2017 Volkswagen TOUAREG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
12,346 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 24 complaints (79.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.3% |
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 | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Engine: 19; Unknown Or Other: 6; Electrical System: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 1; Power Train: 1; Seats: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (11). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2018: 6; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 11092622 · 2018-05-09 (May 9, 2018)
MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND IT HAS A VISIBLE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WERE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT JUST KEEPS COMING BACK. EVENTUALLY VW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SAYING THAT IT IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND I AM NOT THE ONLY AFFECTED PERSON, THERE ARE EVEN VIDEOS PUBLISHED TO SHOW THE PROBLEM , AND VW IS TRYING TO AVOID ADMITTING IT IS A DEFECT. THEY EVEN WANTED ME TO TRY ANOTHER CAR ON THE LOT WHICH HAD A SIM LAB PROBLEM AND THE SHOP FOREMAN AT IDE VW SAID HE HASN'T SEEN THIS PR…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,670 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097606 · 2018-05-23 (May 23, 2018)
WATER WAS FOUND IN THE AIR FILTER AND ENGINE. SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN WATER. I REPLIED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BE DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN AND SITS OUTSIDE IN THE WEATHER. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISER THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL MORE SIMILAR SITUATIONS. THIS SITUATION HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND SHUT DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104107 · 2018-06-26 (June 26, 2018)
THE TOUAREG HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAVE THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE UNDER NEATH THE FRONT HEADLIGHT, WHICH, UNDER HEAVY RAIN, WILL LET WATER FLOW THOUGH TO THE INTAKE PIPE AND GET INTO THE ENGINE. I HAVE PERSONALLY VALIDATED THIS AS MY AIR FILTER GETS SOAKING WET AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN NUMEROUS BREAK-DOWN-IN-THE-ROAD REPORTS TO VOLKSWAGEN BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO TAKE ANY ACTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113263 · 2018-07-24 (July 24, 2018)
AFTER A RAINY NIGHT, GOT INTO MY CAR THE NEXT MORNING HEARD A WEIRD NOISE WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND CAR STARTING BUCKING, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT BACK AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR...NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES CAR DIED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, IT HAPPEN 9 MONTHS PRIOR. HAD ROADSIDE SERVICE PICK UP CAR AND BRING TO SERVICE. CALLED SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS ACCUSED OF DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH WATER AND THE CAR FILTERS GOT WET AND POSSIBLE WATER NOW IN THE ENGINE. VW WOULD NOT BE RESPONSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131535 · 2018-09-25 (September 25, 2018)
AIR INTAKE SYSTEM LETS WATER INTO THE ENGINE WHICH CAN CAUSE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. I INSPECTED THE AIR FILTER ON MY CAR TO EVALUATE IT FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE BOTTOM OF THE FILTER WAS SOAKED AFTER A CAR WASH. IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE THE WASH. VOLKSWAGEN HAS RECALLED THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THIS ISSUE IN GERMANY AND CHINA BUT NOT IN THE USA.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11149586 · 2018-11-06 (November 6, 2018)
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING WATER DAMAGE TO THE AIR FILTER. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS IS FROM A CAR WASH, DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR THE VEHICLE SITTING IN THE RAIN. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG AN ONLINE WEBSITE FORUM.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11149586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181302 · 2019-02-20 (February 20, 2019)
WATER GETTING IN THE ENGINE AIR FILTER BOX, AND SATURATING AIR FILTER. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN, OR THROUGH ANY PUDDLES.PROBLEM WAS FOUND AT DEALER OIL CHANGE SERVICE
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11197000 · 2019-04-17 (April 17, 2019)
THE ENGINE AIR FILTER BOX GETS FLOODED WITH WATER WHICH COULD LEAD TO ENTERING WATER IN THE ENGINE AND SEIZE THE ENGINE OPERATION. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAPPENS TO MULTIPLE TOUAREG OWNERS AND VW OF AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE VW OF EUROPE AND CHINA RE-CALLED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!
Owner-reported narrative. 12,346 miles reported. Look up ODI 11197000 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V321000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 2021-05-05 (May 5, 2021)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
NHTSA campaign record ↗