2009 Volkswagen TOUAREG problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
75,625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 19 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 42.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 21.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 10.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Steering: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Power Train: 2; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10436144 · 2011-11-16 (November 16, 2011)
DRIVING FROM COLUMBIA, SC TO CHARLESTON, SC AND REFUELED IN SUMMERVILLE. 20 MILES LATER ON THE HIGHWAY @40MPH, ENGINE STARTED HIGH PITCHED HUMMING NOISE THEN LOST POWER (WENT INTO LIMP MODE) WHEN ACCELERATOR PUSHED. GOT IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION "ENGINE FAILURE, SERVICE NOW" AND FORTUNATELY ABLE TO PULL SAFELY INTO PARKING LOT. VW REPORTS LOTS OF DEBRIS IN FUEL AND CLOGGED FILTER, BLAMING CONTAMINATED FUEL. HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, WONDERING IF THIS IS PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SINCE VEHICLE IS 2009 CLEAN DIE…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525496 · 2013-07-17 (July 17, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME, I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN FOR A HIGH SPEED ROAD. WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED AND I HAD LOSS OF ALL POWER. BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO PRESS AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS STEERING (LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING). THE CAR ROLLED PASSED THE STOP SIGN AND HALF WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I FIRMLY PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT ONLY CRANKED AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTERSECTION IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A HILL MAKING IT DIFFICU…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418316 · 2011-08-10 (August 10, 2011)
SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2 EQUIPPED WITH 3.6L GASOLINE ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. USA VERSION. HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM EMITS ABNORMAL GROWLING AND GROANING NOISES WHEN AMBIENT OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURES CLIMB ABOVE 85F. STEERING INPUT RESISTANCE INCREASES SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND NORMAL WHEN POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS EMITTING THE SUBJECT NOISES. ABNORMAL VIBRATION IS TRANSMITTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS EMITTING THE ABNORMAL NOISES. FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,365 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384688 · 2020-12-23 (December 23, 2020)
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE A FAULT LIGHT STARTED FLASHING "ENGINE FAULT SERVICE NOW" ALONG WITH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND MOVED INTO THE SLOW LANE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO ALLOW IT TO ROLL IT A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED (HPFP) WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD ROLL TO A SAFE PLACE AND WASN'T PULLING A TRAILER LIKE WE OFTEN DO. I WAS ALSO LUCKY I WAS IN AN ARE…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10660935 · 2014-11-25 (November 25, 2014)
AS I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FLASHED A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ON THE DASH AND STATED SERVICE NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY. AS I WAS PULLING OVER TO SIDE, THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY STALLED OUT AND TURNED OFF. MY STEERING WAS COMPROMISED AND I HAD NO ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON OR MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO AFTER INSPECTION DID NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOW THE REASON. THEY REACHED OUT TO VW OF AMERICA WHO CONFIRMED WITH THEM AN ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT WAS IN ORDER AS A…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11527464 · 2023-06-16 (June 16, 2023)
No warning prior to failure. At highway speed, Dashboard Notice: SYSTEM FAULT - SERVICE NOW. All electrical systems stopped working, including: Lighting - No Headlight/Running Light control- No Turn Signals- 4-Way Flashers worked, then stopped working- No Windshield Wipers- No interior Windshield defogger- No Side Window Control for manual traffic signals- Do not know if Brake Lights were working- Mechanic states that battery was not charging- Some Dashboard displays were not working - Cruise control stopped working -
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11527464 at NHTSA ↗