2012 Volkswagen Touareg SUV AWD
Safety Ratings.
NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.
Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.
Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.
The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.
22 Complaints
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE SEAT BELT TO LATCH AND BE SECURE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND JULY 2020.
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS OWN FLANGE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE EXHAUST HEADER. ULTIMATELY CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF POT HOLES) .
THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE/DECREASE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY 2012 TOUAREG TDI RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FUEL ECONOMY: PREVIOUS AVG FUEL ECONOMY WAS APPROX 27MPG AND IS NOW BARELY AVERAGING 16 MPG. NOTICED CONTINUAL DECREASE IN CAR PERFORMANCE AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE TO GARCIA VW DEALERSHIP IN SANTA FE, NM ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: 3/6/18: GENERAL MAINTENANCE (AIR/CABIN/FUEL/ADBLUE MAINTENANCE/ AND TIRE CHANGE) 4/17/18: REPLACE A FAULTY RADIO WHICH SUDDENLY FAILED (DEALERSHIP HAD CAR FOR 8 DAYS) 6/7/18: CLEAN UP AD BLUE FUEL SPILL IN THE REAR SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT THE ENGINE NOW RUNS SIGNIFICANTLY LOUDER AND IS REVVING UP AND SURGING AT INTERVALS. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN FUEL ECONOMY, THE AVERAGE SPEED/MPH HAS BEEN LOCKED AT 13MPH AND DROPPED TO 12MPH ON JUNE 1, 2018. CHANGE IN ENGINE BEHAVIOUR: -ENGINE RUNS LOUDER AND IS REVVING UP WHEN IDLING,ACCELERATING, BREAKING,DOWNSHIFTING -SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL INJECTION IS SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING -STEERING WHEEL FEELS SLUGGISH WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND ACCELERATING THROUGH TURNS. VIBRATING SOUND WHEN TURNING. -STARTING IGNITION: LONGER PAUSE FOR IGNITION TO START AFTER TURNING THE KEY AND FOOT IS ON BRAKE. -SUSPENSION: SUSPENSION OF THE CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN BRAKING AND SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A TANK SLIDING/ SHIFTING IN THE REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN I INITIALLY HEARD THIS SOUND I OPENED THE TRUNK/CARGO AREA FOR THE SPARE TIRE AND FOUND DRIED AD BLUE SPILLED ALL OVER THE CARGO AREA INCLUDING DIRTY RAGS WHICH HAD BEEN USED TO WIPE UP ADBLUE AND STUFFED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK. -AIR CONDITIONER IS EMITTING A VERY STRONG NAUSEATING YEAST ODOR THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY AND ISN'T COOLING EFFICIENTLY. I HAVENT AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED ANY UPDATES MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE RE: THE 3.0 LITER GEN EPA/CARB MODIFICATIONS: I SUSPECT VEHICLE TAMPERING.
