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2005 Volkswagen TOUAREG problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

75 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 58 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 75 complaints (21.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1317.3%
Fuel system concerns1114.7%
Transmission and shifting68.0%
Braking behavior68.0%
Engine operation45.3%
Steering behavior45.3%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
16
Electrical System
14
Air Bags
7
Seat Belts
6
Tires
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
5
Fuel System, Gasoline
4
Power Train
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel/Propulsion System16
Electrical System14
Air Bags7
Seat Belts6
Tires6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Power Train4

Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Electrical System: 14; Air Bags: 7; Seat Belts: 6; Tires: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
20
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00020
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 17 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.

2004
1
2005
2
2006
12
2007
6
2008
3
2009
2
2010
8
2011
1
2012
6
2013
3
2014
3
2015
5
2016
1
2017
6
2018
7
2019
2
2021
1
2022
1
2023
3
2024
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20041
20052
200612
20076
20083
20092
20108
20111
20126
20133
20143
20155
20161
20176
20187
20192
20211
20221
20233
20241
20261

2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 12; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 6; 2018: 7; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10178508 · 2007-01-12 (January 12, 2007)

2005 VW TOUREG, LOTS OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES, HAD 04 ALSO TRADED ON LEMON DEAL--SAID KINKS WERE WORKED OUT NOT TRUE OUR SUV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME I HAVE LOST COUNT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178508 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10307939 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 6 TO 8 TIMES AND WHEN THE DEALER PERFORMED THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST, NO CODES WERE PRODUCED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DEFECT BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER 2010 FREE OF CHARGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307939 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10482487 · 2012-10-28 (October 28, 2012)

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EMITTING AN ODOR OF GAS FOR SOME TIME. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE FUEL FILTER (ACCESSED UNDER THE REAR SEAT BUT PART OF THE FUEL TANK) HAD A 1/8" CRACK IN THE TOP OF THE FILTER ASSEMBLY. THIS CRACK WOULD LEAK GASOLINE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED (LIKELY DUE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM STILL BEING PRESSURIZED). LEAKED GASOLINE WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK OBSERVED THROUGH TWO PORTS UNDER THE REAR BENCH SEAT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON A POPULAR TOUAREG WEBSITE AND FOUND T…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482487 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10504036 · 2013-03-20 (March 20, 2013)

SMELL OF GAS AFTER REFUELING -- APPARENTLY SIMILAR TO MERCEDE BENZ --DEALER REPORTS THE GASKETS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK HAVE FAILED FOR A REPAIR COST OF $8-900.00: WATER COOLED ALTERNATOR FAILURE REQUIRING $8-900.00

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504036 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10180801 · 2007-01-26 (January 26, 2007)

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 V-6 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER OWNING VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE EXEMPLIFIED OBVIOUS SHIFTING CONCERNS AS WELL AS POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN HOPES TO CORRECT THE ISSUES DESCRIBED ABOVE, HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT IMPROVED. I WAS ASKED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR, TO BREAK IT IN. IN THIS TIME, MY CAR HAS WORSENED. THE SHIFTING IS MORE ERRATIC, LOSING POWER, JUMPING GEARS, AND NEARLY STALLING WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A ST…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,242 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180801 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10256096 · 2009-01-23 (January 23, 2009)

I PURCHASED A USED 2005 V-6 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG IN APRIL '08. IT HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WHO SERVICED IT FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER SAID IT WAS LOVINGLY MAINTAINED AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS CAR. AMONG MANY PROBLEMS I'VE HAD TO TEND TO IN EIGHT MONTHS OF OWNING IT, THE MOST CONCERNING IS ONE I JUST READ AT MYCARSTATS.COM THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING; THAT IS, OBVIOUS SHIFTING CONCERNS, I.E., NEARLY STALLING WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP AND AT INTERSECTIONS, NEARLY BEING REAR-ENDED. I WAS CHARGED $90 AND TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLIC…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10256096 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10119705 · 2005-05-04 (May 4, 2005)

THE BRAKES IN MY 2005 JETTA GLI MAKE A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN I BACK UP. IT WAS A RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THE FIRST DAY THAT THEY HAD TAKEN CARE OF IT, AND THAT IF I KEEP ON HEARING THE NOISE TAKE IT BACK. WELL THE NOISE ITS PRETTY BAD, SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR, BECAUSE WHEN I PICKED IT UP IT WAS EXACTLY HOW I LEFT IT AND USUALLY THEY WASH YOU CAR OR PUT PLASTIC WHEN THEY SEE IT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119705 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10142525 · 2005-11-12 (November 12, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH I SAW A BEAUTIFUL SHINY PRIUS AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME WITH MY VW JETTA. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 32,185 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208234 · 2007-11-08 (November 8, 2007)

2005 V W TOUREG STALLED MANY TIMES, WHILE MAKING A TURN AT INTERSECTIONS AT LOWER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT STALLS OR HESITATES. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING KILLED AT LEAST 5 TIMES, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM, BUT ALWAYS CAME OUT EMPTY. THEY SAY THEY HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PROMPTLY BEFORE PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR LIVES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS WHO ARE DRIVING THIS KIND OF VEHICLE; AT LEAST HALF OF THEM HAD THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM, AND W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208234 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10162982 · 2006-07-20 (July 20, 2006)

MY 05 VW TOUAREG V8 HAS HAD A FAILED AIR BAG SENSOR, SUNROOF INSULATION, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AT VARIED SPEEDS, AND A SERIOUS ALIGNMENT ISSUE SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP. AFTER 6 DIFFERENT TRIPS BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THE SHAKING AND THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY FORUMS AND BLOGS ON THE NET REGARDING A GENUINE DEFECT IN DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW IT TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. ALL OF THE LOANER TOUAREGS MODEL YEARS 06/07 HAVE HAD SIMILAR ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, SO I DON'T THINK IT IS JUST MY VEHICLE IT…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162982 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10449798 · 2012-02-23 (February 23, 2012)

2005 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE INSERTS THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT START. THE CONSUMER STATED IF HE REMOVED THE KEY, PRESSED THE LOCK BUTTON AND THEN THE UNLOCK THE BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB, THEN TRY AGAIN, THE VEHICLE GENERALLY STARTED UP. WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT START, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED, AS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 12 TIMES TO CORRECT THE SAME ISSUE. TO DATE, THE ACCESS/START MODULE WAS REPLACED FOUR TI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449798 at NHTSA ↗