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2009 Volkswagen Touareg

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 27.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
20069
200756
200819
200925
201016
201128
2012
Compare all Touareg years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel/propulsion System
8Steering
3Air Bags
2Engine
2Fuel System, Diesel
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
62,227 miles · Jul 4, 2015
Power Train

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 R…

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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 ODI #10731965

87,766 miles · Apr 15, 2015
Power Train

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 …

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705978

Official recalls

2

17V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Mar 8, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel filter flange if cracks are found. A protective cover will be applied to the fuel filter to prevent oxidization cracks from forming. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 20Z4.

09V248000 · Structure:body

Jul 2, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 14,416 MY 2007-2009 TOUAREG VEHICLES. THE FASTENING STRUTS ON THE ROOF EDGE SPOILER CAN CRACK, CAUSING THE SPOILER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POSSIBLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN THOUGH INITIALLY THE SPOILER MAY FEEL SECURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SPOILER COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REINFORCEMENT WEDGES TO THE ROOF EDGE SPOILER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA11003 · High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Feb 7, 2011 · Closed Mar 27, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.