2009 Volkswagen Touareg problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (7) · Steering (3) · Power Train (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Touareg model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Fuel System, Gasoline 2017-03-08 · campaign 17V151000 · 20,908 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel filter flange if cracks are found. A protective cover will be applied to the fuel filter to prevent oxidization cracks from forming. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 20Z4.
Service bulletins (642)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Electrical System 2026-07-15 · VOS-26-42 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the issue: da 0019 - hotfix 12-v battery test(s) – no battery diagnosis - inconclusive test result.
Engine 2026-07-09 · V1718062017813_24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
oil consumption measurement and electronic oil consumption measurement
Showing the 6 most recent of 642 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-06-16 · Visibility/Wiper“no warning prior to failure. at highway speed, dashboard notice: system fault - service now. all electrical systems stopped working, including: lighting - no headlight/running light control- no turn signals- 4-way flashers worked, then stopped working- no windshield wipers- no interior windshield defogger- no side window control for manual …”
2022-08-23 · Fuel/Propulsion System“ a fuel smell is detected in my vehicle, as noted in repair available for safety recall 20z4 – fuel pump flangecertain 2007-2010 my volkswagen touareg / nhtsa campaign number: 17v151000.…”
2020-12-23 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 112,000 mi“driving on the interstate a fault light started flashing "engine fault service now" along with the glow plug light. i put the transmission into neutral and moved into the slow lane. the engine immediately stopped. i put on my hazard lights and was able to allow it to roll it a safe place to pull over. the dealership said the high pressure fuel pum…”
2019-10-21 · Fuel/Propulsion System“started with faint smell of gas outside of vehicle on drivers side. the gas smell is strongest when vehicle has been parked for some time like over night. developed overtime that the gas smell began to be smelled inside of the vehicle. currently the gas smell is extremely strong both inside and outside of vehicle.…”
2019-02-18 · Structure:body · 155,000 mi“the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle is cracking all the way around the air bag container. i fear safety and i am afraid that the air bag will pop out through the cracks and cause an injury or not be functional if needed. the cracks have been spreading slowly over time regardless if the vehicle is in motion. currently the cracks ar…”
2018-09-04 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the vehicle smelled like gas inside & out whether still, or driving, running or off. then a few days in, fuel, or a gas-smelling substance, began rapidly leaking from the underside of the car. i was told it was also coolant.…”
2017-08-15 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 110,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen touareg. while driving various speeds on an incline, the vehicle malfunctioned and the engine indicator illuminated without warning. the contact stated that the vehicle struggled to accelerate on the incline and decelerated. nemer motor group of lathan, new york and hackels foreign car services of albany, new …”
2017-07-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 90,500 mi“there is an open, pending recall on the fuel filter assembly. it is noticed by the smell of gasoline outside and possibly inside the cabin, mostly coming from the driver's side rear door as the assembly is under the back seat on that side of the vehicle.…”
2016-06-26 · Unknown Or Other“the dash on the passenger side of the vehicle is cracking all the way around the airbag container. i fear that the airbag will be able to come lose and possibly cause injury or become non functional and thus unsafe when in need…”
2016-05-04 · Engine · 70,250 mi“while driving after refilling the diesel exhaust fluid with peak brand iso 22241-1 compliant def the no start in 450 mile warning came on. take it in for service and the vw dealership replaces the pump, heater, and controller. but they failed at flushing out the lines and injector for within 50 miles of being picked up the warning for no restart …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.