2013 Volkswagen Touareg problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (5) · Fuel/Propulsion System (5) · Wheels (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Touareg model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
24 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Unknown Or Other 2018-05-16 · campaign 18V329000 · 252 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2016-03-24 · campaign 16V170000 · 46,574 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46G4.
Service bulletins (982)
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 982 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-08-18 · Engine“the weld broke at the rear pre cat connection …”
2023-12-29 · Engine“so there’s a campaign to add a bracket to one of the catalytic converters. that’s great except i never knew about it and the thing they added the bracket to prevent happened to me. the exhaust pipe from the catalytic separated from the flange connecting to the manifold. it’s a 2000 dollar part from the dealer. luckily i found a mechanic who is weld…”
2022-04-21 · Unknown Or Other“the sunroof glass of the car spontaneously exploded while driving on the interstate. no rock or object ever hit the glass, and it exploded, sending glass and debris all over myself and my passenger while driving 70mph. the noise was deafening and caused me to swerve as i was so shocked. i easily could have gone in the ditch or hit another car. to m…”
2021-03-24 · Unknown Or Other“my sunroof is not draining properly, water is accumulating in my spare tire well in my trunk whenever it rains.…”
2019-10-26 · Seat Belts · 60,000 mi“the driver's seatbelt appears to be buckled, but releases under load. when inserting the end into the buckle it clicks and looks and feels buckled, but when loaded releases without warning. this occurred with different drivers and released unexpectedly multiple times while the car was being driven. replacing the buckle end resolved the defect.…”
2019-08-26 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 163,000 mi“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 …”
2019-06-13 · Steering · 73,600 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen touareg. the contact stated that the horn failed to work. the contact restarted the vehicle and the steering wheel malfunctioned. baxter volkswagen la vista (7108 s 124th cir, la vista, ne 68128, (402) 983-9801) stated that the air bag control module and assembly were corroded, which affected the steering whee…”
2019-06-05 · Steering · 2 mi“steering fluid leaked out , internal fault with rack seal, replaced rack and pinion assembly in may 2019 this is second replacement of rack and pinion on this vehicle prior replacement in november 2015 i feel its very unusual to change rack and pinion assembly on same vehicle twice in 4 years time i have been told it happens often in vw toua…”
2019-04-11 · Unknown Or Other · 41,000 mi“2013 touareg 3.0l tdi-intermittent jerking motion of vehicle when in motion, initially at lower speed and now at 80mph on highway, intense jerking of vehicle causing vehicle to lose power and near collision with vehicle behind me. it has become more frequent, almost daily occurrence now. i took the vehicle in immediately to vw dealership. paperw…”
2018-08-08 · Unknown Or Other · 75,000 mi“sunroof exploded outward and entire front glass sunroof was shattered. driving on highway at approximately 70mph. all car door windows were open. tempurature outside was approximately 85 degrees.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.