YearToAvoid

2006 Volkswagen Touareg Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#10 most-complained of 13 Touareg years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg has 37 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #10 highest of 13 Touareg model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is fuel system (13 complaints, 35% of the total). Complaints report 1 fire.

Complaints
37
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2006 Volkswagen Touareg problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System13 (35%)
  2. Electrical System9 (24%)
  3. Brakes5 (14%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (14%)
  5. Airbags4 (11%)
  6. Engine4 (11%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (8%)
  8. Other2 (5%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)
2006 Volkswagen Touareg complaints: complaints filed per month5Aug 2006Dec 2007Oct 2010Oct 2012Jul 2014Sep 2017May 2018Aug 2021
47 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2006 to Oct 2024; peak Aug 2013 (5).

2006 Volkswagen Touareg recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V583000Sep 20, 2017Fuel System73,941 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filter flange for cracks, replacing the flange if cracks are found. If no cracks are found, a protective cover will be installed onto the filter flange. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Ai.

2006 Volkswagen Touareg fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Touareg years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution6775215
2006Good2537116
2007Avoid839316
2008Avoid10056416

All Volkswagen Touareg years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg ranks #10 of 13 among Touareg model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 37 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg?
The most reported problem areas are fuel system (13 complaints), electrical system (9 complaints), and brakes (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 68,500 miles.
Does the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg, most recently reported 2017, covering fuel system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg?
EPA rates the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 19 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,550. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.