2016 Volkswagen TOUAREG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
19,647 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 44 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 13.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.3% |
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 | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
Engine: 22; Unknown Or Other: 10; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 6; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 3; Structure:Body: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 |
2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 11; 2020: 9; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 6
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10794374 · 2015-11-17 (November 17, 2015)
AFTER DRIVING ON A SHORT TRIP. I SMELLED AND NOTICED DIESEL LEAKING FROM DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL. LOOKING MORE CLOSELY NOTICED DIESEL HAD BEEN LEAKING WHILE DRIVING SPLATTERING ON UNDERSIDE AND SIDE OF VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870833 · 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)
SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2016 TOUAREG TDI IN SEPTEMBER 2015. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION HAS BECOME QUITE AN ISSUE AS IT IS GETTING WORSE THE LONGER I DRIVE IT. I HAVE HAD IT ROAD TESTED, WHEELS BALANCE TIRES ROTATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT THE STEERING. I HAVE ONLY 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VIBRATION BEGINS AROUND 45-50 MPH. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SURFACE. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA THEY SET UP ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. NOT ONLY IS THIS VIBRATION WRONG IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10870833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11043000 · 2017-11-03 (November 3, 2017)
BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAS FLUID, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO DAMAGED CABLE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11043000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064277 · 2018-01-22 (January 22, 2018)
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THE EXPLOSION WAS UPWARDS. THE CAR HAS A PANORAMIC ROOF AND THE FRONT SLIDING SECTION IS THE ONE THAT EXPLODED. NO ROCK CHIP OR OTHER IMPACT TO ROOF. THIS IS A 2016 BUT PURCHASED "NEW" ON 1/8/18 FOLLOWING VW DIESEL 3.0 FIX AND COURT AUTHORIZATION TO SELL.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124584 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)
CONSTANT ISSUES WITH WATER ENTERING THE AIRBOX FROM FAULTY DESIGN. THIS CAN ENABLE PARTS OF THE FILTER TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE (HYDRO LOCK). THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY SAT OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE RAIN; ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE (CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9000).
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154051 · 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)
WHEN CHANGING AIR FILTER, THE FILTER WAS SOAKED WITH WATER AT THE BOTTOM. THE AIR INTAKE TUBE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND WASN'T DRAINING. I'M LUCKY THE WATER WASN'T SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE LITTLE DRAIN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INTAKE TUBE WAS CLOGGED NOT ALLOWING THE WATER TO DRAIN BUT WHY WAS WATER ALLOWED TO GET IN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155554 · 2018-12-03 (December 3, 2018)
WHILE READING A VW FORUM I BECAME AWARE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AIR FILTER HOUSING DRAIN BECOMING CLOGGED AND THE AIR FILTER BECOMING WET AND WATER BEING INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE, HYDROLOCKING THE ENGINE AND REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW ENGINE. I THEN CHECKED MY AIR FILTER AND FOUND THE BOTTOM 3" - 4" OF THE AIR FILTER COMPLETELY SOAKED, TO THE POINT THAT WATER WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FOAM PORTION OF THE FILTER. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY HAVE NOTED MY CONCERNS BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW HESITANT TO DRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181027 · 2019-02-19 (February 19, 2019)
AIR INTAKE WATER INGESTION BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 134 DEALER MILES ON IT. WENT FROM DELIVERY TRUCK TO DRIVEWAY WHERE IT WAS PARKED (NO PLATES YET, SO HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN). OPENED AIR FILTER BOX TO INSPECT FILTER ELEMENT...BOTTOM 2-3 INCHES OF THE FILTER WAS SOAKED. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTED ON THE CLUBTOUAREG FORUM, AND THE RECALL ISSUED BY VW CHINA. THIS ALSO NEEDS TO BE A RECALL IN THE USA SINCE WATER INGESTION MAY LEAD TO HYDRO-LOCKING AND SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Owner-reported narrative. 134 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181027 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 ↗16V243000 · Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toureg vehicles manufactured July 7, 2015 to March 3, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. Additionally, the tire pressures printed on the Safety Certification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: If the vehicle is driven on underinflated tires, the tires may fail suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will correct the TPMS settings and replace the safety certification label, free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2016. Volkwagen's number for this recall is 44M9.
NHTSA campaign record ↗