2006 Volkswagen Touareg Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 10th worst out of 13 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 37 complaints, one recall for a cracking fuel filter flange, and one fire report tied to the Fuel System and Electrical System.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 25/100
- #10 of 13 Touareg years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 37
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 19 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2006 Volkswagen Touareg problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System13 (35%)
- Electrical System9 (24%)
- Brakes5 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (14%)
- Airbags4 (11%)
- Engine4 (11%)
- Structure & Body3 (8%)
- Other2 (5%)
- Seat Belts1 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the engine caught fire after the vehicle was parked and shut off, with fire crews called to extinguish it.
- A faulty control module reportedly caused the vehicle to shut off immediately after starting and lock the key in the ignition, requiring a tow.
- Owners describe recurring airbag and sensor warning lights, sometimes paired with hesitation during acceleration.
- Some describe doors locking automatically with keys inside, trapping items or pets inside the vehicle.
- Multiple owners report squealing brakes and premature rotor or pad wear at relatively low mileage.
- One owner reported a vibration traced to a hanger bearing requiring driveshaft replacement shortly after warranty expiration.
2006 Volkswagen Touareg recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
- Compared to other Touareg model years, 2006 rates Good, with a complaint index of 25 and rank 10 of 13 years from worst to best. It has fewer reported problems than most other years of this model.
- What problems does the 2006 Touareg have?
- NHTSA complaints cite the Fuel System most often, at 35% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 24% and Brakes and Transmission & Powertrain each at 14%. Median mileage at failure across these complaints ranges from 34,427 to 91,287 miles depending on the system.
- Does the 2006 Touareg have a recall?
- Yes, one recall, campaign 17V583000, covers 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles with a fuel filter flange that may crack and leak fuel. Volkswagen dealers inspect and replace the flange if cracked.
- Did the 2006 Touareg have any fires reported?
- NHTSA lists one fire report for the 2006 Touareg, tied to the Electrical System, with the incident reported at 32,667 miles median mileage for that category.
- How does the 2006 Touareg compare to other years?
- The 2006 model's complaint index of 25 is lower than the 2007 (83), 2008 (100), and 2016 (92) years, all rated Avoid, though it is higher than the 2015 (0) and 2017 (17) years rated Best.