Volkswagen Touareg Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON A SMOOTH TWO LANE WIDE HIGHWAY THE FRONT SUNROOF PANEL (PANORAMIC) SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, NO OVERPASSES AND NO TREES ABOVE. IT WAS AROUND 65-70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT WAS NOT HAILING OR RAINING AT THE TIME. NO OBJECTS WERE RECOVERED FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN UPWARDS INSTEAD OF INWARDS. FIANC AND TWO DOGS (TRUNK AREA) WERE INSIDE OF THE CRUCIBLE. GLASS CAUSED VERY MINOR CUTS. VEHICLE RECENTLY DETAILED AND ALSO CLEANED BY MYSELF. NO ROCK CHIPS PRESENT IN SUNROOF GLASS. NO VISIBLE CRACKS PRIOR TO INCIDENT.

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE.UNPREDICTABLE AND INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION STUMBLE': THIS OCCURS UNPREDICTABLY AND GENERALLY FROM A STANDING START. ONE DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. IT DECELERATES -THEN IT RECOVERS OFTEN ABRUPTLY. THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN PERIL OF A CRASH FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS BRAND NEW CAR SHAKES PERSISTENTLY AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 60MPH MAKING IT UNPLEASANT, IF NOT DANGEROUS, TO DRIVE. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60-75MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY. DEALER RE-BALANCED, STILL SHOOK. DEALER REPLACED EAGLE LS2'S AT 32K MILES WITH SAME TIRES AND ROAD-FORCE BALANCED...STILL SHOOK. BASED ON OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, I RECOMMENED THEY TRY GY LATITUDES...ALONG WITH ROAD-FORCE BALANCE AND NITRO FILL, SHAKING HAS BEEN GONE FOR PAST 15K MILES. BUT THIS IS A REPEATABLE EVENT ON FLAT/SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES, AT SPEED. MANY DEALERS APPARENTLY UNABLE TO CORRECT, BASED ON FEEDBACK AT VARIOUS TOUAREG FAN SITES (VW VORTEX, CLUB TOUAREG, ETC.) SEEMS TO IMPACT TDI LUX (MY TRIM) MORE THAN OTHERS, FROM 2011-2013. *TT

HESITATION OF VEHICLE WHEN ENTERING ON RAMP TO HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT FELT LIKE RUNNING ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY; VEHICLE DIED AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALER, WHO SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED FROM BACK TO FRONT. DEALER CLAIMS THAT REAR LIFT PUMP CAUSED THE INCIDENT BUT ALSO SAYS THE HPFP (INJECTOR PUMP) FAILED. THREE WEEKS INTO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING REPAIRED. *TR

WEDNESDAY 8/15 - FOLLOWING AN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM HOME TO A REMOTE OFFICE LOCATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STANDING AT A STOP LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND PROCEED A SHORT DISTANCE THROUGH THE LIGHT, WHEREIN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, WITH MULTIPLE ENGINE LIGHTS, GLOW PLUG COIL SIGNALS DISPLAYED. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. FOLLOWING DAY, 8/16 ADVISED THAT THE 'ALGAE' DISCOVERED IN FUEL - REQUIRING DRAIN OF FUEL TANK, FLUSH AND CLEANING OF FUEL SYSTEM - ESTIMATED COST ~ $400. FOLLOWING DAY, 8/17 ADVISED THAT DRAIN, FLUSH COMPLETE BUT THAT FUEL RETURN VALVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT - ESTIMATED COST INCREASED TO ~$800. PARTS ORDERED, CAR TO REMAIN AT DEALERSHIP THROUGH WEEKEND. TUESDAY 8/21 RECEIVED CALL, ADVISED THAT 'METAL SHAVINGS IN FUEL SYSTEM' REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF FUEL SYSTEM - APPROX. $10,000 REPAIR. REGIONAL VW SERVICE REP. REVIEWED MATTER AND ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. QUESTIONED SUDDEN SHIFT FROM ALGAE TO METAL SHAVINGS CONTAMINATION WITHOUT MATERIAL RESPONSE. LATER THAT DAY RECEIVED FOLLOW UP CALL THAT PARTS REQUIRED 'RED TAG' ORDERING, MEANING PARTS HAD TO COME FROM GERMANY. CAR TO BE LAID UP FOR ADDITIONAL 10 DAYS (APPROX). 8/27 - ASKED FOR UPDATE AND USE OF LOANER CAR. PARTS STILL ON ORDER. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT EXPERIENCED NON - GASOLINE GENERATED FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION/FAILURE - NO REASONED EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. LOANER CAR DENIED AS CAR WAS BEYOND 36K WARRANTY PERIOD, YET VW ELECTED TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. WEB BASED RESEARCH INDICATESWELL DOCUMENTED AND GROWING TDI FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE PROBLEM. *TR *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 20,500.

