2013 Volkswagen TOUAREG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Volkswagen TOUAREG has 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: we took possession of the veh. on 3/14/12 with 495 miles on it. in the following week we noticed that the steering wheel and column was intermittently shuddering/ vibrating and making a noise. veh. was initially taken in @ dealership on 3/27/12. also had issue with ad blue indicator coming on. veh w.

1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

8 complaints

19%

• WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEH. ON 3/14/12 WITH 495 MILES ON IT. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN WAS INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDERING/ VIBRATING AND MAKING A NOISE. VEH. WAS INITIALLY TAKEN IN @ DEALERSHIP ON 3/27/12. ALSO HAD ISSUE WITH AD BLUE INDICATOR COMING ON. VEH W
• VEHICLE EXHIBITS A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE THAT CONSISTENTLY OCCURS ABOVE 60MPH ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. AT ONSET, CAN FEEL OSCILLATION IN HANDS AND ARMS. WITH HANDS LIGHTLY ON WHEEL OR REMOVED, CAN VISUALLY CONFIRM STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION (CYCLICAL ROTATION FROM L TO R AND BACK) WITH ABOUT 3/8" TOTAL
• UPON REACHING SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 AND APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES PER HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOTICEABLY SHAKE BACK AND FORTH VERY OBVIOUSLY, SO MUCH SO THAT IT WORRIED ME THERE WAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE.

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

“WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEH. ON 3/14/12 WITH 495 MILES ON IT. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN WAS INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDERING/ VIBRATING AND MAKING A NOISE. VEH. WAS INITIALLY TAKEN IN @ DEALERSHIP ON 3/27/12. ALSO HAD ISSUE WITH AD BLUE INDICATOR COMING ON. VEH W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

8 complaints

19%

• 2013 TOUAREG TDI GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT ALSO FELT LIKE RUNNING ON ONLY A FEW CYLINDERS -- COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MPH ON FREEWAY. ALSO LOST ABILITY TO DOWNSHIFT AUTO TRANSMISSION. DROVE THE VEHICL
• I WAS TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC (LEFT). I STARTED TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, ALMOST SEEM TO DIE, THEN RECOUPED AND WENT ACROSS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN 1000 MILES. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC THE FIRST TIME. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AND ONE THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY, O
• MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND I WAS WITH HER. SHE HAS HER PERMIT. MY TOUREG STALLED THREE TIMES. ONCE AT A STOP LIGHT AND SHORT AFTER WITH HER DRIVING. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. IN ADDITION, ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP CLOSE TO ME.

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

“2013 TOUAREG TDI GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT ALSO FELT LIKE RUNNING ON ONLY A FEW CYLINDERS -- COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MPH ON FREEWAY. ALSO LOST ABILITY TO DOWNSHIFT AUTO TRANSMISSION. DROVE THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

6 complaints

14%

• 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ADVERTISING OF THE VEHICLE ABLE TO TOW 7,600 WAS MISLEADING, WHEN IN FACT THE OWNER'S MANUAL READ USE ONLY A WEIGHT-CARRYING TRAILER HITCH. NEVER INSTALL A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING
• THE AC EVAPORATION VALVE IS BLOCKED AND THERE IS BETWEEN 2-5 CUPS OF DIRTY CONTAMINATED WATER COMING INTO MY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER FOOT WELL. IT HAS NOW BECOME A PROBLEM MORE THAN WATER DAMAGE AND A CONCERN BECAUSE MY SHOES GET WET AND MAKE THE PEDALS SLICK AND UNSAFE AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I J
• SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD AND ENTIRE FRONT GLASS SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. ALL CAR DOOR WINDOWS WERE OPEN. TEMPURATURE OUTSIDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES.

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

“2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ADVERTISING OF THE VEHICLE ABLE TO TOW 7,600 WAS MISLEADING, WHEN IN FACT THE OWNER'S MANUAL READ USE ONLY A WEIGHT-CARRYING TRAILER HITCH. NEVER INSTALL A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

10%

• WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY SYMPTOMS OF A POWER PROBLEM. WE HAD TO MOVE ACROSS FOUR LANES OF CAR AND TRUCK TRAFFIC WHILE RAPIDLY DECELERATING. LUCK AND SKILL PREVAILED TO AVOID A SERIOUS AND POTENTI
• I HAVE JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON MY TOUAREG TDI AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE ADBLUE HEATER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 80K EMISSIONS WARRANTY AND WILL COST ME $1,200 TO REPAIR. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE COVERED WHEN ADBLUE'S SOLE PURPOSE IS TO REMOV
• So there’s a campaign to add a bracket to one of the catalytic converters. That’s great except I never knew about it and the thing they added the bracket to prevent happened to me. The exhaust pipe from the catalytic separated from the flange connecting to the manifold. It’s a 2000 dollar part from

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

“WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY SYMPTOMS OF A POWER PROBLEM. WE HAD TO MOVE ACROSS FOUR LANES OF CAR AND TRUCK TRAFFIC WHILE RAPIDLY DECELERATING. LUCK AND SKILL PREVAILED TO AVOID A SERIOUS AND POTENTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

• VEHICLE EXHIBITS A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE THAT CONSISTENTLY OCCURS ABOVE 60MPH ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. AT ONSET, CAN FEEL OSCILLATION IN HANDS AND ARMS. WITH HANDS LIGHTLY ON WHEEL OR REMOVED, CAN VISUALLY CONFIRM STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION (CYCLICAL ROTATION FROM L TO R AND BACK) WITH ABOUT 3/8" TOTAL
• THE CAR KEEPS HAVING A CLICKING NOISE ON THE BACK, SUSPENSION PARTS WERE REPLACED BUT IT DOES KEEP HAVING THE SAME NOISE, BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IT IS. *TR
• WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 MPH - 75 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BACK AND FORTH. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE IS NOTICEABLE TO THE POINT THAT IF YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL YOU LITERALLY CAN SEE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE BACK AND FORTH. THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIR

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

“VEHICLE EXHIBITS A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE THAT CONSISTENTLY OCCURS ABOVE 60MPH ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. AT ONSET, CAN FEEL OSCILLATION IN HANDS AND ARMS. WITH HANDS LIGHTLY ON WHEEL OR REMOVED, CAN VISUALLY CONFIRM STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION (CYCLICAL ROTATION FROM L TO R AND BACK) WITH ABOUT 3/8" TOTAL ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 42 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEH. ON 3/14/12 WITH 495 MILES ON IT. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN WAS INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDERING/ VIBRATING AND MAKING A NOISE. VEH. WAS INITIALLY TAKEN IN @ DEALERSHIP ON 3/27/12. ALSO HAD ISSUE WITH AD BLUE INDICATOR COMING ON. VEH W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 2013 TOUAREG TDI GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT ALSO FELT LIKE RUNNING ON ONLY A FEW CYLINDERS -- COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MPH ON FREEWAY. ALSO LOST ABILITY TO DOWNSHIFT AUTO TRANSMISSION. DROVE THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ADVERTISING OF THE VEHICLE ABLE TO TOW 7,600 WAS MISLEADING, WHEN IN FACT THE OWNER'S MANUAL READ USE ONLY A WEIGHT-CARRYING TRAILER HITCH. NEVER INSTALL A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY SYMPTOMS OF A POWER PROBLEM. WE HAD TO MOVE ACROSS FOUR LANES OF CAR AND TRUCK TRAFFIC WHILE RAPIDLY DECELERATING. LUCK AND SKILL PREVAILED TO AVOID A SERIOUS AND POTENTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)