THIS HAPPENED TO THIS MY 2012 TOUAREG. THE ENGINE RANDOMLY DIED, EVEN ON FREEWAY, WHICH IS TOO DANGEROUS. THE PREVIOUS TIME IN IN JAN,2018 AND THIS TIME WAS ON FEB, 5TH, 2018. I WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP, THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT ANYTHING. SAYING EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND THEY COULDN'T SUGGEST ANYTHING. BUT IT IS EXTREME UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE ISSUE RANDOMLY HAPPENS. PER HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4965979-CAR-RANDOMLY-DIES-WHILE-DRIVING-ON-FREEWAY, SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG VW VEHICLES, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT IS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM OR OTHER RELEVANT PARTS. VW SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSE AND FIX IT. THANKS, LIANG
TPMS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY STARTED BLINKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY "DIAGNOSED" IT AS THE BACK LEFT SENSOR. I WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO NOT CHANGE IT UNTIL I REPLACED TIRES AND THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS 100% COVERED.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 70,000 MILES AND WAS DUE TO THE AD BLUE TANK HEATER.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS A ERROR CODE FOR THE FUEL PUMP. TOOK 4 HOURS OF WORK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
FOR MY SITUATION MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY. AFTER THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CAR LOOKS FINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME, IT REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF, ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS TURNED OFF ALSO. THE WEIRD THING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF BY ITSELF, I AM ABLE TO RESTART MY VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO LET THEM CHECK OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED RIGHT. THEY WILL RELEASE MY VEHICLE TO ME THIS SATURDAY. MY CONCERN IS I CAN TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN IS THIS PROBLEM GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I GOT LUCKY THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY CARS BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF, IT CANNOT MOVE AT ALL AND I'M SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS LIKE THIS WHO WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY? I ASKED VW OF AMERICA, THEY SAID IF THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THIS TIME THEN I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THIS HAPPENS AGAIN OR IF THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING WRONG. THIS IS SOMETHING ABOUT SAFETY. WHEN THE MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN, IT JUST HAPPENS. PLEASE HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. I M NOT SURE IF THE DEALER REALLY CHECKS MY VEHICLE OR IF THEY ARE LYING? *TR
AD BLUE HEATING ELEMENT FAILED FOR SECOND TIME ON VEHICLE. FIRST ONE REPLACED AT 58,000 MILES AND SECOND ONE AT 98,500 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN NOT OFFERING ANY FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR SECOND FAILED PART CITING THE PART WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 24 AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AND I WAS INVOLVED IN MVA. FRONT END OF VW TOUREG SMASHED INTO CONCRETE CENTER POST. TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH.
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DURING HIGH WAY DRIVING. MOSTLY HAPPENS AROUND 80 MPH, HAVE DONE THE ROAD FORCE BALANCING AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. THE POWER STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAS A WEAK ASSISTANT TO TURN BACK TO CENTER. HERE IS A YOUTUBE LINK OF DEMONSTRATION OF STEERING SHAKE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GQIK_KW7KGG
MY 2012 TDI LUX JUST WENT IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE ADBLUE HEATER HAS GONE BAD. I HAD 55,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN OR EMISSIONS WARRANTIES. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FIX WOULD BE AROUND $700 WITH LABOR. IT IS VERY SURPRISING THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS PIECE IS NECESSARY TO THE CAR MEET EMISSIONS THAT IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY AND THAT FURTHER DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO FAIL WHICH WOULD RENDER THE CAR IN-DRIVEABLE.
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET, WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR STALLED AT THE LIGHT, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP (METAL FOUND), AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, AND LINE. I FEEL THAT I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 50 - 70 MILES AN HOUR, IN WHICH A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR STALLED. *TR
CAR FOLLOWING ME LIGHT ISSUE. LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM VERY BRIGHT (XENON) WITH NARROW BEAM PATTERN. SEEMED AS IF EVERY TIME THERE WAS A BUMP THEY WERE FLASHING ME BUT ITS JUST THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HEAD LIGHTS REPLACED. NOTICED THIS ON ALL TOURAGES..... *TR
