YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Touareg Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2013 Volkswagen Touareg has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 9th of 13 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 30 complaints and 2 recall campaigns, with Fuel System and Steering issues most common.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
33/100
#9 of 13 Touareg years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
30
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Fuel System
Best nearby year
2015
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
20 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2013 Volkswagen Touareg problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel shudders or shakes at highway speeds between roughly 60 and 75 mph, sometimes with visible oscillation felt through the hands and cabin.
  • High-pressure fuel pump failures reported on TDI models, in one case at 100,000 miles despite never using gasoline.
  • Sudden stalling or loss of throttle response, including a glow plug and engine warning light combination that limited speed to under 40 mph.
  • Repeated stalling while turning across traffic, occurring multiple times within about 1,000 miles of driving.
  • A clicking noise from the rear suspension that persisted even after parts were replaced.
  • A factory trailer hitch complaint over towing capacity that did not match the owner's manual instructions.
2013 Volkswagen Touareg complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2012Dec 2013Oct 2014Oct 2016Jan 2018Apr 2019Mar 2021
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2012 to Aug 2024; peak Jun 2014 (2).

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 reliable?
Among Touareg model years, 2013 ranks 9th out of 13 with a Complaint Index of 33, and NHTSA data supports a Good verdict relative to other Touareg years.
What problems does the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg have?
Owners most often reported Fuel System issues (27% of complaints, including stalling and pump failures) and Steering problems (also 27%, mainly wheel shudder at highway speed).
Does the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Touareg: one covering a brake pedal pivot pin that could come loose, and one broader campaign affecting multiple Volkswagen models.
What year Touareg should I avoid instead of 2013?
Based on NHTSA data, 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2016 carry Avoid verdicts with higher Complaint Index values (83, 100, 75, and 92 respectively), making 2013 a comparatively better choice.

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.