERNEATH YOUR CAR IS BREAKING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10992956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOR MY SITUATION MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY. AFTER THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CAR LOOKS FINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME, IT REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF, ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS TURNED OFF ALSO. THE WEIRD THING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF BY ITSELF, I AM ABLE TO RESTART MY VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO LET THEM CHECK OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED RIGHT. THEY WILL RELEASE MY VEHICLE TO ME THIS SATURDAY. MY CONCERN IS I CAN TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN IS THIS PROBLEM GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I GOT LUCKY THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY CARS BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF, IT CANNOT MOVE AT ALL AND I'M SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS LIKE THIS WHO WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY? I ASKED VW OF AMERICA, THEY SAID IF THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THIS TIME THEN I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THIS HAPPENS AGAIN OR IF THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING WRONG. THIS IS SOMETHING ABOUT SAFETY. WHEN THE MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN, IT JUST HAPPENS. PLEASE HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. I M NOT SURE IF THE DEALER REALLY CHECKS MY VEHICLE OR IF THEY ARE LYING?
NHTSA complaint #10917678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN. LOCAL DEALER PUT IN A NEW DRIVE TRAIN, THIS DID NOT WORK, THEN THEY PUT IN A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, THIS DID NOT WORK. ALL UNDER WARRANTY (23,000 MILES ON A 20124 VW TOUAREG) NOW I AM GOING DIRECTLY TO VWOF AMERICA TO FILE A CASE. VW SAYS THIS IS NORMAL IN ALL NEW TOUAREGS. THIS IS NOT TRUE. IT DID NOT VIBRATE WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT IT AND IF YOU TEST DRIVE A NEW ONE ON THE LOT, IT DOES NOT VIBRATE. THE VIBRATIONS HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS COASTING FROM 40 MPH TO 15 MPH, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING.
NHTSA complaint #10852131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2012 TDI LUX JUST WENT IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE ADBLUE HEATER HAS GONE BAD. I HAD 55,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN OR EMISSIONS WARRANTIES. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FIX WOULD BE AROUND $700 WITH LABOR. IT IS VERY SURPRISING THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS PIECE IS NECESSARY TO THE CAR MEET EMISSIONS THAT IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY AND THAT FURTHER DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO FAIL WHICH WOULD RENDER THE CAR IN-DRIVEABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10825817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ALONG IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND A LOUD THUMPING NOISE BEGINS IN THE TRANSMISSION HUMP UNDER THE ARMREST - FELT LIKE SOMETHING HEAVY HAD BECOME WRAPPED AROUND THE DRIVESHAFT AND WAS CAUSING INTENSE VIBRATION ABOVE 30MPH. PARK THE CAR AND TOW TO REPAIR SHOP AND LEARN THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BROKEN AND REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OFFROAD AND VAST MAJORITY OF MILES ARE COMMUTING ON THE FREEWAY AND GENERAL AROUND-TOWN DRIVING. NO WAY SHOULD A WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE DOING LIGHT HIGHWAY DRIVING SUFFER A DRIVESHAFT FAILURE AT ONLY 105K MILES. CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. REPAIR BILL WAS APPROXIMATELY $1600.
NHTSA complaint #10745485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2009 TOUAREG 2, V6 AUTOMATIC & HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH IT. I PURCHASED IT AS A PRE-OWNED VW CERTIFIED VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2012 WITH 32,423 MILES ON IT. IN MARCH OF 2013 (62227 MILES) WHILE DRIVING HOME I HAD INCREASED DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1600. UNFORTUNATELY THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED A WEEK OR SO BEFORE & THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THEN IN JULY OF 2013 (72913 MILES) THE PROP SHAFT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING $1400. NOW ON JULY 2, 2015 (122,000 MILES) WHILE DRIVING HOME I START TO HEAR A WHINING NOISE & DIFFICULTY STEERING & AM JUST ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. WE HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC & FIND ALL THE HYDRAULIC FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT & AGAIN THE POWER STEERING RACK WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR APPX. $1600+. WAY TOO MANY REPAIRS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10731965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A SHAKE, SHIMMY, OR VIBRATION BETWEEN 70-80MPH. 72MPH BEING THE MOST OBVIOUS. IT ALSO TENDS TO PULL MOSTLY TO THE RIGHT. IT CURRENTLY IS IN FOR ITS 2ND ATTEMPT AT REPAIR. THE FIRST WAS A REMOUNT AND REBALANCE OF ALL 4 WHEELS AS WELL AS "CLEANING" THE HUBS. THIS WAS TO COMPLY WITH THEIR OWN INTERNAL TSB. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FIXED AND IT IS NOT. I'M WAITING TO PICK IT UP.
