2015 Volkswagen TOUAREG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
39,115 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 24 complaints (58.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 14 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Warning | 1 |
Engine: 14; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Lane Departure: Assist: 1; Lane Departure: Warning: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
2016: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10893143 · 2016-08-04 (August 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE TIRES, SIZE 265/50/R19. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT PROPERLY INFLATED WITH NITROGEN. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,850 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,800.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10905657 · 2016-09-11 (September 11, 2016)
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE TIRE SHOP THIS MORNING TO HAVE THE TIRE PATCHED FOR A SMALL SCREW THAT WAS PICKED UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I RECEIVED A CALL A SHORT TIME LATER FROM TIRE SHOP TELLING ME THAT THE SIDEWALL OF MY TIRE HAD FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND SIDEWALL FAILURE MY GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2'S HAVE EXPERIENCED IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. VEHICLE IS 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG, AND THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL WITH THE VEHICLE. 50% FAILURE RATE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FIRST ONE AND WILL BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE SECOND ONE AS WELL. THESE …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10905657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11123062 · 2018-08-28 (August 28, 2018)
LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERING THE INTAKE, AFFECTING THE PEFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WATER IS INSUFFICIENTLY DRAINING FROM THE INTAKE BOX. THE AIR FILTER DEGRADES AS A RESULT. MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE HYDROLOCKING OF THE ENGINE. THERE ARE ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL IN CHINA AND GERMANY. THE ISSUE APPEARS AFTER DRIVING OR PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN. POSSIBLE CULPRIT IS THE REDESIGNED HEADLAMPS DRAINING THE WATER RIGHT INTO THE INTAKE OPENING IN THE FRONT
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155941 · 2018-12-04 (December 4, 2018)
WATER INGESTION INTO AIR INTAKE FROM DESIGN FLAW. CHANGED AIR FILTER BASED ON WARNING THREAD LOCATED AT CLUB TOUAREG ONLINE. IF YOU DRIVE A 2011-2017 TOUAREG PLEASE CHECK YOUR AIR FILTER. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURES AND VW REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. VW ISSUED RECALL IN CHINA BUT ARE DENYING PROBLEMS HERE IN NA. MY AIR INTAKE TUBE LEADING UP TO THE AIRBOX WAS FULL OF WATER AND THE BOTTOM 2-3 INCHES OF THE AIR FILTER ITSELF WAS FALLING APART, SOAKING WET AND MOLDY. IT WAS BASICALLY SITTING IN WATER. OUR VEHICLE IN ONLY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11155941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11157019 · 2018-12-08 (December 8, 2018)
UNDER ACCELERATION THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND A LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST, SUGGESTING POSSIBLE WATER INGESTION. UPON REMOVING THE AIR FILTER IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FILTER HAD WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD, AND THE FILTER AND AIRBOX HAD LOTS OF SMALL DEBRIS CLOGGING THE DRAIN TUBE.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11157019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11171023 · 2019-01-20 (January 20, 2019)
AFTER VW EMISSION REPAIR THE CAR STALLS IN SHIFTING GEARS AT LOW SPEED. I TOOK AT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES EVERYTIME THE KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND COULDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS NO FUEL COMING TO THE ENGINE OR THE CAR COMPUTER DO NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR UNTIL IT HITS 3000 RPM IN SPEEDS LOWER THE 35MPH. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WITH SPEAKING WITH VW DEALER ADVISORS THAT THIS AS A RESULT OF THE EMISSION REPAIR AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE SINCE IT'S KEEP STAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11171023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11171024 · 2019-01-20 (January 20, 2019)
SUNROOF IS LEAKING AND CREATES CONDENSATION AND MOLD INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY PERFORMED A CLEANING. COUPLE A WEEKS AFTER I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF IS LEAKING AGAIN AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED THEY ONLY CLEANED THE PIPES BUT NOW THEY NEED TO SEAL THE PIPE. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS THERE THE DEALER MENTIONED HE IS SWAMPED WITH VW CARS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH SUNROOF LEAKING AND HE IS BACKED UP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL VW CARS AND NOT JUST MY MODE…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11171024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11187335 · 2019-03-17 (March 17, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE DAY AFTER A RAINY DAY IN FLORIDA AND WATER WAS INGESTED INTO MY CAR'S AIR FILTER AND THEN INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MAJOR AND EXPENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGES. I HAD NOT DRIVEN THROUGH ANY DEEP PUDDLES. VW FIXED THE VEHICLE (FOR $4321.99). I LATER RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND LEARNED THAT THERE IS A VW RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN CHINA, BUT NOT THE U.S. IT HAS TO DO WITH A FAULTY DRAINAGE SYSTEM DESIGN, WHICH VW HAS OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED. THE ISSUE IS A GLOBAL ONE, HOWEVER, N…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 11187335 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V170000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 2016-03-24 (March 24, 2016)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V329000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 2018-05-16 (May 16, 2018)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