Volkswagen

Touareg

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · model years 2004 to 2017

Includes Touareg and Touareg Hybrid as listed by the EPA.

See all 37 Touareg trims All Volkswagen cars

The verdict

Best year: 2009. complaints: 19, below this model's typical 34; recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2004. complaints: 231, about 6.8x this model's typical 34; recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Volkswagen Touareg
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2004	3Diesel, Gas	15	no data	$5,150	4	231	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, TIRES 10%
complaints: 231, about 6.8x this model's typical 34 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	15	no data	$5,150	2	75	0	no data	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 75, about 3.4x this model's typical 22 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 32 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	3Diesel, Gas	16	no data	$4,800	1	37	0	no data	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 37, above this model's typical 34 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	3Diesel, Gas	16	no data	$4,800	3	9	0	no data	ENGINE 33%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 9, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	3Diesel, Gas	16	no data	$4,800	4	56	0	no data	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 32%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 56, about 1.7x this model's typical 34 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 37 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	3Diesel, Gas	16	no data	$4,800	2	19	0	no data	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 32%, STEERING 12%, AIR BAGS 8%
complaints: 19, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	2Diesel, Gas	18	253	$4,350	1	25	1	593	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 35%, ENGINE 19%, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 11%
complaints: 25, above this model's typical 22 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	3Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	21	280	$3,650	4	16	2	716	ENGINE 20%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 20%, STEERING 15%
complaints: 16, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	3Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	21	280	$3,650	4	28	2	760	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16%, ENGINE 14%, STEERING 14%
complaints: 28, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	3Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	21	280	$3,650	3	30	2 (1 open)	771	STEERING 19%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 30, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	3Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	21	280	$3,650	3	27	1	775	STEERING 24%, ENGINE 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 27, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	3Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	21	280	$3,650	3	24	1	633	ENGINE 45%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 24, below this model's typical 34 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 Score: 74 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Diesel, Gas	21.5	260	$3,275	2	44	0	531	ENGINE 36%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 13%
complaints: 44, about 2x this model's typical 22 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	1Gas	19	280	$3,300	1	24	0	384	ENGINE 58%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3%
complaints: 24, about 2.2x this model's typical 11 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2004: 15 to 2017: 19

Owner complaints2004: 231 to 2017: 24

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Volkswagen Touareg to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.