2016 Volkswagen TOUAREG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Volkswagen TOUAREG has 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: constant issues with water entering the airbox from faulty design. this can enable parts of the filter to enter the engine and cause catastrophic damage (hydro lock). this vehicle has only sat outside in the rain or has been driven in the rain; all normal conditions for the operation of this vehic.

3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

22 complaints

33%

• CONSTANT ISSUES WITH WATER ENTERING THE AIRBOX FROM FAULTY DESIGN. THIS CAN ENABLE PARTS OF THE FILTER TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE (HYDRO LOCK). THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY SAT OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE RAIN; ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHIC
• WHEN CHANGING AIR FILTER, THE FILTER WAS SOAKED WITH WATER AT THE BOTTOM. THE AIR INTAKE TUBE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND WASN'T DRAINING. I'M LUCKY THE WATER WASN'T SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE LITTLE DRAIN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INTAKE TUBE WAS CLOGGED NOT ALLOWING THE WATER TO DRAIN BUT WHY WAS WATER
• WHILE READING A VW FORUM I BECAME AWARE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AIR FILTER HOUSING DRAIN BECOMING CLOGGED AND THE AIR FILTER BECOMING WET AND WATER BEING INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE, HYDROLOCKING THE ENGINE AND REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW ENGINE. I THEN CHECKED MY AIR FILTER AND FOUND THE

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

“CONSTANT ISSUES WITH WATER ENTERING THE AIRBOX FROM FAULTY DESIGN. THIS CAN ENABLE PARTS OF THE FILTER TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE (HYDRO LOCK). THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY SAT OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE RAIN; ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

10 complaints

15%

• SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2016 TOUAREG TDI IN SEPTEMBER 2015. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION HAS BECOME QUITE AN ISSUE AS IT IS GETTING WORSE THE LONGER I DRIVE IT. I HAVE HAD IT ROAD TESTED, WHEELS BALANCE TIRES ROTATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT THE STEERING. I HAVE ONLY
• SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THE EXPLOSION WAS UPWARDS. THE CAR HAS A PANORAMIC ROOF AND THE FRONT SLIDING SECTION IS THE ONE THAT EXPLODED. NO ROCK CHIP OR OTHER IMPACT TO ROOF. THIS IS A 2016 BUT PURCHASED "NEW" ON 1/8/18 FOLLOWING VW DIESEL 3.0 FIX AND COURT AUTHORIZATION TO SEL
• SINCE THE TDI FIX I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS OF POWER LOSS AND THEN THE ACTIVATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW SPEED. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. VW CALLED IT A GLITCH NOT RELATED TO THE TDI FIX, AND RESET THE CHECK ENG

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

“SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2016 TOUAREG TDI IN SEPTEMBER 2015. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION HAS BECOME QUITE AN ISSUE AS IT IS GETTING WORSE THE LONGER I DRIVE IT. I HAVE HAD IT ROAD TESTED, WHEELS BALANCE TIRES ROTATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT THE STEERING. I HAVE ONLY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

9 complaints

13%

• The windshield camera that is responsible for the imaging used for many of the system on the 2016 Touareg is a high failure item and has been constituently backordered from VW. When this camera fails, the advanced systems that were part of this option fail to operate. This includes adaptive cruise c
• car has a design flaw. If car sits in the sun the emergency stop braking system will fail due to heat. The camera/computer board is mounted in the ceiling behind the rearview mirror. when the sun is out the system will fail do to heat. This problem is in Volkswagons, Audi's and Porche's with various
• car has a design flaw. If car sits in the sun the emergency stop braking system will fail due to heat. The camera/computer board is mounted in the ceiling behind the rearview mirror. when the sun is out the system will fail do to heat. This problem is in Volkswagons, Audi's and Porche's with various

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

“The windshield camera that is responsible for the imaging used for many of the system on the 2016 Touareg is a high failure item and has been constituently backordered from VW. When this camera fails, the advanced systems that were part of this option fail to operate. This includes adaptive cruise c”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

8 complaints

12%

• AFTER LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, AND OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE(S) FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, RENDERING THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INACTIVE. THE NATURE OF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN VOLKSWAGENS IS SUCH THAT IF ONE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING
• There was a big rain last week locally. I drove through a couple big puddles but nothing that's super uncommon for the area. Almost immediately, my car's electric components started going crazy. ACC stopped working completely. Lane assists aren't working. There was an error that I think was shift lo
• Random engine hesitancy reducing acceleration while driving. Vehicle maintained by the dealer for all scheduled maintenance and service visits. Within 30 days of a manufacture's repair that dealt with the HVAC and air filter AND a service visit to change oil and rotate tires, the hesitancy during

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

“AFTER LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, AND OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE(S) FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, RENDERING THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INACTIVE. THE NATURE OF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN VOLKSWAGENS IS SUCH THAT IF ONE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

• BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAS FLUID, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO DAMAGED CABLE
• 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TOUREG (VIN # XXXXXX) PURCHASED 5/25/2019. VROOM ASSURED ALL VEHICLES UNDERGO RIGOROUS INSPECTION AND WRITTEN GUARANTEE OF A CLEAN TITLE / NO FLOOD DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 6/17/2019. ON 6/18/2019 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR A STANDARD PREPURCHASE INSPEC
• Electronic Parking Brake lever light was flashing and dashboard showed parking brake error message. Drove car to VW Dealership, which diagnosed problem as likely bad Parking Brake Control Module (Part J540). Dealership ordered part, and stated I could drive car home. Within 1 mile of dealership, par

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

“BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAS FLUID, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO DAMAGED CABLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 67 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CONSTANT ISSUES WITH WATER ENTERING THE AIRBOX FROM FAULTY DESIGN. THIS CAN ENABLE PARTS OF THE FILTER TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE (HYDRO LOCK). THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY SAT OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE RAIN; ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2016 TOUAREG TDI IN SEPTEMBER 2015. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION HAS BECOME QUITE AN ISSUE AS IT IS GETTING WORSE THE LONGER I DRIVE IT. I HAVE HAD IT ROAD TESTED, WHEELS BALANCE TIRES ROTATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT THE STEERING. I HAVE ONLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The windshield camera that is responsible for the imaging used for many of the system on the 2016 Touareg is a high failure item and has been constituently backordered from VW. When this camera fails, the advanced systems that were part of this option fail to operate. This includes adaptive cruise c
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: AFTER LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, AND OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE(S) FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, RENDERING THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INACTIVE. THE NATURE OF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN VOLKSWAGENS IS SUCH THAT IF ONE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)