RoadVitals

2013 Volkswagen Touareg Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Aug 26, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
27%
of 30 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Aug 26, 2019

ON JUNE 3, 2019 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE I-5 NEAR TULARE, CALIFORNIA, AT APPROXIMATELY 75MPH WHEN AN INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER, I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I QUICKLY MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND PREPARED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY LESS THAN A MILE AHEAD. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS FORCED TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY, NO POWER, NO POWER STEERING AND QUICKLY LOSING MY BRAKES. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN PARKING LOT IMMEDIATELY OFF THE FREEWAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO. AFTER SAFELY COMING TO A STOP, I ATTEMPTED TO LOOK UP THE INDICATOR LIGHT ICON IN THE VEHICLE MANUAL. UNABLE TO FIND THE CODE / REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE, I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP WAS 45 MILES AWAY SO I OPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL EUROPEAN CAR SERVICE SHOP IN TULARE, FRANK'S AUTOMOTIVE. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THEY HAD A VW MASTER TRAINED TECHNICIAN ON STAFF. HE RAN THE CODES, CHECKED THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. HE SAID THE PUMP LITERALLY DISINTEGRATED AND SENT BITS OF ALUMINUM 'SHRAPNEL' THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT THERE WAS PARTIAL RECALL AS A RESULT. UNFORTUNATELY, MY PARTICULAR MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND VW DECLINED TO ASSIST. THE REPAIR ENDED UP COSTING ME MORE THAN $8,000. IF VW HAD GIVEN ME A WARNING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE HAD THE PUMP REPLACED BEFORE IT CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. VW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAILURES. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS, IT'S CATASTROPHIC!

NHTSA ID
11246442
Incident
Jun 3, 2019
Mileage
163,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2018

2013 VOLKSWAGON TOUREG RECALL

NHTSA ID
11065926
Incident
Jan 4, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Oct 27, 2017
Crash reported

2013 TDI -HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. HAVE NEVER PUT GASOLINE IN THE TANK. VW HAS REJECTED COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
11040499
Incident
Oct 27, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel systemSeat belts
Filed Apr 26, 2017

THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY 91 IN LOS ANGELES IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS COMPLETE STOP AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. TOWED TO VW DEALERS AND I WAS INFORMED THAT IS FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP . HTTPS://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CAR-NEWS/FEDS-CLOSE-PROBE-INTO-VW-AUDI-TDI-VEHICLES-FOR-HIGH-PRESSURE-FUEL-PUMP-FAILURE.HTML

NHTSA ID
10980989
Incident
Apr 25, 2017
Mileage
64,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 19, 2016

ADD BLUE HEATER SYSTEM ON THE DIESEL ENGINE WENT BAD AFTER LESS THAN 42000 MILES. I THOUGHT THIS WAS PART OF THE EMISSION SYSTEM IN THIS CAR BUT VW DOES NOT SEE IT THIS WAY. THEY WANT OVER 1,000 TO FIX THIS ON A CAR THE LIED ABOUT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SEEMS TO BE A BIG MONEY MAKER FOR SOMETHING TO MAKE THE CAR EXAUST CLEAN.

NHTSA ID
10907990
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
2 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 13, 2014

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND I WAS WITH HER. SHE HAS HER PERMIT. MY TOUREG STALLED THREE TIMES. ONCE AT A STOP LIGHT AND SHORT AFTER WITH HER DRIVING. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. IN ADDITION, ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP CLOSE TO ME. THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED SOMETHING WITH THE THROTTLE. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS OF 65-70 MPH. THEY ARE ALIGNING IT TO SEE IF THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM KIND OF SCARED TO DRIVE WITH THE STALLING PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS RESOLVES IT, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE BACK IN THE SHOP! THIS IS SOMETHING THAT VW NEEDS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY. I LOVE MY CAR BUT WANT IT TO BE SAFE! *JS

NHTSA ID
10598064
Incident
Jun 11, 2014
Mileage
21,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 9, 2014

I WAS TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC (LEFT). I STARTED TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, ALMOST SEEM TO DIE, THEN RECOUPED AND WENT ACROSS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN 1000 MILES. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC THE FIRST TIME. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AND ONE THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY, OR WORSE, DEATH. I WAS TOLD BY A VW SERVICE MANAGER, AT A DEALERSHIP, THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION HESITATION AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR A DIESEL. I HAVE DRIVEN DIESELS ALL MY LIFE AND THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A DIESEL, OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE FOR THAT MATTER. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE A VW REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT ME BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578592
Incident
Mar 26, 2014
Mileage
34,978 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 25, 2013

2013 TOUAREG TDI GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT ALSO FELT LIKE RUNNING ON ONLY A FEW CYLINDERS -- COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MPH ON FREEWAY. ALSO LOST ABILITY TO DOWNSHIFT AUTO TRANSMISSION. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO MY REGULAR VW DEALER, WHO SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED -- AS DIRECTED BY VW USA -- FROM BACK TO FRONT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE WERE "PIECES OF RUST IN THE FUEL SYSTEM?" DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS OLD. NOW INTO SECOND WEEK WAITING FOR REPAIR. READING ONLINE, THERE IS EVIDENTLY A FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE FOR THE 2011-13 TDI TOUAREG RELATING TO THE INJECTORS (CERAMIC PARTICLES) AND FUEL PUMPS ABILITY TO HANDLE USA DIESEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557216
Incident
Dec 13, 2013
Mileage
10,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .