Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 56 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 56 · page 1 of 3
I was driving the vehicle and noticed smoke coming out from under the hood I pulled over immediately and the whole engine compartment was on fire I tried to put fire but Fire department showed up and extinguish the fire, fire was due to a fuel leak
Protective coating on wires in the headlight and turn signal assemblies crumbled and disintegrated, causing all the lighting components and ballast for HID lights, light level adjusters and the fuses and relays to short out, sparks and potential fire hazard.
2008 Touareg 3.6L/V6 Intake Manifold/Valve Cover explosion.... March 2021, several incidents while driving vehicle would completely shut off/ loose power, with no prior warning or apparent cause, leaving driver at a total loss of steering control, as well as leaving vehicle completely disabled supposedly resulting from battery dying. Engine code scanner findings: several cylinders misfiring, possible timing chain, & (P0456) EVAP leak (among others). Repairs performed: 06/25/21 valve cover & battery replacement. Shortly after repairs noticed (never before seen) oil leak caused from recently repaired (faulty part) valve cover, which was then replaced again. (Jump ahead to present) July 14, 2022, upon attempted ignition, quickly noticed vehicle TRYING to turn over for several seconds without success, so turned key to off immediately heard an extremely loud "BOOM" followed by smoke bellowing out from under my hood/ engine. Popped hood to inspect the cause & discovered the valve cover had blown its top right off, exploded into several pieces, exposing valves to naked eye. Vehicle was then stranded, not starting, engine would not turn over. Had to have it towed to shop, awaiting update & information.
During the time that I drive this vehicle, I noticed from early times that the steering wheel is likely to shake after certain speed, likely around 70+. I have consulted many VW dealership but they couldn't figure out the problem. I did some research online and found a lot of people have experienced similar issue. And it is concluded that this is very likely a suspension problem. From many others' feedback, VW dealership cannot solve this problem, and even many after the VW changed a new Touareg for the customers for free, the new vehicle still have the same problem. Because this is really annoying, with this steering wheel shaking at high speed for the whole front body of the car, I think I should report this problem to let it be known, and hopefully VW can have some solution figured out, that all cars affected can be repaired, to prevent any accidents that this could lead to, and to let people be able to drive smoothly in their car in all speeds, just like every other models/brands of cars.
ON DECEMBER 28, 2020 I DETECTED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF OUR 2008 VW TOUAREG WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY, NOT RUNNING. LATER WHILE DRIVING THE PUNGENT ODOR WAS ALSO DISCERNABLE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. A PICTURE OF THE TANK REFLECTS WETNESS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS MORNING DURING A CALL TO DONALDSON'S VW SERVICE, THEY RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE REGARDING A FUEL LEAK, FOR WHICH A HISTORY OF RECALLS EXIST. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A PRIOR RECALL SERVICE REQUIRES INCREMENTAL REMEDIATION? WHAT RECOURSE IS AVAILABLE TO HAVE A VW DEALER RESOLVE THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AT VOLKSWAGEN'S EXPENSE? A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS PRECEDENT FOR VW TOUAREG FUEL LEAKS AFFECTING PRODUCTION YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2013 (AND POSSIBLY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF MY SEARCH). SAFETY RECALL 20AI (NHTSA: 17V583) - FUEL FILTER FLANGE LEAK CERTAIN 2004-2007 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG SAFETY RECALL 20Z4 (NHTSA: 17V151000) - FUEL PUMP FLANGE MAY CRACK CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE 2007 - 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG SAFETY RECALL 24BK (NHTSA: 15V019000) - FUEL LEAKAGE AFFECTING VARIOUS AUDI AND VW MODELS SPANNING 2011 - 2013 THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE AND POTENTIAL ASSISTANCE!
UPON STARTING THE ENGINE IN MY 2008 VW TOUAREG AS NORMAL TO LEAVE, THE ENGINE TURNED OVER TO START, BUT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TURNING OVER LONGER THAN USUAL. I GRABBED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION TO TURN IT OFF. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I HEAR A LOUD POP, FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE EMERGE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED AND WAS IN PIECES.
WHILE DRIVING, FIRST SIDE MARKER AND RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL BEGAN TO FAIL, THEN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED. UPON INSPECTION ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE FAILED COMPONENTS, INSULATION WAS CRUMBLING & NON- EXISTENT. IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SAME CONDITION OF WIRE INSULATION FALLING OFF WIRES, CAUSING SHORTING OUT OF COMPONENTS. REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY, BULBS, BALLASTS AND CONTROLLERS WAS REQUIRED TO OPERATE VEHICLE CONDITION. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (PRESTON VW, BOARDMAN, OHIO), THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROPLEMS WITH THE TOUAREG RELATED TO WIRING OR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE W OEM THROUGH ROCK AUTO AUTO PARTS (MOST COST EFFECTIVE) WAS TOTAL$1,314.82
INSULATION ON WIRES IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FALLS OFF WIRES CAUSING SHORTS AND DISABLES BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAUSING LOSS OF VISION AT NIGHT. THIS ALSO STOPS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. ALSO PLASTIC HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAZES AND SCRATCHES RESULTING IN POOR LIGHT BEFORE THE SHORTING WIRES DISABLE ALL HEADLIGHTS.
