2011 Volkswagen Touareg Owner Complaints

On my 2011 VW Touareg TDI there is an exhaust leak. Can be smelled within seconds of starting it. A turbo/EGR pipe cracks and the result is a serious exhaust leak under hood right next to where air is drawn into the cabin for HVAC. Parts are backordered with no ETA. Even though when driving there is exhaust getting into the car the dealer and VW corporate just says "sorry for the delay of the parts". This part failure seems to be a known issue- The VW dealer was told by corporate that installing a used part is not acceptable either. Currently been waiting 11 months on this part. The leak was noticed right after VW had to "fix" all the TDIs for the emissions scandal.

NHTSA ID

11439401

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF NORWOOD (1280 PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,032.

NHTSA ID

11403910

Incident

Jan 29, 2021

Mileage

100,032 mi

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 PLANTER IN MY YARD, CURRENTLY IS IT LIVING WITH THE MECHANIC WAITING TO BEHAVE BADLY AGAIN, SO HE CAN TRY AND THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT DRIVEABLE BY AN ORDINARY CITIZEN. IT HAS HAPPENED, WHILE SLOWING DOWN, WHILE TURNING, ALL AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY HELP MUCH. I STILL CAN'T DRIVE IT. IT HAS 138K ON A HYBRID ENGINE. IT WAS REAR-ENDED AND REPAIRED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, BUT IT RAN FINE AFTER THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS IS A MYSTERY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11328777

Incident

Jan 30, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

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 OWNERS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND COMPEL VW OF NORTH AMERICA TO PROVIDE A FIX AND CONDUCT A RECALL CAMPAIGN AS HAS BEEN DONE IN CHINA AND GERMANY.

NHTSA ID

11297133

Incident

Dec 24, 2019

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE VEHICLE RECENTLY COMPLETED A 70,000 MILE SERVICE AT THE LOCAL VW DEALER. TWO DAYS AFTER THE SERVICE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE FAINT SMELL OF FUEL ON THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED. WITH EACH PASSING DAY, THE SCENT OF FUEL CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND NOW ENTERS THE VEHICLE CABIN AT LOW IDLE SPEEDS (ESPECIALLY WHEN EXITING MAJOR ROADS OF TRAVEL).

NHTSA ID

11138850

Incident

Oct 6, 2018

Mileage

69,899 mi

MY DIESEL VW TOUAREG NEEDS THE NOX SENSOR REPLACED. WHY IS THIS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM ? SINDE THE EPA HAS DESIGNATED THE VW DIESELS MUST BE EITHER BUYBACK OR REPLACED/REPAIRED IT SEEMS APPARENT THAT THIS SENSOR IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO THE FUNCTION OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM BUT IT IS NOT A COVERED PART. THIS PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND FUNCTIONS ALONG WITH THE AD-BLUE PUMP WHICH IS COVERED.

NHTSA ID

10960193

Incident

Mar 7, 2017

Mileage

820,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON A SMOOTH TWO LANE WIDE HIGHWAY THE FRONT SUNROOF PANEL (PANORAMIC) SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, NO OVERPASSES AND NO TREES ABOVE. IT WAS AROUND 65-70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT WAS NOT HAILING OR RAINING AT THE TIME. NO OBJECTS WERE RECOVERED FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN UPWARDS INSTEAD OF INWARDS. FIANC AND TWO DOGS (TRUNK AREA) WERE INSIDE OF THE CRUCIBLE. GLASS CAUSED VERY MINOR CUTS. VEHICLE RECENTLY DETAILED AND ALSO CLEANED BY MYSELF. NO ROCK CHIPS PRESENT IN SUNROOF GLASS. NO VISIBLE CRACKS PRIOR TO INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10871581

Incident

May 28, 2016

Mileage

77,000 mi

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE.UNPREDICTABLE AND INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION STUMBLE': THIS OCCURS UNPREDICTABLY AND GENERALLY FROM A STANDING START. ONE DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. IT DECELERATES -THEN IT RECOVERS OFTEN ABRUPTLY. THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN PERIL OF A CRASH FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622286

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS BRAND NEW CAR SHAKES PERSISTENTLY AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 60MPH MAKING IT UNPLEASANT, IF NOT DANGEROUS, TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543009

Incident

Nov 30, 2011

Mileage

9,000 mi

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, ETC.) SEEMS TO IMPACT TDI LUX (MY TRIM) MORE THAN OTHERS, FROM 2011-2013. *TT

NHTSA ID

10537668

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

600 mi

HESITATION OF VEHICLE WHEN ENTERING ON RAMP TO HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508674

Incident

Apr 11, 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

NHTSA ID

10491775

Incident

Dec 25, 2012

Mileage

9,000 mi

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 SYSTEM - ESTIMATED COST ~ $400. FOLLOWING DAY, 8/17 ADVISED THAT DRAIN, FLUSH COMPLETE BUT THAT FUEL RETURN VALVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT - ESTIMATED COST INCREASED TO ~$800. PARTS ORDERED, CAR TO REMAIN AT DEALERSHIP THROUGH WEEKEND. TUESDAY 8/21 RECEIVED CALL, ADVISED THAT 'METAL SHAVINGS IN FUEL SYSTEM' REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF FUEL SYSTEM - APPROX. $10,000 REPAIR. REGIONAL VW SERVICE REP. REVIEWED MATTER AND ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. QUESTIONED SUDDEN SHIFT FROM ALGAE TO METAL SHAVINGS CONTAMINATION WITHOUT MATERIAL RESPONSE. LATER THAT DAY RECEIVED FOLLOW UP CALL THAT PARTS REQUIRED 'RED TAG' ORDERING, MEANING PARTS HAD TO COME FROM GERMANY. CAR TO BE LAID UP FOR ADDITIONAL 10 DAYS (APPROX). 8/27 - ASKED FOR UPDATE AND USE OF LOANER CAR. PARTS STILL ON ORDER. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT EXPERIENCED NON - GASOLINE GENERATED FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION/FAILURE - NO REASONED EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. LOANER CAR DENIED AS CAR WAS BEYOND 36K WARRANTY PERIOD, YET VW ELECTED TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. WEB BASED RESEARCH INDICATESWELL DOCUMENTED AND GROWING TDI FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE PROBLEM. *TR *JS

NHTSA ID

10472821

Incident

Aug 22, 2012

Mileage

39,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10470539

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

18,000 mi

KEY CAME OUT OF THE CAR WHILE RUNNING. COULD NOT GET THE KEY BACK INTO IGNITION AND COULD NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER TALKING TO VW CUSTOMER CARE, THE ONLY SOLUTIONS PROVIDED WERE TO LET THE CAR RUN UNTIL IT RUNS OUT OF FUEL THEN WE CAN TOW IT. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DIESEL AND THE TANK WAS FUEL (26 GALLONS) - THIS WOULD REQUIRE FOR THE CAR TO RUN FOR DAYS...AND NO WAY TO LOCK THE DOORS. ALSO, THEY SUGGESTED THAT IF THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME I COULD CONSIDER SIFFENING THE FUEL - WHERE AM I SUPPOSE TO STORE 26 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL. VW HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I'M WAITING ON A SOLUTION IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467655

Incident

Jul 8, 2012

Mileage

21,000 mi

IN A FRONT-ON COLLISION THAT CAUSED $22,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448818

Incident

Jan 20, 2012