Volkswagen Touareg Best and Worst Years (2005–2017)
Volkswagen Touareg years to avoid are 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2016, with complaint indexes of 83, 100, 75, and 92. The best years are 2015 (index 0) and 2017 (index 17), with far fewer reported problems and recalls.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 13
- 2005–2017
- NHTSA complaints
- 414
- Recall campaigns
- 10
- Crashes reported
- 6
- Fires reported
- 8
- Top problem area
- Fuel System
Touareg Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Volkswagen Touareg problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 67 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Fuel System | 15 | — |
| 2006 | Good | 25 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Fuel System | 16 | — |
| 2007 | Avoid | 83 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Engine | 16 | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 100 | 56 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Fuel System | 16 | — |
| 2009 | Good | 8 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Fuel System | 16 | — |
| 2010 | Caution | 50 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Fuel System | 18 | — |
| 2011 | Good | 42 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 58 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Fuel System | 21 | — |
| 2013 | Good | 33 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Fuel System | 21 | — |
| 2014 | Avoid | 75 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2015 | Best | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 92 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 21.5 | — |
| 2017 | Best | 17 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Engine | 19 | — |
Touareg years to avoid: what went wrong
2008 Volkswagen Touareg Index 100 · 56 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2008 Touareg has the worst complaint index in the lineup at 100, driven mainly by fuel system complaints (45% share, median mileage 95,000) and electrical system issues (18% share, median mileage 80,500). NHTSA recorded 1 crash and 4 fires for this year. Four recalls apply, including two fuel system campaigns for leaking fuel supply lines and filter flanges. Owners reported headlight wiring that smoked or caught fire and brake performance concerns during low-speed driving.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg Index 92 · 44 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2016 Touareg has a complaint index of 92, the second-worst of any year. Engine complaints dominate at 52% share (median mileage 22,282.5), followed by collision avoidance/camera issues at 20% share. Two recalls apply: a TPMS setting error and the brake pedal pivot pin issue also affecting 2014. Owners reported diesel fuel leaking near the front wheel well, persistent steering wheel vibration starting around 45-50 mph, and brake pedals sinking to the floor.
2007 Volkswagen Touareg Index 83 · 9 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2007 Touareg carries a complaint index of 83 with 9 complaints logged, but 12 injuries reported among them, the highest injury count of any year. Owners' top issues were engine problems (33% share, median mileage 69,000) and fuel system leaks (22% share, median mileage 111,000). NHTSA lists three recalls, including a fuel filter flange that can crack and leak fuel, and a roof spoiler that can detach. Sample complaints describe stalling tied to a defective oil pump bolt and heater/AC fumes entering the cabin.
2014 Volkswagen Touareg Index 75 · 27 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2014 Touareg has a complaint index of 75. Engine problems (30% share, median mileage 56,000) and steering complaints (30% share, near-zero mileage) top the list, alongside suspension issues. Two recalls cover this year, including a brake pedal pivot pin that could be missing a securing clip. Owners described airbags failing to deploy in a rear-end crash, electrical fires from wiring harnesses, and steering wheel shake shortly after purchase.
Most common Volkswagen Touareg problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Fuel System118 (29%)
- Engine108 (26%)
- Electrical System57 (14%)
- Other42 (10%)
- Steering34 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires32 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain31 (7%)
- Airbags26 (6%)
- Structure & Body25 (6%)
- Brakes23 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the Volkswagen Touareg should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, the years to avoid are 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2016, with complaint indexes of 83, 100, 75, and 92 respectively.
- What is the best year for the Volkswagen Touareg?
- 2015 and 2017 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 0 and 17, the lowest in the lineup.
- Is the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
- The 2008 model has the highest complaint index of any Touareg year at 100, with fuel system problems making up 45% of its complaints and four recall campaigns, including fuel line leak issues.
- What is the biggest problem area for the Volkswagen Touareg overall?
- Across all years, Fuel System complaints lead at 29% of total complaints, followed by Engine issues at 26%, based on 414 total complaints across 2005-2017.
- Does the Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls related to fuel leaks?
- Yes. Multiple recall campaigns, including 17V583000 and 17V151000, address a fuel filter flange that can crack and leak fuel on Touareg models built in the 2004-2010 range.