2015 Volkswagen Touareg

Today, engine completely cut off in the middle of traffic (20-30 MPH), loss of power steering and breaking power. Engine dashboard yellow message appeared. I experience this several times before and previously brought to the attention of VW service department and some ECU repairs and engine sensor repairs were done - but the problem continues to happen. Sometimes engine cuts off simply at idle (e.g. waiting at traffic light) but loss of engine power together with power steering and breaks is very concerning when driving.

WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THERE CAN BE A HUGE LAG IN TIME FROM WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO WHEN THE CAR REACTS AND ACCELERATES.IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WHICH IS WHERE THE DANGER ARISES. THIS STARTED WHEN VW "FIXED" THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALLER GAP TO GET INTO IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE VW RETUNED THE CAR. I WORRY ABOUT MY WIFE AND KIDS GETTING HIT BY SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE LAG/HESITATION THAT IS OCCURRING. VW SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS.

OUR 2015 TOUAREG TDI WITH 35,000MI LOST POWER ON INTERSTATE 10. THE VEHICLE WAS IN 'LIMP' MODE AND ONLY ABLE TO REACH A SPEED OF 20MPH IN A 75MPH ZONE ON INTERSTATE 10. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE MADE IT TO A DEALER IN LAS CRUCES, NM. AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS WATER IN THE AIR FILTER, THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE AIR FLOW SENSOR. AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH WE DISCOVERED THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EXTERIOR DRAIN SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES WATER TO FLOW INTO THE AIR INTAKE, THRU THE AIR FILTER, THRU THE TURBO, AND ULTIMATELY INTO THE ENGINE. THE UNDIRECTED EXTERIOR DRAIN WATER DAMAGES THE AIR FILTER, THE TURBO, AND, IN SOME CASES, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WILL FAIL. I WAS TOLD OUR 2015 TOUAREG TDI WOULD NEED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO REPLACE THE TURBO AT A COST OF $4,000-$5,000.

WATER INTRUSION IN AIR FILTER CAUSING MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS AND SEVERE LOSS OF POWER. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING, DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER, GLOW PLUG FLASHING, AND CHECK ENGINE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED AIR FILTER AND MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND CHARGED $500+ FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS A VW CPO AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY STATED I MUST HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH DEEP WATER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WHICH I DID NOT. IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED MY DRIVING THROUGH 3-4 FEET OF WATER. THIS NEVER HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR REPLACED IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS EXACT ISSUE AND ALSO THAT VW HAS RECALLED THIS VEHICLE IN CHINA FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT THE USA. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING.

PARTIALLY WET/MOIST AIR FILTER. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN THROUGH ANY STANDING WATER. 1/3RD OF THE AIR FILTER IS WET AND LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN THE AIRBOX AS THE AIR FILTER DISPLAYED SIGNS ON WATER DAMAGE UPON REPLACEMENT FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. IT SEEMS THAT WATER COLLECTS IN THE BOTTOM OF AIRBOX AND DOES NOT DRAIN OUT EVEN WHEN DRAIN VALVE IS UNOBSTRUCTED AND OPERATIONAL. COULD CAUSE AN ISSUE WITH ENGINE HYDRO-LOCKING AND FAILING. POOR DESIGN. THIS COULD CAUSE ENGIN

WATER IS SOMEHOW FINDING ITS WAY INTO ENGINE AIR FILTER HOUSING(INTAKE) AND SOAKING AIR FILTER ELEMENT DESPITE HAVING ONLY BEEN DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL WEATHER/ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH ANY WATER DEEPER THAN A MUD PUDDLE. AM CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL ENGINE DAMAGE THAT COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR IF FURTHER WATER INTRUSION OCCURS, PARTICULARLY IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING.

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT SLOW CITY SPEEDS AND SUDDENLY LOUD EXHAUST NOISE STARTED TO COME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, FLAMES WERE BEING SPIT OUT OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BECAUSE THE PRE-CAT PIPE WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED. CYLINDER 4-6 PRE-CAT (REAR/UPPER) SEPARATED FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD FLANGE BECAUSE OF A FAILED WELD. ISSUE ADDRESSED ON VW RECALL 26L3. VW RECALL 26L3 DOES NOT ADDRESS 2015 MODELS BUT DOES 2013 MODELS, DEALER REFUSED TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO CARRY OUT THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY STATE THAT VW HAS NOT INCLUDED MODEL YEAR 2015 IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. ESCALATED TO VWOA, WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.

WATER AND DEBRIS WAS INGESTED IN TO AIR FILTER BOX RESULTING IN WATER-SOAKED AIR FILTER AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING BECAUSE I HAD NEVER CHECKED MY AIR FILTER BEFORE. THE VEHICLE HAS PERIODICALLY BEEN DRIVEN IN RAIN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BUT NEVER DRIVEN IN DEEP OR STANDING WATER. IT APPEARS THAT DRAINS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRAIN PROPERLY AND WATER IS ENTERING THE BOX SOMEHOW WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE BE ABLE TO.