YearToAvoid

2015 Volkswagen Touareg Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2015 Volkswagen Touareg ranks 13th worst out of 13 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and a Best verdict. It has 24 complaints and 2 recalls, with no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#13 of 13 Touareg years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
24
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
20 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2015 Volkswagen Touareg problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine15 (63%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (17%)
  3. Other3 (13%)
  4. Fuel System2 (8%)
  5. Lane Departure2 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body1 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (4%)

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

What owners report

  • Water enters the air intake during or after rain, degrading the air filter and risking engine hydrolock.
  • Under acceleration, the engine stutters and emits white smoke or steam consistent with water ingestion.
  • Some vehicles lose power on the highway and enter limp mode, with dealers finding water in the air filter, a failed turbo, and a bad airflow sensor.
  • Tires show abnormal noise from improper nitrogen inflation, and separate reports describe sidewall failures on factory-fitted tires.
  • The fuel gauge intermittently reads empty at half tank, sometimes paired with the adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning going offline.
  • The sunroof leaks, causing condensation and mold inside the cabin despite repeated dealer cleanings.
2015 Volkswagen Touareg complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2016Dec 2018May 2019Feb 2020Jul 2020Sep 2021Jan 2024Jul 2024
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2016 to Jul 2024; peak Dec 2018 (2).

2015 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.

2015 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.

2015 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
2013Good3330221
2014Avoid7527221
2015Best024221
2016Avoid9244221.5
2017Best1724119

All Volkswagen Touareg years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
Among Touareg model years, 2015 has the lowest complaint index (0) and ranks 13th worst out of 13 years, earning a Best verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What is the top problem area for the 2015 Touareg?
Engine complaints lead, making up 63% of the 24 complaints filed, with owners describing water ingestion into the air intake and related performance issues.
Does the 2015 Touareg have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2015 Touareg: one covering emissions compliance and repurchase options (campaign 18V329000) and one for a brake pedal pivot pin missing a securing clip (campaign 16V170000).
What year Volkswagen Touareg should I avoid?
Based on complaint index, the 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2016 Touareg years carry Avoid verdicts, while 2015 and 2017 are rated Best.
At what mileage do 2015 Touareg problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 39,115 miles, with engine-related complaints centering around 41,000 miles.

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.