NHTSA complaint #10717211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON APRIL 11, 2015, I WAS RETURNING FROM A DAY AT THE MALL WITH MY MOTHER AND CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I ENTERED A 35 MILE PER HOUR ZONE AND REDUCED MY SPEED ACCORDINGLY. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD RUMBLING SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. WE FIRST THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. WE PULLED OVER, GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE CAR AND ALL OF THE TIRES WERE FINE. WE PULLED BACK ON TO THE ROAD AND DIDN'T HEAR THE SOUND AGAIN UNTIL MY SPEED REACHED 25 MILES PER HOUR, THEN THE LOUD RUMBLING STARTED AGAIN. I WAS ALMOST AT MY MOM'S HOUSE SO WE MADE IT TO THE HOUSE AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED ME ON MONDAY MORNING 4/13/15 AND LET ME KNOW THAT SOMETHING EXPLODED IN THE DRIVESHAFT OF THE CAR AND THE WHOLE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE INDICATED IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM TO HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE WITH 87,766 MILES ON IT. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE FOUND IT STRANGE THAT WHEN HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A DRIVESHAFT IN STOCK. HE INDICATED THAT THIS TYPE OF PART WAS NOT A COMMON REPAIR AND WOULD USUALLY BE A PART THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. THE VEHICLE COST $1400.00 TO REPAIR. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT WHICH SHOW WHERE THE PIECE EXPLODED FROM THE DRIVESHAFT. I HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPANY CAR FOR MY DAILY WORK AND MY OFFICE IS LOCATED 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I DRIVE MY PERSONAL CAR VERY LITTLE AND KEEP IT IN TOP SHAPE. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR DRIVESHAFTS FOR THEIR TOUAREGS GOING BAD AROUND 80,000 MILES. I AM REPORTING THIS IN HOPES THERE IS A TREND THAT CAN BE LOOKED INTO. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS CAR ISSUE AND I PURCHASED THE TOUAREG BECAUSE I WANTED A SAFE SUV TO TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTERS IN. NOW I AM NERVOUS ABOUT THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10705978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRBAG MODULE DEFECTIVE WITH ONLY 54,496 MILES AND A $1200 COST TO FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! DASH LIGHTING HAS WENT ON AND OFF FOR AIRBAG. A WASHER PUMP DEFECTIVE, POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND KNOWN PROBLEM BY VOLKSWAGEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO ADMIT THE DEFECT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10681122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR STALLS, SKIPS GEARS, JERKS, WHEN COMING FROM A FULL STOP TO ACCELERATING JERKS AND PULL REALLY HARD GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR,, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER PAYING 800 DOLLAR THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG,, AND THAT WAS VW DEALER.... I'VE BEEN SEEIN ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC MODEL AND YEAR, CAN SOME PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE ATLEAST TELL ME WHAT COULD BE WRONG, SO I CAN FIX IT AND GET RID OF THIS STUPID CAR. IM BETTER OFF WITH AN AMERICAN CAR...
NHTSA complaint #10650277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE STALLED AT FREEWAY SPEED AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD FAILED. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF MIS-FUELING (NO GAS IN TANK WHEN TESTED), CONTAMINANTS ARE UNKNOWN. IT SEEMS THAT THE HPFP IS NOT DESIGNED TO PERFORM WITHIN THE TOLERANCES NECESSARY TO OPERATE SAFELY AND RELIABLY ON 'PUMP FUEL' AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS; IT IS MECHANICALLY DEFECTIVE AND CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO HIGHWAY SAFETY. REQUEST ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
NHTSA complaint #10643306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ALL OVER THE WEB YET VW AND TO DATE THE NHTSA REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. MAYBE THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE DIE (GM) BEFORE ANYONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PROBLEM IS WITH TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES CAR TO JOLT FORWARD AS IF IT IS GETTING RAMMED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL, WHIP LASH, REAR ENDING, ETC...
NHTSA complaint #10598532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.