2015 Volkswagen TOUAREG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Volkswagen TOUAREG has 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: large amount of water entering the intake, affecting the peformance of the vehicle. the water is insufficiently draining from the intake box. the air filter degrades as a result. may lead to possible hydrolocking of the engine. there are active recalls for this issue for this vehicle model in china .

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

15 complaints

43%

• LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERING THE INTAKE, AFFECTING THE PEFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WATER IS INSUFFICIENTLY DRAINING FROM THE INTAKE BOX. THE AIR FILTER DEGRADES AS A RESULT. MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE HYDROLOCKING OF THE ENGINE. THERE ARE ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL IN CHINA
• WATER INGESTION INTO AIR INTAKE FROM DESIGN FLAW. CHANGED AIR FILTER BASED ON WARNING THREAD LOCATED AT CLUB TOUAREG ONLINE. IF YOU DRIVE A 2011-2017 TOUAREG PLEASE CHECK YOUR AIR FILTER. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURES AND VW REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. VW ISSUED RECALL IN CH
• UNDER ACCELERATION THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND A LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST, SUGGESTING POSSIBLE WATER INGESTION. UPON REMOVING THE AIR FILTER IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FILTER HAD WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD, AND THE FILTER AND AIRBOX HAD LOTS OF SMALL DEBRIS CLOGGING THE

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

“LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERING THE INTAKE, AFFECTING THE PEFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WATER IS INSUFFICIENTLY DRAINING FROM THE INTAKE BOX. THE AIR FILTER DEGRADES AS A RESULT. MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE HYDROLOCKING OF THE ENGINE. THERE ARE ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL IN CHINA ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

6 complaints

17%

• Question 1: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1: Collision Avoidance Camera. The camera can be removed from the vehicle and shipped for inspection. Question 2: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer
• Collision avoidance system / cruise control malfunction
• Collision avoidance system / cruise control malfunction

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

“Question 1: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1: Collision Avoidance Camera. The camera can be removed from the vehicle and shipped for inspection. Question 2: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

11%

• Question 1: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1: Collision Avoidance Camera. The camera can be removed from the vehicle and shipped for inspection. Question 2: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer
• Collision avoidance system / cruise control malfunction
• The Driver Assistance System (Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Collision Avoidance, AEB, and Lane Departure/Lane Keeping system) all do not work. The VW dealers have said the Front Collision Avoidance Camera is not working. The system was intermittently working, then stopped working on the interst

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

• SUNROOF IS LEAKING AND CREATES CONDENSATION AND MOLD INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY PERFORMED A CLEANING. COUPLE A WEEKS AFTER I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF IS LEAKING AGAIN AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED THEY ONLY CLEANED THE PIPES BUT NOW THE
• I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE DAY AFTER A RAINY DAY IN FLORIDA AND WATER WAS INGESTED INTO MY CAR'S AIR FILTER AND THEN INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MAJOR AND EXPENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGES. I HAD NOT DRIVEN THROUGH ANY DEEP PUDDLES. VW FIXED THE VEHICLE (FOR $4321.99). I LATER RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FO
• The car at half tank will read as being empty. Fuel pump flange? The car will have gas and then randomly show fuel error and drop to empty. The car is drivable and then while drive will switch to empty back to half full mode. Less of the worry the adaptive cruise control and fwd collision warning

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

“SUNROOF IS LEAKING AND CREATES CONDENSATION AND MOLD INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY PERFORMED A CLEANING. COUPLE A WEEKS AFTER I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF IS LEAKING AGAIN AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED THEY ONLY CLEANED THE PIPES BUT NOW THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE TIRES, SIZE 265/50/R19. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT PROPERLY INFL
• I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE TIRE SHOP THIS MORNING TO HAVE THE TIRE PATCHED FOR A SMALL SCREW THAT WAS PICKED UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I RECEIVED A CALL A SHORT TIME LATER FROM TIRE SHOP TELLING ME THAT THE SIDEWALL OF MY TIRE HAD FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND SIDEWALL FAILURE MY GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE TIRES, SIZE 265/50/R19. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT PROPERLY INFL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 35 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERING THE INTAKE, AFFECTING THE PEFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WATER IS INSUFFICIENTLY DRAINING FROM THE INTAKE BOX. THE AIR FILTER DEGRADES AS A RESULT. MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE HYDROLOCKING OF THE ENGINE. THERE ARE ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL IN CHINA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: Question 1: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1: Collision Avoidance Camera. The camera can be removed from the vehicle and shipped for inspection. Question 2: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: Question 1: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1: Collision Avoidance Camera. The camera can be removed from the vehicle and shipped for inspection. Question 2: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SUNROOF IS LEAKING AND CREATES CONDENSATION AND MOLD INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY PERFORMED A CLEANING. COUPLE A WEEKS AFTER I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF IS LEAKING AGAIN AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED THEY ONLY CLEANED THE PIPES BUT NOW THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)