2010 Volkswagen TOUAREG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Volkswagen TOUAREG has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (49% of all complaints), specifically: during the process of filling the almost empty tank with diesel fuel, an electrical short (per report of the local fire department that was called in) created heat that was able to melt part of the tank in the area of the filling nozzle, completely melted the rubber strap holding the fuel cap and me. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

18 complaints

49%

• DURING THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE ALMOST EMPTY TANK WITH DIESEL FUEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (PER REPORT OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CALLED IN) CREATED HEAT THAT WAS ABLE TO MELT PART OF THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FILLING NOZZLE, COMPLETELY MELTED THE RUBBER STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL CAP AND ME
• WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED ALLEGEDLY DUE TO SUB
• ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2014 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON US ROUTE 9 IN BARRINGTON NH AT APPROXIMATELY 11AM IN MY VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2010 TDI. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR BEFORE I FELT A STRANGE LAG AND THEN A WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING TO STOP THE CAR. BEFORE I COULD PU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DURING THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE ALMOST EMPTY TANK WITH DIESEL FUEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (PER REPORT OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CALLED IN) CREATED HEAT THAT WAS ABLE TO MELT PART OF THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FILLING NOZZLE, COMPLETELY MELTED THE RUBBER STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL CAP AND ME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

8 complaints

22%

• WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED ALLEGEDLY DUE TO SUB
• ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2014 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON US ROUTE 9 IN BARRINGTON NH AT APPROXIMATELY 11AM IN MY VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2010 TDI. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR BEFORE I FELT A STRANGE LAG AND THEN A WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING TO STOP THE CAR. BEFORE I COULD PU
• HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ("HPFP") FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE STALL INCIDENT, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC WITH NO RESTART, CONTRIBUTING TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED ALLEGEDLY DUE TO SUB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

• THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY (8+ HOURS). UPON TRYING TO START IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THEN BACKFIRED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE CAR SMOKED.
• TAKATA RECALL FOR AIRBAG DASH LIGHT ON. ALSO, CHECK 'ENGINE LIGHT' FOR DIESEL DEF HEATING ELEMENT FAULT. BOTH LIGHTS APPEARED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE/STATIONARY AND HAVE REMAINED ON EVER SINCE.
• my 2010 vw touareg tdi 3.0 have 2 service campaign 23r3 and 26k2 which is commonly known for vw tdi diesel scandal. i took my car to vw they said they will replace the catalytic converts and knox sensors. and the ad blue box. today i got a call stating that my car will not get a catalytic converter

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY (8+ HOURS). UPON TRYING TO START IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THEN BACKFIRED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE CAR SMOKED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• DURING THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE ALMOST EMPTY TANK WITH DIESEL FUEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (PER REPORT OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CALLED IN) CREATED HEAT THAT WAS ABLE TO MELT PART OF THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FILLING NOZZLE, COMPLETELY MELTED THE RUBBER STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL CAP AND ME
• VW ABS CONTROL MODULE RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR DID NOT INCLUDE 2010 TOUAREGS. HOWEVER, I OWN 2 OF THEM AND BOTH HAVE AN ABS MODULE ISSUE. AS DOES MY MOTHER IN LAW'S 2010 TIGUAN. PLEASE LOOK INTO EXTENDING THE RECALL TO THESE MODEST. ATTACHED IS THE $2,839 ESTIMATE FROM A VW DEALER TO REPLACE THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2014 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON US ROUTE 9 IN BARRINGTON NH AT APPROXIMATELY 11AM IN MY VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2010 TDI. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR BEFORE I FELT A STRANGE LAG AND THEN A WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING TO STOP THE CAR. BEFORE I COULD PU
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2014 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON US ROUTE 9 IN BARRINGTON NH AT APPROXIMATELY 11AM IN MY VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2010 TDI. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR BEFORE I FELT A STRANGE LAG AND THEN A WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING TO STOP THE CAR. BEFORE I COULD PU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 37 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: DURING THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE ALMOST EMPTY TANK WITH DIESEL FUEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (PER REPORT OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CALLED IN) CREATED HEAT THAT WAS ABLE TO MELT PART OF THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FILLING NOZZLE, COMPLETELY MELTED THE RUBBER STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL CAP AND ME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED ALLEGEDLY DUE TO SUB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY (8+ HOURS). UPON TRYING TO START IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THEN BACKFIRED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE CAR SMOKED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: DURING THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE ALMOST EMPTY TANK WITH DIESEL FUEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (PER REPORT OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CALLED IN) CREATED HEAT THAT WAS ABLE TO MELT PART OF THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FILLING NOZZLE, COMPLETELY MELTED THE RUBBER STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL CAP AND ME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)