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2015 Volkswagen Touareg Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
24
Latest Jul 5, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine1557.7%
  • Driver assistance415.4%
  • Fuel system27.7%
  • Tires & wheels27.7%
  • Powertrain (other)13.8%
  • Visibility13.8%
  • Body & structure13.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

15
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated while her husband was stopped at a traffic light, he started to hear an abnormal sound. The driver stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the catalytic converter to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts not being available. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.

NHTSA ID 11531414 · filed Jul 10, 2023

Today, engine completely cut off in the middle of traffic (20-30 MPH), loss of power steering and breaking power. Engine dashboard yellow message appeared. I experience this several times before and previously brought to the attention of VW service department and some ECU repairs and engine sensor repairs were done - but the problem continues to happen. Sometimes engine cuts off simply at idle (e.g. waiting at traffic light) but loss of engine power together with power steering and breaks is very concerning when driving.

NHTSA ID 11432008 · filed Sep 7, 2021
All 15 reports naming engine

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Collision Avoidance Camera (Part Number: 7P6907217BZ1Y) has failed. The camera is still on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. All front assist/safety systems are unavailable, including cruise control. Systems are designed specifically to prevent collisions. The dealer (Volkswagen of Corpus Christi) has confirmed the issue as of September 4, 2023. The control module is failing all over the world, on various vehicle brands (Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen) and models. A replacement is not available, new or used. This was confirmed by the dealership.

NHTSA ID 11599305 · filed Jul 5, 2024

The Driver Assistance System (Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Collision Avoidance, AEB, and Lane Departure/Lane Keeping system) all do not work. The VW dealers have said the Front Collision Avoidance Camera is not working. The system was intermittently working, then stopped working on the interstate highway in the left lane. The car failed to warn/slow/break automatically while the ACC function was activated, forcing me to engage the brakes manually to avoid a collision. The ACC/Front Collision warning light goes on now but did not when it first malfunctioned, and still only goes on intermittently but the system does not work at all. I had two local VW dealers check out the Driver Assist system. One said the entire system is not working. Another said the fault codes are emanating from the Front Collision Avoidance Camera. This is VW part 7P6907217BZ1Y. I ordered the part in November 2023 from a OKC VW dealer online (since it was the best price.) They then told me the part was unavailable/on back order. However, it has been 7 months and there is no ETA on the part availability. The dealer sent me a text message exchange with VW and that is what VW told the dealer. I am concerned VW is no longer making the part as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118-30119 and/or 49 U.S.C. 30120. I am part of VW Touareg owner forums. There are other Touareg (and other VW model) owners who report this same problem, lack of part availability, and no info from VW on whether they are even trying to obtain/supply this part any longer. I believe this is a serious, widespread safety issue based on reading other complaints online by Touareg/VW owners who have ACC/Driver Assist, who face the same dilatory action by VW to perhaps avoid fixing this issue until their legal obligation to manufacture the part expires. The parts and overall ACC/Collision Avoidance systems are very pricey, and this is a direct safety issue. thank you

NHTSA ID 11595530 · filed Jun 20, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The car at half tank will read as being empty. Fuel pump flange? The car will have gas and then randomly show fuel error and drop to empty. The car is drivable and then while drive will switch to empty back to half full mode. Less of the worry the adaptive cruise control and fwd collision warning freeze/not working

NHTSA ID 11502404 · filed Jan 18, 2023

AFTER VW EMISSION REPAIR THE CAR STALLS IN SHIFTING GEARS AT LOW SPEED. I TOOK AT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES EVERYTIME THE KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND COULDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS NO FUEL COMING TO THE ENGINE OR THE CAR COMPUTER DO NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR UNTIL IT HITS 3000 RPM IN SPEEDS LOWER THE 35MPH. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WITH SPEAKING WITH VW DEALER ADVISORS THAT THIS AS A RESULT OF THE EMISSION REPAIR AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE SINCE IT'S KEEP STALING AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE JERKING FEELING FROM THE ENGINE. VW CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE KEPT CHANGING THEIR VERSION. AT FIRST, THEY SAID THE CARS COMPUTER WILL LEARN MY DRIVING PATTERN AND WILL ADJUST. THEN WHEN I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR THEY CLAIMED THIS IS HOW THE CAR SHOULD DRIVE AFTER THE EMISSION REPAIR. WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT STHOLMAN VW HE TOLD ME HE HA A CUSTOMER WITH THE SAME CAR IN FOR 3 MONTHS AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THAT ISSUE.

