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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Volkswagen TOUAREG problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

16 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

39,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 16 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior318.8%
Fuel system concerns318.8%
Engine operation212.5%
Braking behavior16.3%

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.

Engine
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Steering
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Fuel System, Diesel
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System
1
Power Train
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine4
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Steering3
Unknown Or Other3
Fuel System, Diesel2
Air Bags1
Electrical System1
Power Train1

Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Power Train: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 3 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.

2012
4
2013
4
2014
1
2016
1
2017
1
2018
1
2020
2
2021
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20124
20134
20141
20161
20171
20181
20202
20212

2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 2

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10470539 · 2012-08-14 (August 14, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 20,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470539 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10537668 · 2013-08-28 (August 28, 2013)

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60-75MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY. DEALER RE-BALANCED, STILL SHOOK. DEALER REPLACED EAGLE LS2'S AT 32K MILES WITH SAME TIRES AND ROAD-FORCE BALANCED...STILL SHOOK. BASED ON OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM, I RECOMMENED THEY TRY GY LATITUDES...ALONG WITH ROAD-FORCE BALANCE AND NITRO FILL, SHAKING HAS BEEN GONE FOR PAST 15K MILES. BUT THIS IS A REPEATABLE EVENT ON FLAT/SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES, AT SPEED. MANY DEALERS APPARENTLY UNABLE TO CORRECT, BASED ON FEEDBACK AT VARIOUS TOUAREG FAN SITES (VW VORTEX, CLUB TOUAREG, …

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537668 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10472821 · 2012-08-28 (August 28, 2012)

WEDNESDAY 8/15 - FOLLOWING AN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM HOME TO A REMOTE OFFICE LOCATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STANDING AT A STOP LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND PROCEED A SHORT DISTANCE THROUGH THE LIGHT, WHEREIN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, WITH MULTIPLE ENGINE LIGHTS, GLOW PLUG COIL SIGNALS DISPLAYED. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. FOLLOWING DAY, 8/16 ADVISED THAT THE 'ALGAE' DISCOVERED IN FUEL - REQUIRING DRAIN OF FUEL TANK, FLUSH AND CLEANING OF FUEL SYST…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472821 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10491775 · 2013-01-08 (January 8, 2013)

GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT FELT LIKE RUNNING ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY; VEHICLE DIED AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALER, WHO SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED FROM BACK TO FRONT. DEALER CLAIMS THAT REAR LIFT PUMP CAUSED THE INCIDENT BUT ALSO SAYS THE HPFP (INJECTOR PUMP) FAILED. THREE WEEKS INTO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING REPAIRED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491775 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11297133 · 2020-01-04 (January 4, 2020)

WATER FOUND IN THE AIR INTAKE BOX DURING AIR FILTER CHANGE ON MY 2011 VW TOUAREG. BOTTOM 3.5 INCHES OF OLD FILTER WAS FOUND WET WHEN AIR BOX WAS OPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS LIQUID WATER THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DURING OPERATION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WATER OR FILTER MATERIAL INGESTION INTO THE ENGINE CAN ALSO RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE BY VW WITH NO ACTION TAKEN TO DATE, DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OW…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297133 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11328777 · 2020-06-14 (June 14, 2020)

THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, CAR GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE RANDOMLY AND CREAKS ALONG AT 8 MILES AN HOUR, MOST RECENTLY LOST BRAKING POWER AND MESSAGE COMES UP "HYBRID ERROR, PULL OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION." THEN WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN IT WORKS FINE. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL AS THERE IS NO INFORMATION FOR THE MECHANIC TO GO BY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BOTH FUEL PUMPS AND PRE-FUEL PUMP MECHANISMS AND STILL THE ODD ERROR MESSAGE LACK OF CAR RUNNING. I AM THINKING ABOUT USING IT AS A PLA…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328777 at NHTSA ↗