Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Volkswagen Touareg submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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
Previous recall in 2017 regarding fuel filter housing cracks and seals has failed. In 2017 it was approved to allow VW to use cellophane sticky tape to cover the fuel filter crack in plastic housing. It has failed. The car has 43,000 miles, the cabin has strong odor smell. The left rear wheel arch has extremely strong gasoline smell. How was VW able to get approval to fix a serious fuel leak with sticky tape?
I have a 2010 VW Touarge V6, recently it started leaking fuel out, after taking the car to VW dealership, they told me the fuel was leaking out from the fuel filter flange. VW had a recall on (2007-2010 VW Touarge) fuel filter flange back in 2017 (see below) https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V151-3759.pdf They acknowledges that there was a flaw in the fuel filter flange that the plastic part could crack and leak out fuel after some years. Back in 2017, I took the car to VW dealership and the recall repair they did on my car was to install a protective film on the flange (since they deemed that the flange was not broken when examined during the recall repair at the time). Now 4 years later, the flange is cracking and leaking fuel out, obviously the recall fix (protective film) did not stop the flange from cracking or fuel from leaking out. I have contacted VW customer care and stated that they failed to fix the fuel leaking hazard as the protective film was ineffective in stopping fuel to leak out from a now broken flange. I hoped they could cover the fix of the broken flange. VW customer service refused to fix the problem for me under the recall and asked me to be fully responsible for the fix, as they claimed that the "recall was done", despite that I showed they the recall details, and mentioned that the problematic flange was not replaced, and questions the effectiveness of the recall repair done in 2017. I feel I have to question whether the original recall fix was proper (that for un-cracking flange at the time, only a protective film was installed instead of replacing the problematic fuel filter flange, that had big leaking problems) So please help to investigate the case, and let VW know that they should always put customer's safety first. Looks to me, they used a cheap method (a plastic film) to avoid replacing an already inexpensive flange part, and in exchange, customer had to face such safety hazard and big car repair bill...
SAFETY RECALL 20Z4 FUEL PUMP FLANGE VW HAD A SAFETY RECALL ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. BUT THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE FLANGE FOR ME. INSTEAD THEY ONLY PUT A PROTECTIVE FILM THERE WHICH DID NOT WORK. NOW MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL BUT VW REFUSED TO COVER IT. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND THEIR RECALL SIMPLY DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING FUEL FOR A FEW DAYS.
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING OUR VEHICLE TO STALL WITH NO POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY OFF RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY. I HAD MY SON, WIFE AND DOG IN THE CAR. I COULD NOT MOVE THE 5000LB VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, SO I REMOVED MY FAMILY TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE DIRECTED TRAFFIC. VW DEALER THEN CAME FOR US WHILE I WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. VERY DANGEROUS. NOW AT DEALER AND VW IS CLAIMING MANY MANY VERY EXPENSIVE ISSUES WITH IT DUE TO THIS FAILURE THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR, WE WERE 837 MILES FROM OUR HOME. HAD TO STAY 2 NIGHTS IN A HOTEL AND RENT A CAR TO DRIVE HOME. THEY STILL CANNOT FIX OUR CAR. IT'S CURRENTLY STILL AT THE DEALER WITH NO CLUE TO WHAT IS WRONG. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER SIGN OF SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE STALL. IT JUST LOST POWER AND DIED. I COULD NOT RESTART IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR EMITTED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DON BEYER VOLVO WINCHESTER (LOCATED AT 4015 VALLEY PIKE, WINCHESTER, VA 22602, (540) 868-3000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER FLANGE CONNECTOR SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,757.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROOKLYN VOLKSWAGEN IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK WHERE THE WASHER/GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AS THE CONTACT DROVE AWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CLEANED AND THE FUEL ODOR WOULD SUBSIDE FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V151000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS "PENDING". THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 170-879-370. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL FLANGE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V151000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM INSIDE THE CAR AS WELL AS FROM THE OUTSIDE. AFTER WARMNG UP THE CAR, THERE IS VISIBLE FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER IS CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. IT LEAKS MORE AND SMELLS STRONGER WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM. THIS IS A HUGE FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS DAMAGING TO YOUR HEALTH BY BREATHING THE FUMES FROM THE LEAKING FUEL. IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE.
