2005 Volkswagen Touareg

The issue explained in Recall Notice 20Ai has reappeared after being 'fixed'. Issue Summary: On certain vehicles, the fuel pump flange may develop fine cracks or fissures, which could result in a fuel leak. Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Date of Recall Repair: 02/25/2019 Date of noticed failure: 08/07/2023 It has not been communicated that this part will continue to be a hazard, and I have now discovered that even when noted that this recall action has been completed, my vehicle has gasoline leaking into the passenger compartment via the same avenue as Recall 20Ai notes. This is highly concerning as all impacted VW Touaregs that were 'recalled' may still be at risk of vehicle fire or ignition.

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.

My vehicle is leaking gas, I was told there is a recall on my vehicle so I took it into the volkswagen dealership where I was told that the recall only covers the driver side leak but not the passenger side leak which makes absolutely no sense. Because when I drive off of the service lot the problem still exists which means I could be blown up or cause injury of fire. This recall should cover ALL aspects of the fuel leak! Not just one side! Making customers pay for this is disgusting! I am a single mom and don't have an extra $600 to spend on an issue that should have been corrected by the manufacturer.

PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH SHOWS AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. WATER COMES FROM BEHIND DASHBOARD ONTO DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WHEN TURNING WHILE DRIVING LIKELY CAUSE BY CLOGGED AC DRAINS BEHIND WHEEL WELLS. FUEL PUMP PREMATURE FAILURE, AFTER REFUELING. HEADLINER FALLING FROM CEILING ON TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WEATHER WAS HOT AND HUMID.

I TOOK MY SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FUEL PUMP RECALL, ABOUT 3,000 MILES AFTER MY SUV IS CAUSING PROBLEMS LIKE START BUT TURN OFF WITHIN 40 SECONDS. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND HE SAYS IS THE FUEL PUMP. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY ARE KIND OF UNRESPONSIVE...NO ADVISORS AVAILABLE, NO RETURNED CALLS (VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH COAST SANTA ANA CA).

WHEN I GET GAS FOR MY TOUAREG 2005 I'LL SHUT THE SUV OFF POP OPEN THE FUEL BOX DOOR AND PUT THE GAS IN THEN AS I PUT CAP BACK ON SHUT DOOR GET IN THE SUV I TRY TO START THE SUV BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THE CARS EITHER OUT OF GAS OR BATTERY HAS DIED SO AFTER THE FIRST LIKE SAY 4-6 TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING TO ME I TRIED TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AS I PUT THE GAS IN THE SUV IN HOPES OF IT STILL REMAIN ON AND RUNNING BUT SURE ENOUGH THE SUVS BATTERY LIGHT WILL POP ON AND THE CAR WILL LOSE LIFE BUT THE LIGHTS AND STUFF STILL REMAIN ON BUT NO DRIVING HAPPENING SO I'D HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OFF THEN TRY AND START IT UP AGAIN BUT AS I TURN THE KEY I'LL HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS PEDDLE A BUNCH TO CATCH THE FLOW I GUESS

OVERALL LIFE OF CAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MAJORITY OF THE HOSES IN THE ENGINE, THE FUEL LINE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE LEAVOR-3 TIMES, THE HORN ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE. AND WITH THE RECALL THE GAS FLANGE - CRACKING. THE PRODUCT VW USES IN THIS VEHICLE IS INFERIOR- PLASTIC EXPANDS WHEN HOT AND CONTRACTS WHEN COLD= CRACKING. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL OF THE GAS FLANGE OR WHATEVER ELSE IS RELATED TO THE GAS BEFORE ANYONE IN MY FAMILY OR OTHERS DIE. OR MY CAS GOES UP INTO FLAMES CAUSING SEVERE TRAUMA- ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS IN THIS VEHICLE THAT VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP - THE ENTIRE ENTERRIER PLASTIC COATING TO THE VEHICLE HAS MELTED - THE DRIVERS SIDE VISITOR HANGS AS THE SPRING ACTION OR WHAT EVER IT'S CALLED IS BROKEN. WE HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, FORDS, TOYOTA'S, HONDA'S AND SEVERAL VWS. THE TOUAREG AND ALL OF PRIMARY SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD ALWAYS FUNCTION SAFELY-THE GAS ISSUE IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE A RECALL TO SAVE LIVES!

IN JUNE 2017, I NOTICED FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ON JULY 1, 2017, I INSPECTED THE ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL FILTER FLANGE WAS DAMAGED AND LEAKING FUEL (FUMES) CLOSE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND UNDER THE SEAT WHERE MY SON SITS. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PHOTO. I ORDERED THE RETAINER RINGS AND GASKETS (BOTH SIDES) FROM A VW DEALERSHIP. ON JULY 14, 2017, I ORDERED TA NEW FUEL FILTER FLANGE FROM A SELLER ON EBAY THAT SPECIALIZES IN NEW VW PARTS. THE FUEL FILTER FLANGE WAS NEW AND MANUFACTURED BY VDO (CONTINENTAL). I INSTALLED ALL THE PARTS TOWARDS THE END OF JULY 2017 AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. I ACTUALLY REPLACED BOTH SIDES (DRIVER & PASSENGER) BECAUSE BOTH SIDES ARE A PROBLEM. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I WASN'T OR SHOULDN'T HAVE WAITED UNTIL THE RECALL NOTICE. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW AND NEEDED TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE IN MECHANICS AND CAPABLE TO PERFORM MOST REPAIRS. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I RECEIVED THE PARTS AND FIXED THE ISSUE. I SUBMITTED MY RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE SEE THE LETTER FROM VW DENYING ANY REIMBURSEMENT. THEY CLAIM THAT MY PARTS WERE NOT NEW AND NOT VW APPROVED PARTS. THE RETAINER RING & GASKET WAS PURCHASED BY A VW DEALERSHIP AND THE FUEL FILTER FLANGE WAS NEW AND MANUFACTURED BY VDO, WHICH IS THE OE COMPANY THAT MAKES THEM FOR VW. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS CLEARLY NOT TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUS AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ITS CONSUMERS. THEY ARE DENYING CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND DISREGARDING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. I HAD NO CHOICE AND FIXED THE ISSUE IMMEDIATELY.

GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TANK RUNS OVER THE RIGHT-SIDE EXHAUST TUBES TO THE GROUND. THE FLOW OF THE FUEL LEAKAGE IS VERY HIGH AT A DROP-RATE OF MORE THAN ONE DROP PER SECOND WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED AND THE ENGINE RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED. ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE LEAKAGE STOPS WITHIN SHORT TIME. I GOT AWARE OF THE DEFECT DUE TO THE STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER STOPPING AND GETTING OFF THE VEHICLE. I INVESTIGATED AND SAW GASOLINE DROPPING TO THE GROUND BETWEEN THE REAR WHEELS. THE FACT THAT THE FUEL IS RUNNING OVER THE EXHAUST TUBE MADE ME GROUND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY FOR SAFETY REASONS. ALTHOUGH I NEED THIS VEHICLE I DECIDED TO KEEP IT GROUNDED DUE TO THE HIGH RISK THAT THE GASOLINE GETS IGNITED BY THE HOT EXHAUST TUBE.