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2010 Volkswagen Touareg

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Volkswagen Touareg do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 5 unknown

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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Diesel. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
65,000 miles · Oct 8, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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 SIG…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643306

35,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. JCC

NHTSA ODI #10619021

51,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3 DAYS PRIOR AS A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" FROM LAKELAND VW OF FLORIDA. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO STOP. AS I ROLLED UP AND WENT TO TURN RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS A BUSY STREET, AT WHICH PO…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3 DAYS PRIOR AS A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" FROM LAKELAND VW OF FLORIDA. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO STOP. AS I ROLLED UP AND WENT TO TURN RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS A BUSY STREET, AT WHICH POINT I CALLED ROADSIDE FOR A TOW. THE VW DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT IT IS MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617038

Official recalls

1

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.

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.