KEY CAME OUT OF THE CAR WHILE RUNNING. COULD NOT GET THE KEY BACK INTO IGNITION AND COULD NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER TALKING TO VW CUSTOMER CARE, THE ONLY SOLUTIONS PROVIDED WERE TO LET THE CAR RUN UNTIL IT RUNS OUT OF FUEL THEN WE CAN TOW IT. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DIESEL AND THE TANK WAS FUEL (26 GALLONS) - THIS WOULD REQUIRE FOR THE CAR TO RUN FOR DAYS...AND NO WAY TO LOCK THE DOORS. ALSO, THEY SUGGESTED THAT IF THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME I COULD CONSIDER SIFFENING THE FUEL - WHERE AM I SUPPOSE TO STORE 26 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL. VW HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I'M WAITING ON A SOLUTION IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Collision Avoidance Camera (Part Number: 7P6907217BZ1Y) has failed. The camera is still on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. All front assist/safety systems are unavailable, including cruise control. Systems are designed specifically to prevent collisions. The dealer (Volkswagen of Corpus Christi) has confirmed the issue as of September 4, 2023. The control module is failing all over the world, on various vehicle brands (Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen) and models. A replacement is not available, new or used. This was confirmed by the dealership.

The Driver Assistance System (Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Collision Avoidance, AEB, and Lane Departure/Lane Keeping system) all do not work. The VW dealers have said the Front Collision Avoidance Camera is not working. The system was intermittently working, then stopped working on the interstate highway in the left lane. The car failed to warn/slow/break automatically while the ACC function was activated, forcing me to engage the brakes manually to avoid a collision. The ACC/Front Collision warning light goes on now but did not when it first malfunctioned, and still only goes on intermittently but the system does not work at all. I had two local VW dealers check out the Driver Assist system. One said the entire system is not working. Another said the fault codes are emanating from the Front Collision Avoidance Camera. This is VW part 7P6907217BZ1Y. I ordered the part in November 2023 from a OKC VW dealer online (since it was the best price.) They then told me the part was unavailable/on back order. However, it has been 7 months and there is no ETA on the part availability. The dealer sent me a text message exchange with VW and that is what VW told the dealer. I am concerned VW is no longer making the part as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118-30119 and/or 49 U.S.C. 30120. I am part of VW Touareg owner forums. There are other Touareg (and other VW model) owners who report this same problem, lack of part availability, and no info from VW on whether they are even trying to obtain/supply this part any longer. I believe this is a serious, widespread safety issue based on reading other complaints online by Touareg/VW owners who have ACC/Driver Assist, who face the same dilatory action by VW to perhaps avoid fixing this issue until their legal obligation to manufacture the part expires. The parts and overall ACC/Collision Avoidance systems are very pricey, and this is a direct safety issue. thank you

Collision avoidance system / cruise control malfunction

Question 1: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1: Collision Avoidance Camera. The camera can be removed from the vehicle and shipped for inspection. Question 2: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer 2: All front safety feature stop working. Collision avoidance warning, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control. Question 3: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Answer 3: Yes. This is a well documented failure. Onboard data shows a communication failure with the camera. The car has been diagnosed with a failure in the front AAC camera. This camera is failing all over the world, in numerous years and models. Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and VW Touareg. A replacement is not available, new or used. Question 4: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Answer 4: Car starts and runs without warning for a time. All of a sudden a warning appears that the Accident Avoidance system is not functioning. I no longer have any front facing safety features. This camera has a high failure rate. If being used and it fails an accident is very possible.