2012 Volkswagen Touareg Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has 28 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 58, and 2 recalls, ranking 6th worst out of 13 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, with Fuel System complaints being the top problem area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 58/100
- #6 of 13 Touareg years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 28
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2012 Volkswagen Touareg problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System8 (29%)
- Engine6 (21%)
- Electrical System5 (18%)
- Steering5 (18%)
- Brakes3 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (11%)
- Airbags2 (7%)
- Seat Belts2 (7%)
- Structure & Body1 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speeds tied to fuel system leaks, sometimes with a smell of fuel and loss of power steering and brakes.
- Steering wheel shaking or oscillating at highway speeds between 65 and 80 mph, in some cases persisting after tire balancing and replacement.
- Vehicle pulling to the right at all speeds, requiring constant driver correction.
- Brake pedal sinking on its own after a stop, causing the vehicle to roll forward even with the brakes applied.
- Ignition key becoming stuck and unable to be removed after parking, described as a security concern.
- An airbag deploying unexpectedly during highway driving, resulting in a crash.
2012 Volkswagen Touareg recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V329000May 16, 2018Other252 vehicles
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
- NHTSA 16V170000Mar 24, 2016Brakes46,574 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
Risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46G4.
2012 Volkswagen Touareg fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,200
- 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.
2012 compared with other Touareg years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 28 complaints for the 2012 Touareg with a complaint index of 58, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Touareg years. It ranks 6th worst out of 13 model years covered.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Touareg?
- Fuel System complaints make up 29% of reports, followed by Engine at 21% and Electrical System and Steering each at 18%, according to NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2012 Touareg have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Touareg: one covering a compliance issue shared across several VW models, and one for a brake pedal pivot pin that could be missing a securing clip.
- What year Touareg should I avoid instead of 2012?
- Based on complaint index, 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2016 rate Avoid, all higher than the 2012 model's index of 58. The 2012 Touareg itself is rated Caution, not Avoid.
- At what mileage do 2012 Touareg problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Brakes issues appeared around 34,000 miles, Electrical System around 45,000 miles, Fuel System around 71,500 miles, and Engine around 80,000 miles.