I OWN A 2012 VW TOUAREG AND RECENTLY, I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT OR FOR A LONG TIME, AFTER 5 OR MORE SECONDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTS TO GO DOWN AND THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. I CAN STOP THE ROLLING IF I PUSH THE BREAKS ALL THE WAY DOWN FURTHER, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE AND THEREFORE CANNOT CHANGE ANY PARTS OR DO ANYTHING FOR ME. SINCE I AM UNWILLING TO GAMBLE WITH MY BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WITH MY SON IN THE VEHICLE, I HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THEY CAN REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS BREAK ISSUE, BUT I WANTED SOMEONE TO BE AWARE. *TR
I HAVE A 2012 TOUAREG TDI THAT HAS A STEERING SHAKING PROBLEM WHICH IT HAS EXHIBITED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. VW HAS TRIED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BY ROAD FORCE BALANCING AND INSTALLING NEW TIRES BUT THIS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, OR OSCILLATES, WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS REACHING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH AND HIGHER. THE OSCILLATION CONTINUES UP THROUGH HIGHER SPEEDS WITHOUT SUBSIDING. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY CYCLES BACK AND FORTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITH ABOUT 1/4 INCH TO 3/8 INCH. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT AND SEEN WHEN MY HANDS ARE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. YOU STOP THE VEHICLE , PLACE IT IN PARK AND THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED. I VIEW THIS AS A SAFETY AND SECURITY HAZARD, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE HAVE HAD TO STOP AND START THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. A SEARCH ON LINE WILL SHOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM, SOME USE A PAPER CLIP TO REMOVE THE KEY. OTHERS WARN OF A BATTERY DRAIN AND STATE THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED IF THE BATTER US DRAINED WHICH MAKES ME THINK THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE ALSO POSTED YOU TUBE VIDEOS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LKTFKHFQ6LC UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS
VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A THREE LANE EXPRESSWAY. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN SPITE OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND COASTED TO STOP ON NARROW BERM. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE I SMELLED FUEL AND UPON OPENING THE DOOR DISCOVERED A LARGE POOL OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONFLICTING REPORTS FROM VW. THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE CLAIMS THAT A PRIOR FUEL PUMP REPAIR CARRIED OUT TWO MONTHS AGO AT ANOTHER VW DEALER CAUSED STRESS ON A BRACKET SUPPORTING THE FUEL LINE THAT ULTIMATELY GAVE WAY AND LED TO SEPARATION OF THE LINE, LOSS OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND THE FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER THAT DID THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP REPAIRS CLAIMS THAT THE BRACKET MUST HAVE FAILED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR (THESE THINGS HAPPEN I WAS INFORMED). IF IN FACT THE LATTER DEALER IS CORRECT THAT INDICATES A BROADER PROBLEM THAN SIMPLY A NEGLIGENT REPAIR AND THIS ISSUE MAY IMPACT OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES. THAT LEADS TO THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT. IS THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE SAFE? *TR
THE POWER SEAT KNOB/SWITCH DESIGN CAUSES THE SEAT BACK TO RECLINE WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE FALLEN/SLID BACK INTO THE SEAT WHEN EXITING BECAUSE THE SEAT BACK WOULD RECLINE. ON SUCH OCCASIONS IT'S LIKE LOSING ONE'S BALANCE AS YOU TRY AND STAND UP BY USING ONE'S BODY TO PUSH OFF THE SEAT. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE HEAVY TOUAREG DOOR UNFORTUNATELY CLOSES AND HAS SLAMMED ON MY LEGS CAUSING BRUISING AND PAIN. WHEN MY PARTNER, WHO HAS A BAD BACK, TRIES TO ENTER AND EXIT THE TOUAREG, THE RECLINING SEAT BACK HAS CAUSED HER TO SLIDE ON THE SEAT AND TWEAKING HER BACK AND CAUSING UNPRECEDENTED HARM. MY CONTINUED FEAR IS WHEN TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON BUSY STREETS BECAUSE WHEN I HAVE HAD TO NOT EXIT FULLY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC, THE BACK SEAT SUPPORT IS GONE CAUSING ME TO ONCE AGAIN SLIDE INTO THE RECLINED SEAT BACK AND GETTING MY LEGS ONCE AGAIN CAUGHT BY A HEAVY DOOR. I HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE MY FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP AND IT IS DOCUMENTED WITH THE DEALER. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT VW RECOGNIZES THE ISSUE AS THEY REENGINEERED THE SEAT KNOB AND BACKING BEZEL TO STOP THIS ISSUE BUT PRIOR TO THE FIX OWNERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THIS REENGINEERED FIX TO BE JUST AN ACCESSORY. THE FIX STARTED TO APPEAR WITHIN THE 2013 MODEL YEAR. *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 99% OF THE TIME. THE SPEED AT WHICH THIS OCCURS IS IN THE RANGE OF 65-80 MPH. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS AND WHICH NECESSITATES CONSTANT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER TO HOLD THE CAR STRAIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE KNOCKING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER 9 DAYS, THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A SPECIAL SPRAY TO THE DEALER TO SPRAY BEHIND THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 1,200.
2 Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
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Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.