Volkswagen

Touareg (1st)

2004-2010 · Midsize SUV ยท 5 engines
Best Engine โœ… Recommended (3.7)
443 NHTSA Complaints
8 Recalls
11 Fire Reports
10 Crash Reports
Includes data from: TOUAREGTOUAREG 2
View all 2 generations of the Volkswagen Touareg → ๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (16.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (16.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

Volkswagen Touareg Unidentified Engine

โœ… Recommended (3.7)
69 complaints 11.5 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
19
wheels tires
14
electrical
10
fuel system
9
body
7

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (19 complaints)
Wheels & Tires Issues (14 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (10 complaints)

TDI

3.0L 6-cyl Turbo / 225 hp
โš ๏ธ Caution (2.3)
21 complaints 10.5 per year Diesel
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

fuel system
15
engine
9
electrical
2
transmission
2
exterior
1

Known Issues

Fuel System Issues (15 complaints)
Engine Issues (9 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (2 complaints)

FSI

4.2L 8-cyl / 350 hp
โŒ Avoid (1.8)
71 complaints 23.7 per year Gasoline
4 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

fuel system
36
electrical
9
engine
7
exterior
6
transmission
4

Known Issues

Fuel System Issues (36 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (9 complaints)
Engine Issues (7 complaints)

4.2-V8-Gas

4.2L 8-cyl / 310 hp
โŒ Avoid (1.5)
132 complaints 44.0 per year Gasoline
5 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

fuel system
35
electrical
31
engine
18
exterior
14
transmission
14

Known Issues

Fuel System Issues (35 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (31 complaints)
Engine Issues (18 complaints)
Show 3 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

4.9-V10-Diesel

4.9L 10-cyl / 310 hp
โœ… Recommended (4.6)
6 complaints 2.0 per year Diesel
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
2
transmission
1
wheels tires
1
exterior
1
engine
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (2 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)
Wheels & Tires Issues (1 complaints)

EA390 VR6

3.6L 6-cyl / 276 hp
โœ… Recommended (4.1)
6 complaints 6.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

fuel system
2
engine
2
interior
1
transmission
1

Known Issues

Fuel System Issues (2 complaints)
Engine Issues (2 complaints)
Interior Issues (1 complaints)

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Volkswagen Touareg regardless of engine variant.

Fuel System Issues (116 complaints)
fuel_system critical
Electrical System Issues (81 complaints)
electrical critical
Transmission Issues (65 complaints)
transmission critical
Wheels & Tires Issues (36 complaints)
wheels_tires serious
Engine Issues (36 complaints)
engine critical

Recalls (8)

17V583000Sep 19, 2017serious
Fuel System

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

17V151000Aug 2, 2017serious
Fuel System

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.

09V248000Feb 6, 2009serious
Structure

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.

08V035000Jan 27, 2008serious
Fuel System

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A FUEL SUPPLY LINE WAS CHANGED DURING PRODUCTION WHICH COULD LEAD TO INSUFFICIENT SEALING OF THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE CONNECTOR.

07V285000Jun 24, 2007cosmetic
Equipment

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS." THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS MISSING THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS.

04V233000May 18, 2004serious
Seat Belts

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCH ATTACHMENT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENTLY RIVETED.

04V592000Dec 14, 2004critical
Seat Belts

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLATION. THE BELT MAY DEACTIVATE THE ALR MODE WITH CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINTS.

03V266000Jul 24, 2003serious
Electrical System

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED DURING ASSEMBLY. AN IMPROPERLY ROUTED TPMS WIRING HARNESS MAY CONTACT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE SPRING.

Alternatives in Midsize SUV

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg problems?

The 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg has accumulated 443 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Fuel System, Electrical System, Transmission. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Volkswagen Touareg engine is most reliable?

The 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg was offered with 8 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.2L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg a good used car?

The 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 443 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg have?

The 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg has 443 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg?

There are 8 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2004-2010 Volkswagen Touareg vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Volkswagen Touareg?

Before buying a used Volkswagen Touareg, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Fuel System, Electrical System, Transmission, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Touareg?

The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 4 stars. Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 443 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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