2005 Volkswagen Touareg Electrical Problems

My OBD port cannot be read. It will not communicate, or I cannot communicate with the vehicle using any OBD reading software. Myself or my mechanic. This is a major safety concern due to several reasons. Most importantly, I'm being told that it can affect, or it's probably caused by, electrical problems that are well known on this particular model and year for this maker. Something's wrong with it, where it's either being shorted somewhere, or for whatever reason, because it's not communicating. It's caused the vehicle to shut off randomly, sometimes it will allow you to restart, and then sometimes it will not. And this is a cause of concern if and when I drive on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11734415

Incident

Mar 7, 2025

Due to a leak in either the sunroof or the windshield water continuously drips down every time it rains onto the floorboard of the driver side of this vehicle, creating a sopping wet floor board that has 2 inches of water, which in turn soaks the whole electrical system for this vehicle. I mean the water continuously drips from the time you purchase this vehicle until forever I guarantee that anybody who has a v8 version of the 2005 Volkswagen Touareg has a sopping wet driver, side floor board! The water never has a chance to dry, especially in colder climates Mine went into limp mode due to this electrical system, failing. VW MECHANICS told me I needed a whole new engine w! When I did my research and I found out that this is very common on this model, and if there are some wires that inevitably get corroded from all the water that ruins the electrical system underneath the driver side floor board, and therefore the wires become corroded and severed which creates a real problem for the electrical system to function

NHTSA ID

11541808

Incident

Aug 31, 2023

After doing major research with other owners of like year and model I have discovered that i'm not the only one that is experiencing headlight electronics or headlight electrical system within the headlight assembly frying the electrical wires, cracking the brittle wire coating and exposing many of the electrical wires together within the housing unit of the headlight Assembly. This caused many short circuits Headlights Shutting off at random times but most importantly shutting off at night on a dark highway. Depending on the bumps and bruises of the streets would cause the Wires to touch each other and short circuit. Although this is a 17-year-old vehicle but I've never experienced electrical components being degraded this much For like Like age of any vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11508252

Incident

Feb 2, 2023

WHEN I GET GAS FOR MY TOUAREG 2005 I'LL SHUT THE SUV OFF POP OPEN THE FUEL BOX DOOR AND PUT THE GAS IN THEN AS I PUT CAP BACK ON SHUT DOOR GET IN THE SUV I TRY TO START THE SUV BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THE CARS EITHER OUT OF GAS OR BATTERY HAS DIED SO AFTER THE FIRST LIKE SAY 4-6 TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING TO ME I TRIED TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AS I PUT THE GAS IN THE SUV IN HOPES OF IT STILL REMAIN ON AND RUNNING BUT SURE ENOUGH THE SUVS BATTERY LIGHT WILL POP ON AND THE CAR WILL LOSE LIFE BUT THE LIGHTS AND STUFF STILL REMAIN ON BUT NO DRIVING HAPPENING SO I'D HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OFF THEN TRY AND START IT UP AGAIN BUT AS I TURN THE KEY I'LL HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS PEDDLE A BUNCH TO CATCH THE FLOW I GUESS

NHTSA ID

11139893

Incident

Jul 4, 2018

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME IT RAINED, WATER ACCUMULATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FLOOR THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FLOOR WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER CALLED STONE MOUNTAIN VOLKSWAGEN AT (678) 367-4286 (LOCATED AT 3500 STONE MOUNTAIN HWY, SNELLVILLE, GA 30078) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11132737

Incident

Jul 4, 2018

Mileage

104,000 mi

OVERALL LIFE OF CAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MAJORITY OF THE HOSES IN THE ENGINE, THE FUEL LINE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE LEAVOR-3 TIMES, THE HORN ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE. AND WITH THE RECALL THE GAS FLANGE - CRACKING. THE PRODUCT VW USES IN THIS VEHICLE IS INFERIOR- PLASTIC EXPANDS WHEN HOT AND CONTRACTS WHEN COLD= CRACKING. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL OF THE GAS FLANGE OR WHATEVER ELSE IS RELATED TO THE GAS BEFORE ANYONE IN MY FAMILY OR OTHERS DIE. OR MY CAS GOES UP INTO FLAMES CAUSING SEVERE TRAUMA- ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS IN THIS VEHICLE THAT VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP - THE ENTIRE ENTERRIER PLASTIC COATING TO THE VEHICLE HAS MELTED - THE DRIVERS SIDE VISITOR HANGS AS THE SPRING ACTION OR WHAT EVER IT'S CALLED IS BROKEN. WE HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, FORDS, TOYOTA'S, HONDA'S AND SEVERAL VWS. THE TOUAREG AND ALL OF PRIMARY SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD ALWAYS FUNCTION SAFELY-THE GAS ISSUE IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE A RECALL TO SAVE LIVES!