TRAVELING 65MPH SOUTHBOUND ON RT93 IN MASSACHUSSETTS WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE NOW AND A YELLOW COIL LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN SECONDS I LOST POWER AND STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. I ROLLED WITHOUT POWER TO SNOW FILLED SIDE OF THE ROAD. CARS WERE TRAVELING IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE SINCE IT WAS RUSH HOUR. CALLED AAA, A FLAT BED TRUCK BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS CONTAMINATED FUEL WHICH LEAD TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AT 30MPH ENTERING A INTERSECTION WITH TRAIN TRACKS. NO WARNING AT ALL OTHER THAN A QUICK LIGHT ON THE DASH AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. DRIVER BEHIND ME LUCKILY DID NOT HIT ME AND I SOMEHOW WAS ABLE TO COAST MY VEHICLE INTO A DRIVEWAY LOT OF A GAS STATION ON THE CORNER. AFTER COASTING INTO THE LOT I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE AT THAT POINT I BECAME STRANDED, LUCKILY WITH NO ACCIDENT. AFTER THE FACT I DID FURTHER RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT ON VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL ENGINES NUMEROUS CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THAT ALSO WOULD CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON AND LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERATIVE ON THE ROAD. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE STALLED AT FREEWAY SPEED AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD FAILED. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF MIS-FUELING (NO GAS IN TANK WHEN TESTED), CONTAMINANTS ARE UNKNOWN. IT SEEMS THAT THE HPFP IS NOT DESIGNED TO PERFORM WITHIN THE TOLERANCES NECESSARY TO OPERATE SAFELY AND RELIABLY ON 'PUMP FUEL' AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS; IT IS MECHANICALLY DEFECTIVE AND CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO HIGHWAY SAFETY. REQUEST ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. JCC
AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE PASSING LANE. VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS LUCKY TRAFFIC ALLOWED ME TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD ALTHOUGH SEMI TRUCK WAS ON MY SIDE WHEN IT DIED. VEHICLE TOWED TO FIND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF FUEL SYSTEM. REPAIR REPLACED WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM ($10,000 VALUE). DEALER ADVISED THIS IS DUE TO BIO DIESEL PURCHASED IN ILLINOIS. FUEL PUMP DESTRUCTS AND VEHICLE FAILS. VW ACKNOWLEDGED THE FUEL ISSUE BUT NEVER SAID THIS WHEN WE PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. VERY UNSAFE AND VEHICLE IS ONLY USED FOR LOCAL USE UNTIL WE CAN SELL OR TRADE IN. WE WERE LUCKY.... VW TECH TOLD ME TO FILE WITH NTSB AS HE HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3 DAYS PRIOR AS A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" FROM LAKELAND VW OF FLORIDA. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO STOP. AS I ROLLED UP AND WENT TO TURN RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS A BUSY STREET, AT WHICH POINT I CALLED ROADSIDE FOR A TOW. THE VW DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT IT IS MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JS
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ("HPFP") FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE STALL INCIDENT, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC WITH NO RESTART, CONTRIBUTING TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2014 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON US ROUTE 9 IN BARRINGTON NH AT APPROXIMATELY 11AM IN MY VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2010 TDI. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR BEFORE I FELT A STRANGE LAG AND THEN A WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING TO STOP THE CAR. BEFORE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD THE CAR LOST POWER AND DIED. SINCE THE WARNING TO STOP THE CAR CAME UP I DID NOT TRY TO RESTART THE CAR. I SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEWILDERED FOR A MOMENT AS I'D ONLY PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 WEEKS BEFORE AND IT WAS ONLY A FEW MILES SHORT OF 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. BEING STRANDED PARTIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WAS TERRIFYING AS I WAS IN A 50MPH ZONE AND PEOPLE WERE FLYING PAST ME UPWARDS OF 60MPH WHILE MY CAR WAS BARELY STRADDLING THE WHITE LINE. ALSO, IT WAS 8 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR ME TO WAIT SAFELY OUTSIDE OF THE CAR DUE TO CONSIDERABLE FROZEN SNOW BANKS FLANKING THE ROADWAY. MY OPTIONS WERE TO PRAY NOT TO GET HIT OR RISK FREEZING WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. OVERALL THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE IN A NEW CAR WHO'S SUPPOSED TOUGHNESS AND RELIABILITY WAS ONE OF ITS SELLING POINTS. THE DEALER (QUIRK VW IN MANCHESTER, NH) HAS TOLD US THAT THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED LEADING TO A HPFP FAILURE WHICH MY HUSBAND SAYS THIS SAME VEHICLE HAS HAD REPLACED LESS THAN 8,000 MILES AGO UNDER THE PREVIOUS OWNER. HE ALSO SAID THAT I SHOULD MENTION THAT THIS IS THE SAME HPFP MADE BY BOSCH AS THE GOLF, JETTA AND A3 WHICH HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED UNDER EA11003 FOR FAILURE. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NO VIBRATIONS, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED ALLEGEDLY DUE TO SUBSTANDARD/CONTAMINATED DIESEL FUEL. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF MIS-FUELING (NO GAS IN TANK WHEN TESTED), CONTAMINANTS ARE UNKNOWN. IT SEEMS THAT THE HPFP IS NOT DESIGNED TO PERFORM WITHIN THE TOLERANCES NECESSARY TO OPERATE SAFELY AND RELIABLY ON 'PUMP FUEL' AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS. *TR
DURING THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE ALMOST EMPTY TANK WITH DIESEL FUEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (PER REPORT OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CALLED IN) CREATED HEAT THAT WAS ABLE TO MELT PART OF THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FILLING NOZZLE, COMPLETELY MELTED THE RUBBER STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL CAP AND MELTED/BURNED THE SPLASH RING ON THE FUEL DISPENSER. THE METALLIC RING OF THE FILLING NOZZLE TURNED SO HOT, THAT FUMES/SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE. DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE BATTERY BENEATH THE DRIVERS SEAT, THE FD WAS NOT ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.
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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