2011 Volkswagen TOUAREG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Volkswagen TOUAREG has 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: wednesday 8/15 - following an approximately 50 mile early morning highway drive from home to a remote office location, the engine stalled while standing at a stop light. i immediately restarted and proceed a short distance through the light, wherein the engine failed again. attempts to restart wer.

1 crash report 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

6 complaints

30%

• WEDNESDAY 8/15 - FOLLOWING AN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM HOME TO A REMOTE OFFICE LOCATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STANDING AT A STOP LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND PROCEED A SHORT DISTANCE THROUGH THE LIGHT, WHEREIN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WER
• GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT FELT LIKE RUNNING ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY; VEHICLE DIED AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALER, WHO SAYS THAT
• GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT FELT LIKE RUNNING ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY; VEHICLE DIED AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALER, WHO SAYS THAT

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

“WEDNESDAY 8/15 - FOLLOWING AN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM HOME TO A REMOTE OFFICE LOCATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STANDING AT A STOP LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND PROCEED A SHORT DISTANCE THROUGH THE LIGHT, WHEREIN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

20%

• WATER FOUND IN THE AIR INTAKE BOX DURING AIR FILTER CHANGE ON MY 2011 VW TOUAREG. BOTTOM 3.5 INCHES OF OLD FILTER WAS FOUND WET WHEN AIR BOX WAS OPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS LIQUID WATER THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DURING OPERATION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN A SERI
• THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, CAR GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE RANDOMLY AND CREAKS ALONG AT 8 MILES AN HOUR, MOST RECENTLY LOST BRAKING POWER AND MESSAGE COMES UP "HYBRID ERROR, PULL OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION." THEN WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN IT WORKS FINE. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL AS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF NORWOOD (1280 PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.

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

“WATER FOUND IN THE AIR INTAKE BOX DURING AIR FILTER CHANGE ON MY 2011 VW TOUAREG. BOTTOM 3.5 INCHES OF OLD FILTER WAS FOUND WET WHEN AIR BOX WAS OPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS LIQUID WATER THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DURING OPERATION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN A SERI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED.
• AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60-75MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY. DEALER RE-BALANCED, STILL SHOOK. DEALER REPLACED EAGLE LS2'S AT 32K MILES WITH SAME TIRES AND ROAD-FORCE BALANCED...STILL SHOOK. BASED ON OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, I RECOMMENED THEY TRY GY LATITUDES...ALONG WITH ROAD-FORCE BALAN
• THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS BRAND NEW CAR SHAKES PERSISTENTLY AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 60MPH MAKING IT UNPLEASANT, IF NOT DANGEROUS, TO DRIVE. *TR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

15%

• AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60-75MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY. DEALER RE-BALANCED, STILL SHOOK. DEALER REPLACED EAGLE LS2'S AT 32K MILES WITH SAME TIRES AND ROAD-FORCE BALANCED...STILL SHOOK. BASED ON OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, I RECOMMENED THEY TRY GY LATITUDES...ALONG WITH ROAD-FORCE BALAN
• WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON A SMOOTH TWO LANE WIDE HIGHWAY THE FRONT SUNROOF PANEL (PANORAMIC) SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, NO OVERPASSES AND NO TREES ABOVE. IT WAS AROUND 65-70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT WAS NOT HAILING OR RAINING AT THE TIME. NO OBJECTS WERE REC
• MY DIESEL VW TOUAREG NEEDS THE NOX SENSOR REPLACED. WHY IS THIS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM ? SINDE THE EPA HAS DESIGNATED THE VW DIESELS MUST BE EITHER BUYBACK OR REPLACED/REPAIRED IT SEEMS APPARENT THAT THIS SENSOR IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO THE FUNCTION OF THE EMISS

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

“AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60-75MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY. DEALER RE-BALANCED, STILL SHOOK. DEALER REPLACED EAGLE LS2'S AT 32K MILES WITH SAME TIRES AND ROAD-FORCE BALANCED...STILL SHOOK. BASED ON OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, I RECOMMENED THEY TRY GY LATITUDES...ALONG WITH ROAD-FORCE BALAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

1 complaints

• IN A FRONT-ON COLLISION THAT CAUSED $22,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“IN A FRONT-ON COLLISION THAT CAUSED $22,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 20 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WEDNESDAY 8/15 - FOLLOWING AN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM HOME TO A REMOTE OFFICE LOCATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STANDING AT A STOP LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND PROCEED A SHORT DISTANCE THROUGH THE LIGHT, WHEREIN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WATER FOUND IN THE AIR INTAKE BOX DURING AIR FILTER CHANGE ON MY 2011 VW TOUAREG. BOTTOM 3.5 INCHES OF OLD FILTER WAS FOUND WET WHEN AIR BOX WAS OPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS LIQUID WATER THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DURING OPERATION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN A SERI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60-75MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY. DEALER RE-BALANCED, STILL SHOOK. DEALER REPLACED EAGLE LS2'S AT 32K MILES WITH SAME TIRES AND ROAD-FORCE BALANCED...STILL SHOOK. BASED ON OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, I RECOMMENED THEY TRY GY LATITUDES...ALONG WITH ROAD-FORCE BALAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)