2012 Volkswagen Touareg Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
58/100
#6 most-complained of 13 Touareg years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has 28 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 58 out of 100 — #6 highest of 13 Touareg model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is fuel system (8 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 3 injuries.
- Complaints
- 28
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 24 hwy
Top 2012 Volkswagen Touareg problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
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 a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg ranks #6 of 13 among Touareg model years (Complaint Index 58/100, verdict: Caution). It has 28 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?
- The most reported problem areas are fuel system (8 complaints), engine (6 complaints), and electrical system (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 40,000 miles.
- Does the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg, most recently reported 2018, covering other and brakes.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?
- EPA rates the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.