APRIL 21, 2008, MY WIFE FINISHED HER JOB AND CALLED ME THAT SHE WILL BE HOME SOON. FEW MINUTES LATER I GOT THE CALL FROM HER TELLING ME THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO OUR 2008 VW TOUAREG THAT THERE WAS A BIG EXPLOSION AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE WAS VERY DISTURBED NOT KNOWING WHAT JUST HAD HAPPENED. I ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND NOTICED THAT HOOD HAD SOME DENTS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW FUEL INTAKE MANIFOLD COMPLETELY DESTROYED. MY WIFE WAS SHAKING, PEOPLE FORM WORK WERE ASKING WHAT HAPPENED? I TOWED MY CAR TO VW SERVICE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION THEY COULD NOT PIN POINT WHAT REALLY CAUSED IT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FIND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. WHEN CALLING VW OF CANADA I WAS TOLD, BECAUSE THE CAR HAS NO WARRANTY THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. MY WIFE CRIED WHEN I ASKED HER TO GET HER STUFF FROM THE VEHICLE, BEFORE IT WAS TOWED AWAY. I DO NOT KNOW HOW WILL I PERSUADE HER TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN OR EVEN TO BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. WE OWN A 2017 VW GOLF AS WELL. DO I WANT TO KEEP IT? I DO NOT THINK SO. MY FATE IN VW HAS DIMINISHED. I ALWAYS TOLD EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS A CAR FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY. WAS I WRONG?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SLID AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FUTOS WRECKER SERVICE LOCATED AT 2050 LIDDELL DR NE, ATLANTA, GA 30324, (404) 874-5926. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY SAY IT WAS DONE NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT. I WOULD LIKE A INVESTIGATION WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY FOR IT SINCE MY VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT THOSE SYMPTOMS OR CHARACTERISTICS PRIOR TO HAVING THE SERVICE RECALL DONE.
MY VEHICLE WAS "FIXED" UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE BUT STILL SMELLS LIKE GAS ALL AROUND. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT.
THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG HAVE BEEN BURNING THE BULBS AND GIVING ME MANY PROBLEMS TO CONDITION IN THE NIGHT YESTERDAY APRIL 26, 2019 THE HEADLIGHT BURNED LEFT I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD AND I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FLAME OF FIRE AND I TURN IT OFF AND WENT TO MY HOUSE WITHOUT LIGHTS WHEN I REMOVE THE HEADLIGHT I FIND THAT ALL THE CABLES ARE WITHOUT THE COVER THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR NOT BOBY I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I CAN GO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM
TAKATA RECALL. MY REAR DRIVESHAFT BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
WHY CAN'T MY MACHINES FIND EXHAUST SYSTEM PIPES FROM THE CATALYTIC TO THE BACK END?
WHEN I'M DRIVING AND ITS RAINING, WATER COMES POURING DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS NOT COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. IT SEEMS TO BE LEAKING FROM THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AREA ABOVE. ALSO THE PARKING BREAK LEVER BROKE OFF WHEN I TRIED TO RELEASE IT. WHEN I DID RELEASE THE BREAK WITH THE LEVER, IT DID NOT RELEASE IT. I HAD TO LITERALLY PULL ON THE PARKING BREAK PEDAL THAT RELEASES THE PARKING BREAK. THEREFORE, I CANNOT USE THE PARKING BREAK BY ANY MEANS.
MY ISSUE STARTED OUT WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEING ON EVEN WHEN AN AVERAGE SIDE ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT ESCALATED TO AN AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT ON IN THE CONTROL PANEL. THIS LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF. ANOTHER ISSUE STARTED WHEN I WOULD ENTER THE CAR AND THE DOOR SIGNAL WAS SUDDENLY LOUD AND ODD SOUNDING. THIS WENT ON FOR A WEEK OR SO THEN ALL OF THE SOUNDS IN THE CAR CEASED COMPLETELY. NO BLINKER SOUND, NO LIGHTS ON INDICATOR, NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, NO DOOR OPEN INDICATOR, AND NO PARKING BRAKE INDICATOR. LASTLY, WHILE PICKING MY DAUGHTER UP FROM COLLEGE, I FOLDED THE BACKSEAT DOWN IN ORDER TO FIT HER BAGGAGE. THE CENTER SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE DEFAULT POSITION. I AM UNABLE TO GET THE SEAT ALL THE WAY DOWN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND IT IS NOW SNUG AGAINST THE BACKSEAT.
SMELLING GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR NO LEAKS , WHEN PARKED AND DRIVING
TAKATA RECALL DRIVER SIDE FUEL FILTER FLANGE. STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE AROUND THE CAR.
