2008 Volkswagen TOUAREG problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 56 complaints (41.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 23.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 10.7% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 23 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 23; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 7; Exterior Lighting: 6; Seat Belts: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Power Train: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 16; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10664668 · 2014-12-16 (December 16, 2014)
FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS, I STARTED TO HAVE A SMELL OF GAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR FROM OUTSIDE. PROGRESSIVELY, THE SMELL HAS GET STRONGER AND STRONGER, GETTING ALSO INSIDE THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT AND REALIZE THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOCATED BELOW THE REAR SEAT WAS COVERED BY GAS LEAK. IT IS ALSO SPILLING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT IS JUST ON THE SIDE OF THAT TANK AT EXTREMELY HOT TEMPERATURE. THIS IS SURELY A SCENARIO FOR DISASTER. THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE LEFT SIDE TANK AT THE FUEL PUMP LOCATI…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714449 · 2015-05-04 (May 4, 2015)
HUGE FIRE/ HEALTH HAZARD: THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING IS CRACKED IN OUR CAR CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE (3-4 DROPS/ SEC). THE FUEL POOLS IN THE FRAME AND UNDER-BODY FIRST UNTIL THE FRAME BECOMES SO FULL THAT IT SPILLS OUT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2004-2012 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG/ PORSCHE CAYENNE, AND VERY VISIBLE ONLINE. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FUEL PUMPS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER REAR SEATS, AND FUELS POOLS INSIDE THE COVERS IN AT THOSE LOCATIONS AND AROUND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECT…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979092 · 2017-04-18 (April 18, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHEN THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND PROCEEDED TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF THE BATTERY NEEDED A JUMP; HOWEVER, NOTHING APPEARED ABNORMAL. WHEN ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE WAS MADE, THE MANIFOLD EXPLODED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, WHICH PRODUCED SMOKE AND CAUSED PLASTIC PIECES TO FLY EVERYWHERE. A PIECE OF PLASTIC STRUCK THE EYE OF THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313602 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES HANG UP AND MAKE A SQUEALING SOUND, INDICATING THE BRAKES ARE NOT RELEASING AS THEY SHOULD. V.W. TOLD US TO REPLACE BRAKES TO SOLVE PROBLEM, DID SO AND DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM, WROTE V.W. A LETTER AND ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE OR CONCERN FROM V.W. CONCERNED COULD HAVE BRAKE FAILURE IN EMERGENCY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980364 · 2017-04-25 (April 25, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES BEING SERVICED, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO BEING MADE AWARE BY THE MECHANIC. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V151000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,864.
Owner-reported narrative. 102,864 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285865 · 2009-09-30 (September 30, 2009)
I HAVE A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2 WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH PIRELLI TIRES. AT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES, I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG AT THAT TIME. THE CAR STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES AND AGAIN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ALIGN THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY HIGHS AND LOWS IN THE TIRES ALTHOUGH I HAD DONE EVERYTHING REQUIRED BY THE DEALER. I CALLED PIRELLI WHO SAID THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE ROTATED EV…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10986147 · 2017-05-17 (May 17, 2017)
AFTER PURCHASING AN 08 TOUAREG WITH 120000 MILES, I HAVE FOUND IT TO HAVE A VERY LOUD STEERING NOISE, LIKE A BLENDER ON LOW SPEED SETTING. ALONG WITH THE NOISE, IT SEEMS TO LOSE SOME IF NOT ALL STEERING. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS BELLOW 1000 RPM, WHETHER IT BE STATIONARY, MOVING, IN REVERSE OR NOT. IF THE RPM IS ABOVE THAT, STEERING IS NORMAL, NO SOUND IS HEARD, AND ALL IS NORMAL. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN PARKING, AS IT IS A LOW SPEED LOW RPM SITUATION. I HAVE READ ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE, AND GOING THROUG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10986147 at NHTSA ↗