Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
LIGHTS ON THE DASH COME ON HILL ASSIST SHUTS ON AND OFF BY ITSELF BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SUNROOF HAS OPEN BY ITSELF AC HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE NEXT DAY WORKS AGAIN HEATED STEERING WHEEL WORKS WHEN IT WANTS THIS HAPPENED WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET HAS POINTED TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE BOLTS TO THE CALIPERS WERE FRACTURED ALONG WITH THE STEERING LINKS, WHICH WOULD ALSO NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKE DISK, CALIPERS, BRAKE LINING, BOLTS AND THE STEERING KNUCKLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,940. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. UPDATED 11/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOLDING CALIPERS NOT FRACTURED, THREADS WERE BADLY RUSTED INTO STEERING KNUCKLE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF DRIVER SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE FAILURES ARE NOT DUPLICATED ON THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OPERATED IN OFF ROAD CONDITION OR EXPOSED TO SALT WATER. UPDATED 12/11/2012 *JS
EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED THE WARNING LIGHT SHOWS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED. I NEVER USE THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS TO BE "HAND LIFTED" TO CLEAR THE WARNING LIGHT. WHEN I TRIED THIS IT DID CLEAR THE WARNING LIGHT FROM THE DASH. MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD MY PARKING BRAKE BE ENGAGED IF I NEVER HAVE USED THE PARKING BRAKE? IT MAY JUST BE SOME MALFUNCTION WITH THEIR WARNING LIGHTS OR SENSORS, BUT HOW I AM I TO KNOW IF THIS IS A REAL PARKING BRAKE WARNING? *TR
I HAVE HAD MY 2004 VW TOUAREG SINCE JUNE 2006 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF BUYING THE CAR, THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND I AM GETTING ANOTHER "CHECK BRAKE PADS" ERROR AGAIN, THE TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM CONTINUALLY TELLS ME I HAVE A FLAT, THE RADIO AMPLIFIER WAS MAKING A LOUD CRACKING SO THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A FUSE AND BLEW THE 2 BACK SPEAKERS (WHICH THEY WOULD NOT FIX, HEWLETT VW IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS), THE AUTO DIFFERENTIAL IS GOING OUT. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO END IN SIGHT FOR REPAIRS. *TR
SCREECHING BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE SCREECHING FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND THE VW DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PADS AND DISC. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE SCREECHING IS NORMAL. ALSO, SINCE I BOUGHT THE SUV IN SETPTMBER 2004, I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. THE DEALER DID NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS AND I CHANGED ALL FOUR TIRES( 3 TIMES), BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 28,000 MILES. *TR
2004 VW TOUAREG WITH TIRE FAILURE AND KEY PROGRAMMING. CONSUMER STATES HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO A PUNCTURE IN ONE OF THE SIDEWALL TIRES. THE SECOND KEY RECEIVED NEEDED TO BE PROGRAMMED AND DEALER CHARGED HIM FOR PROGRAMMING. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE GETS LOW GAS MILEAGE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, THE TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF REPEATEDLY. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A VIBRATION WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE WARNING TONE OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT POSSESSED THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE BEGAN AT 100. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURES CONTINUE, SHE HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE BRAKE ROTORS REPLACE AT 15,000 MILES, BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 18,000 MILES, TWO TIRES REPLACE AT 16,000 MILES, TPS LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO ON AND OFF BEEN FIXED, FOUR NEW TIRES AT 30,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 9 RECALLS AND TPS LIGHTS STILL IN FAILURE. UPDATE 05/04/07*TR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TORGUE WITH 31000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE TPS MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT TURNED ON, AND STAYSED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS WEARING OUT THE TIRES AND BRAKES ON THAT SIDE. *AK
VOLKSWAGEN 2004 TOUAREG SPORT UTILITY 4D HAS SERIOUS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS RESULTING IN PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON ALL 4 TIRES! FRONT 2 TIRES ARE DOWN TO METAL SHOWING WITH ONLY 19,880 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED SERVICES AND ROTATIONS. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHILE DRIVING! ALSO, PRE-MATURE WEAR OF FRONT & BACK BRAKES & PADS DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT/TIRE PROBLEMS! CONDENSATION ON FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT DEFOGGER DOES NOT REMOVE. FUEL INJECTION RECALL THAT ON SERVICE BULLETIN STATED IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF NOT FIXED! TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILURE, ESP FAILURE, COMPUTER SOFTWARE FAILURE! *NM
I BROUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THIS VEHICLE HAS A LOT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE AND ENGINE. SO I FILED A LEMON REQUEST. LAST MONTH, VW ASKED ME TO DROP THIS VEHICLE TO VW DEALER TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE PROBLEM. ON MARCH 23, THE VW EXPERT TEST DROVE MY TOUAREG AND HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT. *NM THE REAR WIPER MADE A CLICKING NOISE. UPDATED 05/04/06. *JB THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS UPDATED. UPDATED 06/01/06. *JB
I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY 2004 VW TOUAREG ON 7-11-04. BY 9-9-04 IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, 3 TIMES FOR THE AC, 3 TIMES FOR THE BATTERY, AND 1-2 TIMES FOR OTHER THINGS. TOMORROW, I WILL BE TAKING IT IN AGAIN FOR FURTHER A/C PROBLEMS, BRAKES THAT CATCH ON THEIR OWN WHILE IN DRIVE, INTERMITTENT FAULTY TRIGGERING OF TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, AND A HOLE THAT I DISCOVERED ONLY DAY IN THE FIRE BLANKET UNDER THE HOOD. APPARENTLY THE ENGINE HEAT HAS BEEN BURNING A HOLE IN IT AND HAS BURNED AWAY A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE BLANKET TO THE HOOD ITSELF, BUT NOT THROUGH THE HOOD YET. THIS CAR HAS MEANT TIME LOST FROM WORK AND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN THE SHOP AND PAYING FOR RENTAL CARS. THIS CAR IS A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. FAIRFAX COUNTY CONSUMER PROTECTION (ROY SEGER) HAD CONTACTED VW AS THIS CAR FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW. VW RESPONDED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COMPLY, STATING THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE BATTERY. THEIR RESPONSE FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE MULTITUDE OF OTHER PROBLEMS...AND NOW THIS. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO POWERLESS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP?? *NM
DT: THE PROBLEM BEGAN ON 4-04. PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. HYDRAULIC BRAKES ARE PULLING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE SCREECHING NOISE AND BRAKE DUST. BRAKES ARE NOW GRINDING. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. DEALER REPORTS THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS WORKING ON PROBLEM IN GENERAL. OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. PROBLEM IS GRADUAL AND WORSENING. ON LAST SERVICING, VEHICLE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE HAD A BRAKE RESURFACING. BRAKES ARE ALL WHEEL. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT GOING UP AND IS BROKEN. *AK
SINCE I PURCHASED A 2004 VW TOUAREG ON 2/28/04 I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE MOST SEVERE IS THE FRONT END ALLIGNMENT AND BRAKES. I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 6 FRONT END ALLIGNMENTS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICULE. IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND THEY CAN NOT CORRECT IT. THIS IS A AN EXTREME HAZARD AT HIGHER SPEEDS SINCE THE SUV PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON MY VEHICULE THAT HE SET THE ALLIGNMENT TO FACTOR SPECS AND IT STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO TIRE KINGDOM TWICE AND THEY DID THE SAME AND DID A HIGH SPEED BALANCE ON THE TIRES AS WELL AND IT STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. ALSO VOLKWAGON OF AMERICA PUT OUT CIRCULAR VWA-04-12 STATING THAT THERE IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WITH FRONT END ALLIGNMENTS ON CERTIN VIN NUMBERS ON THE TOUAREG. VW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE BREAKS MAKING LOUD NOISE AND WEARING OUT FAST. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE ROTORS ARE BAD. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES AND NOTHING WAS DONE. ALSO THERE IS CONDENSATION ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THEY DID HAVE A RECALL ON THIS, BUT THE TROUBLE STILL EXSISTS.
DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A FIRE HYDRANT. LEFT SIDE (DRIVER'S SIDE) WHEEL SHEARED OFF. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK *BF *NM
MY 2004 TOUAREG WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICING 7 TIMES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AND LOOKED AT THREE TIMES. THEY STILL SQUEAL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS LESSENED. OF MORE CONCERN ARE THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE AFFECTED ME. I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF MY VEHICLE TWICE, EACH TIME WITH A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION. UPDATED SOFTWARE WAS THE LATEST FIX. MY AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT IS NOW ON. ANOTHER SOFTWARE RESOLUTION IS ON THE WAY. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY OR SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE OR WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE WILL ARISE. VOLKSWAGEN TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PROBLEMATIC AND I HAD "BUYERS REMORSE". I AM IN AWE OF THEIR LACK OF CONCERN ESPECIALLY WHEN I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY TOUAREG OWNER OUT THERE WITH PROBLEMS.*AK
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2004 DOES NOT STOP IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *BF ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PRACTICALLY BALD AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE FRONT TIRES WERE SLIGHTLY MORE WORN THAN THE REAR. ALSO, THE CLOCK WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP ON SNOWY CONDITIONS. *SC
6/04 & 9/04 - TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK BRAKE EFFICIENCY & SQUEALING NOISE. BOTH TIMES DEALERSHIP REPORTED NO PROBLEM AND BRAKE NOISE WAS CREATED BY BRAKE DUST & WAS NORMAL. 2/05 - BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED CAR ACCIDENT. *JB
ON TWO OCCASIONS MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG V-8 EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON THESE TWO OCCASIONS. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER AS IF THE BATTERY WERE COMPLETELY DEPLETED. I DID NOT CAUSE ANY ELECTRICAL/BATTERY DRAIN, I.E. LEAVING ON LIGHTS OR LEAVING ANY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ON. LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE CONDUCTED AN ANALYSIS AND FOUND SEVERAL FAULTS STORED. BUT THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID NONE OF THE STORED FAULTS INDICATED WHAT CAUSED THE COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. FIRST INCIDENT WAS APRIL, 2004 AND MOST RECENT DEC. 28, 2004. I ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OTHER ELECTRICAL AND/OR COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONS. THESE MALFUNCTIONS WERE RELATED TO: ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, DRIVE LINE SYSTEM, STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, STEERING INPUT, DOOR LOCKS, INTERIOR LIGHTING FEATURES, TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING, AND KEYLESS REMOTE. ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, DRIVE LINE SYSTEM, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND STEERING INPUT MALFUNCTIONS OCCURRED FOUR TOTAL TIMES. DEALER/SERVICE COULD NOT "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DOOR LOCKS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEMS WERE CONSTANT BUT DEALER/SERVICE COULD NOT "" THE PROBLEM. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING WAS REPAIRED AND HAS BEEN PROBLEM FREE SINCE MARCH 2004. THE KEYLESS REMOTE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK WAS REPAIRED AND WORKS BETTER BUT HAS NOT BEEN PROBLEM FREE. *NM
WHILE PULLING INTO THE APT. PARKING LOT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THERE WAS AN ALERT ON THE CONTROL SCREEN BUT I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT SAID. AS A RESULT THE CAR DROVE OVER A FIRE HYDRANT AND HIT THE TRUNK OF A CAR PARKED NEXT TO THE HYDRANT. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE DAMAGED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL INJURIES AND ONLY ONE PERSON (TOM) WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THE OFFICER STATED THAT THE BRAKES FELT "MUSHY." NO TICKETS WERE ISSUED. STILL WAITING FOR A ADJUSTER TO VIEW THE CARS INVOLVED. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUG. AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER TWICE WITHIN A MONTH. FIRST FOR AN AIR BAG PROBLEM, 2 FOR A BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. THEY DID NOT DO A DIAGNOSTIC FR THE BRAKES THEY ONLY CHANGED A LIGHT BULB. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME A WENT SPORADICALLY BEFORE THIS SERVICE. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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