THE DASHBOARD CONTROL CENTER SHOW THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE . THIS ISSUE HAPPENED IN 2014, AND 2015 , BUT WEREN'T REPORTED BY 2 VW DEALERS FROM MASSACHUSETTS . THIS WARNING SIGN IS ALWAYS ON . THE ACTUAL DEALER , WHO WAS DIAGNOSED TE ISSUE , CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DOESN'T PROPERLY WORK
WHEN CHANGING ANY OF THE THREE BULBS IN EACH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, WIRING TO THE BULB HOLDER(S) WILL BE MISSING INSULATION AND HAVING EXPOSED, OR BARE, COPPER WIRES. EVEN WHERE THE INSULATION IS STILL INTACT, THE INSULATION IS VERY LIKELY TO BE BRITTLE AND JUST THE MINIMAL MOVEMENT OF THE WIRES, NECESSARY TO REPLACE ANY OF THE BULBS, WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL INSULATION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE WIRING INSIDE THESE HOUSINGS. THERE IS NO WIRE WRAP, ELECTRICAL TAPE, NOR HEAT SHIELDING ON ANY OF THE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, LIKE WHAT YOU FIND ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE VEHICLES' WIRING LOOM AND ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THESE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE FULLY EXPOSED TO THE HEAT BUILD-UP WITHIN THE HOUSING WHILE ALSO BEING SUSCEPTIBLE TO ABRASION AGAINST ANY OF SEVERAL STAMPED METAL PIECES INTERNAL TO THE HOUSING. THE WIRE GAUGE USED SEEMS SUFFICIENT FOR THE CURRENT REQUIRED TO RUN THE 55-WATT HALOGEN BULBS USED FOR HIGH AND LOW BEAMS IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF TOUAREG, ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS ARE NOT FUSED INDIVIDUALLY, MEANING PER-SIDE, SO THE LARGER VALUE FUSE IN COMMON FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS IS HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT-CARRYING CAPACITY WIRING WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. ANY SHORTING OF THESE WIRES, EITHER DIRECTLY AGAINST EACH OTHER OR THROUGH ANY METAL MAKING UP THE STRUCTURE OF THE REFLECTORS, WOULD HAVE TO PASS ENOUGH CURRENT TO BLOW THE COMMON FUSE. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY RESULT IN SMOKING THE REMAINING INSULATION WITHIN THE HOUSING AND POTENTIALLY FURTHER UP INTO THE ENGINE BAY HARNESS WHICH PLUGS INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE BUT MINIMALLY CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, IF NOT ALL LIGHTING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL LOADS. A QUICK GOOGLE OR YOUTUBE SEARCH REVEALS THIS PERSISTENT ISSUE OVER MANY MODELS AND YEARS OF VW, AUDI, AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS USING SIMILAR HELLA OR VALEO LIGHTING COMPONENTS.
STRONG SMELL GASOLINE
STRONG SMELL OF FUEL LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD BUT NO APPARENT LEAK AND NO LEAKING FUEL SMELL
THERE IS CURRENT SAFETY RECALL 20Z4 FOR FUEL FILTER FLANGE AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW TO GET IT FIXED HOWEVER THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REPIRS NEEDED AND I WONDER IF THESE ADDITONAL REPAIRS ARE RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL SINCE THEY ALL PERTAIN TO FUEL. THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS ARE REPLACE BOTH FUEL SENSOR/PIPE AND HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THIS WILL COST ME ABOUT $1700. THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED HAS NHTSA#17V151.
TAKATA RECALL. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHEN I FELT MY CAR IS HARD TO ACCELERATE DURING DRIVING. SO WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT CANNOT GO BEYOND 35 MPH, WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS. IT FELT LIKE THE FUEL CANNOT BE POWERED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY FIRST RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED FROM DEALER'S BODY SHOP, WHERE THEY HAD DONE SOME INSPECTION A FEW DAYS AGO. AFTER THEY CHANGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THEN THEY FOUND THE FUEL PRESSURE IS LOW, AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. ( THEY DIDN'T REALLY DETECTED THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME FROM WHAT THEY HAD SAID LATER, BUT THEY HAD TO REPLACE ONE ITEM AT A TIME TO SEE IF THINGS COULD GET BETTER). AFTER THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THEN THEY FOUND PRESSUE DID NOT GET BETTER, SO THEY SUPPOSED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS ALSO BROKEN. I HAD TO FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTION TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AS WELL. I REALLY FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS VERY STRANGE. BUT SEEMS AFTER REPLACEING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, THE FUEL PRESSURE BECAME NORMAL.I DID COMPLAIN TO THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY HELPED ME A BIT TO VERIFY THAT THE DEALER IS NOT DOING ANYTHING UNPROFESSIONAL DOING THE REPAIR PROCESS. BUT IN SPITE OF THE REPAIR PROCESS, THIS FUEL PUMP PROBLEM IS WORTH TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE.
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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