NHTSA ID

11124546

Incident

Aug 7, 2018

Mileage

139,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 VW TOUAREG WHICH RECENTLY HAD THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON. I TOOK THE TOUAREG TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WHERE I WAS CHARGED $104.48 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST PROVIDED THE STORED FAULT CODE OF 01218, FRONT SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG IGNITOR UPPER LIMIT EXCEEDED, THUS RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS FOR $320.00 ESTIMATE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT VW ADDRESSED WITH THE NHTSA BY A TOUAREG SERVICE PACK/CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN LATE DECEMBER 2006 WHERE VVV REPLACED THE SUBJECT DEFECTIVE HARNESSES AT NO EXPENSE TO TOUAREG OWNERS. THE VW ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE RECORDS THIS REPLACEMENT WAS NOT PERFORMED ON MY TOUAREG. PLEASE ADVISE WHY THIS DEFECTIVE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT REPLACED DURING THIS CAMPAIGN. BASED UPON MY CONCERN AS A SAFETY AND HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, AND MY REVIEW OF THE INFORMATION AND FILES AVAILABLE FROM NHTSA CONCERNING THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2006, I BELIEVE THAT VWS FAILURE TO CONTINUE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NHTSA FOR CONSIDERATION OF REOPENING OF THIS INVESTIGATION. AS STATED IN THE ODI RESUME FOR INVESTIGATION: PE 06-022, SUBJECT: SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION, .THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I EXPECT NHTSA WILL REQUEST DATA FROM VW ON HOW MANY VW TOUAREGS HAVE REPORTED, OR BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006, AND HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE PAID VW OR OTHER REPAIR FACILITIES TO REPLACE THESE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESSES AND RELATED EQUIPMENT. THE TOUAREG SERVICE PACK/CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN LATE DECEMBER 2006 WHERE VVV REPLACED THE SUBJECT DEFECTIVE HARNESSES AT NO EXPENSE TO TOUAREG OWNERS WAS AN ACTION TAKEN AT THAT TIME TO AVOID A RECALL. RECONSIDER!

NHTSA ID

10759641

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

104,098 mi

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE IN LOW BEAM MODE. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTED THAT THE INSULATION FOR THE WIRING INSIDE EACH HEADLIGHT UNIT WAS BRITTLE, CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES THE INSULATION HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF. THIS CAUSED BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO GROUND OUT AND FAIL, POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683124

Incident

Dec 16, 2014

Mileage

74,218 mi

IT'S NOT LETTING ME SELECT ANY PARTS THERE IS A GLITCH IN THIS WEBSITE. IT IS MY ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM! HAS COST US 100S OF DOLLARS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10678248

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

108,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10504036

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

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 TIMES, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE J519 VEHICLE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT AND BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10449798

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

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. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10307939

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

52,000 mi

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 STOP AND AT INTERSECTIONS. AS A RESULT OF THE ERRATIC SHIFTING, I HAVE BEEN NEARLY REAR-ENDED. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES FOR 3 TO 8 DAYS AT A TIME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS ISSUE, SINCE IT HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY SERVICE THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE TO MY VEHICLE IN HOPES TO CORRECT THE POOR SHIFTING AND POOR GAS MILEAGE (11-12 MPG) IS COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPDATES. NONE OF WHICH HAVE EVER FIXED THE PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, WITH EACH MONTH THAT PASSES, NEW MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ARISE. THE SEAT ADJUSTMENTS FAIL, ALONG WITH THE RADIO, THE TRUNK HATCH, THE AIRBAG, ETC. THE CAR OVERHEATS AND SMOKE COMES FROM THE TIRES & WHEELS, OF WHICH THE MANUFACTURER TOOK NOTICE TO, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD 5-6 ATTEMPTS TO SERVICE THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SINCE MAY 2005 AND IT IS NOW JANUARY 07 AND MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, THE TIRES (W/ PADS/ROTORS (SP?) ARE COMPLETELY WORN, AND THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 12K MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10180801

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

1,242 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10178508

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

Mileage

500 mi