YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Touareg Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#9 most-complained of 13 Touareg years

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

The 2013 Volkswagen Touareg has 30 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 33 out of 100 — #9 highest of 13 Touareg model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is fuel system (8 complaints, 27% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
30
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
20 city / 24 hwy

Top 2013 Volkswagen Touareg problems

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

  1. Fuel System8 (27%)
  2. Steering8 (27%)
  3. Other5 (17%)
  4. Engine4 (13%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (13%)
  6. Airbags3 (10%)
  7. Electrical System3 (10%)
  8. Seat Belts2 (7%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (3%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (3%)
2013 Volkswagen Touareg complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2012Dec 2013Oct 2014Oct 2016Jan 2018Apr 2019Mar 2021
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2012 to Aug 2024; peak Jun 2019 (4).

2013 Volkswagen Touareg recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

2013 Volkswagen Touareg fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,100
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.

2013 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
2011Good4216221
2012Caution5828221
2013Good3330221
2014Avoid7527221
2015Best024221

All Volkswagen Touareg years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg ranks #9 of 13 among Touareg model years (Complaint Index 33/100, verdict: Good). It has 30 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 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
The most reported problem areas are fuel system (8 complaints), steering (8 complaints), and engine (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 36,664 miles.
Does the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg, most recently reported 2018, covering other and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
EPA rates the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg at 21 MPG combined (20 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100. 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.