NHTSA ID 11171023 · filed Jan 20, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE TIRE SHOP THIS MORNING TO HAVE THE TIRE PATCHED FOR A SMALL SCREW THAT WAS PICKED UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I RECEIVED A CALL A SHORT TIME LATER FROM TIRE SHOP TELLING ME THAT THE SIDEWALL OF MY TIRE HAD FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND SIDEWALL FAILURE MY GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2'S HAVE EXPERIENCED IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. VEHICLE IS 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG, AND THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL WITH THE VEHICLE. 50% FAILURE RATE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FIRST ONE AND WILL BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE SECOND ONE AS WELL. THESE ARE AROUND $325 PER TIRE, SO OUT AROUND $650 IN LESS THAN A YEAR, BUT I FEEL INCREDIBLY LUCKY THAT NEITHER INCIDENT WAS AT SPEED, OR THE LOSS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HEAVIER. I AM A FATHER TO TWO WONDERFUL CHILDREN, AND I DO NOT FEEL LIKE THESE TIRES ARE SAFE, AND AM BEYOND CONCERNED FOR THEIR WELL BEING.

NHTSA ID 10905657 · filed Sep 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE TIRES, SIZE 265/50/R19. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT PROPERLY INFLATED WITH NITROGEN. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,850 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,800.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10893143 · filed Aug 4, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER VW EMISSION REPAIR THE CAR STALLS IN SHIFTING GEARS AT LOW SPEED. I TOOK AT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES EVERYTIME THE KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND COULDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS NO FUEL COMING TO THE ENGINE OR THE CAR COMPUTER DO NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR UNTIL IT HITS 3000 RPM IN SPEEDS LOWER THE 35MPH. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WITH SPEAKING WITH VW DEALER ADVISORS THAT THIS AS A RESULT OF THE EMISSION REPAIR AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE SINCE IT'S KEEP STALING AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE JERKING FEELING FROM THE ENGINE. VW CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE KEPT CHANGING THEIR VERSION. AT FIRST, THEY SAID THE CARS COMPUTER WILL LEARN MY DRIVING PATTERN AND WILL ADJUST. THEN WHEN I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR THEY CLAIMED THIS IS HOW THE CAR SHOULD DRIVE AFTER THE EMISSION REPAIR. WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT STHOLMAN VW HE TOLD ME HE HA A CUSTOMER WITH THE SAME CAR IN FOR 3 MONTHS AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THAT ISSUE.

NHTSA ID 11171023 · filed Jan 20, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SUNROOF IS LEAKING AND CREATES CONDENSATION AND MOLD INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY PERFORMED A CLEANING. COUPLE A WEEKS AFTER I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF IS LEAKING AGAIN AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED THEY ONLY CLEANED THE PIPES BUT NOW THEY NEED TO SEAL THE PIPE. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS THERE THE DEALER MENTIONED HE IS SWAMPED WITH VW CARS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH SUNROOF LEAKING AND HE IS BACKED UP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL VW CARS AND NOT JUST MY MODEL. THE DESIGN OF THE DRAINING SYSTEM FOR THE SUNROOF IS FAULTY AND CREATE WATER PENETRATION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY AND SPOKE WITH A FEW DEALERSHIPS AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH VW SUNROOF.

NHTSA ID 11171024 · filed Jan 20, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

OUR 2015 TOUAREG TDI WITH 35,000MI LOST POWER ON INTERSTATE 10. THE VEHICLE WAS IN 'LIMP' MODE AND ONLY ABLE TO REACH A SPEED OF 20MPH IN A 75MPH ZONE ON INTERSTATE 10. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE MADE IT TO A DEALER IN LAS CRUCES, NM. AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS WATER IN THE AIR FILTER, THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE AIR FLOW SENSOR. AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH WE DISCOVERED THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EXTERIOR DRAIN SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES WATER TO FLOW INTO THE AIR INTAKE, THRU THE AIR FILTER, THRU THE TURBO, AND ULTIMATELY INTO THE ENGINE. THE UNDIRECTED EXTERIOR DRAIN WATER DAMAGES THE AIR FILTER, THE TURBO, AND, IN SOME CASES, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WILL FAIL. I WAS TOLD OUR 2015 TOUAREG TDI WOULD NEED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO REPLACE THE TURBO AT A COST OF $4,000-$5,000.

NHTSA ID 11376259 · filed Nov 25, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .