2004 Volkswagen Touareg

Above average

Owners filed 231 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

163 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 35,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel/Propulsion System20
000
Electrical System20
030
Power Train › Automatic Transmission19
100
Air Bags17
202
Vehicle Speed Control15
100
Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems10
000
Steering9
100
Engine and Engine Cooling8
100
Suspension7
000
Power Train6
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump17V583000
Filed Sep 20, 201773,941 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filter flange for cracks, replacing the flange if cracks are found. If no cracks are found, a protective cover will be installed onto the filter flange. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Ai.

Seat Belts04V592000
Filed Dec 15, 200450,483 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLATION. THE BELT MAY DEACTIVATE THE ALR MODE WITH CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINTS.

Risk. WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD RESTRAINTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES OR DEATH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY INSTALL A 'CLIP' IN EACH OF THE TWO REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS. THE CLIPS WILL PREVENT UNWANTED DEACTIVATION OF THE ALR MODE WITH CHILD SEAT INSTALLATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other04V233000
Filed May 19, 200424,269 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc

Defect. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCH ATTACHMENT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENTLY RIVETED.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BELT BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Electrical System › Wiring03V266000
Filed Jul 25, 2003670 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED DURING ASSEMBLY. AN IMPROPERLY ROUTED TPMS WIRING HARNESS MAY CONTACT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE SPRING.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TPMS WIRING CIRCUIT COULD BE INTERRUPTED, RESULTING IN AN INOPERATIVE TPMS, AND CAUSING A SHORT-TO-GROUND CONDITION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TPMS WIRING HARNESS ROUTING AND, IF NECESSARY, CORRECT THE WIRING HARNESS ROUTING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-893-5298.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 9, 2025IL

I have contacted Volkswagen about my recall over a month ago the man claimed he ordered the parts and would be in contact but has never contacted me ever since and since then my vehicle has completely stopped working and the gas smell is at a very dangerous level

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 4, 2025MO

The flange for the fuel does not leak from that i can see couse if it was leaking it would be on the ground.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 24, 2024OH

Hello: this is the 2nd VW TOUAREG this year to repair so far, this one is a 2004 model that I have had to replace complete left & right xenon headlamp assembly Very pricy. Wiring insulation turns brittle, cracks & falls off inside the headlamp assembly, This allows the bare wires to touch & short causing fuses to blow shutting off headlamps while driving at night. This I think should be recalled, I have fixed 5 of these TOUAREGs in 4 years for this same problem. THANK YOU 10/24/24

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 24, 2023TX

My SUV was sitting for a few days at the airport and I when I got in the car, it started fine but the headlights, interior lights, power folding mirrors and the voltmeter were not working. I had to leave the car there since it was night time. The next day I drove it home in daylight and started checking fuses. I noticed two fuses (#2, #12) on the driver side fuse panel were failed. I replaced the #2, 5 amp, fuse and no changes were noticed. Then I replaced the #12, 25 amp, fuse and I heard a number of systems clicking and powering on; the lights flickered. Then I smelled burning and saw a puff of smoke come from under the dash. I immediately pulled the fuse . After troubleshooting, I found the body control module 7L6-937-049-K had caught fire internally and started to burn through the casing. Had I not pulled the fuse and disconnected the battery, this could have been catastrophic. Once I smelled the smoke, I realized it was like the acrid smell in the suv the night before. The fact the fuse blew the previous day saved the vehicle. It was parked on the fourth floor of parking garage at the airport so many vehicles could have been damaged and people endangered had it caught fire. Not to mention the disruption at an airport. There were no warning lamps. The only indication of a problem was the inoperable systems I mentioned. Also thinking back, the slight acrid smell was present the day I arrived at the airport, I had mistaken it for plane exhaust and car exhaust smells in the

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 14, 2022130,000 milesCO

The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V583000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the fuel pump failed after the recall repair was performed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

EngineFire1 injured
Filed Nov 25, 2021AL

Leaking gas caught on fire put it out but now I have no head lights no high beams replaced everything still nothing. All lights on dash go crazy kills battery all the time and had to replace something in the rear end. Overall it has cost me $2500 and I still have no headlights at all and leaking gas. It’s my only vehicle I hope next time it doesn’t catch back on fire could have been worse and still could be. Somebody could get hurt and I have kids.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 28, 202190,000 milesCO

The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 mph, the driver’s side curtain air bag deployed inadvertently. Due to the inadvertent air bag deployment, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 17, 2020110,000 milesMO

LIGHT WENT OUT ON DARK ROAD. NEARLY CRASHED. FOUND INSULATION ON WIRES FOR LIGHTS DETERIORATED. HARNESS WAS MELTED LOWER IN THE FENDER. ONLINE SEARCH FOUND SAME ISSUE IS COMMON AND INCLUDED FIRES.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 9, 20201 milesMD

SUV IS NOT GETTING GAS TO ENGINE

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 4, 201985,000 milesCA

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN (OR WHILE IT'S DRIVING, BUT IT'S NOT OFTEN I'M OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE IT'S RUNNING). THIS IS DUE TO THE PLASTIC HOUSING ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK, AND IS LEAKING GASOLINE. THIS IS SIMILAR TO ANOTHER RECALL, 17V583000, WHICH IS FOR THE FUEL FILTER FLANGE, BUT VW IS SAYING THEY WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER THAT BECAUSE THIS IS THE HOUSING, NOT THE FLANGE. BUT IT'S THE SAME RESULT...

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 2019131,403 milesOH

LIGHTS ON THE DASH COME ON HILL ASSIST SHUTS ON AND OFF BY ITSELF BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SUNROOF HAS OPEN BY ITSELF AC HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE NEXT DAY WORKS AGAIN HEATED STEERING WHEEL WORKS WHEN IT WANTS THIS HAPPENED WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET HAS POINTED TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 8, 2019103,000 milesMT

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY @ 70MPR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STARTS ACTING SLUGGISH FOR A MIN THEN BACK TO NORMAL, AND RANDOMLY FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO DOES(I HAD A WAYS TO GO) THIS A FEW MORE TIMES. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND LET HER REST FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS DOING FINE EXCEPT NOW THE EMISSION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. BY THIS TIME IT WAS TIME FOR THE 100,000 MILE MAINTENANCE TO BE DONE AND IT DID GREAT UNTIL ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING @ 35MPR WHEN IT STARTED LOOSING POWER, THO I ONLY LOST A LITTLE BIT OF POWER STEERING WAS FORCED TO COME TO A STOP, WHICH JUST HAPPEN TO BE A ONE WAY BRIDGE, BABY IN THE CAR AND HAD TO PUSH MYSELF THE REST OF THE WAY ACROSS IT. ONCE OFF THE BRIDGE I TURNED THE CAR OFF (IT STAYED ON TIL I DID THIS) LET IT REST A MINUTE AND IT STARTED UP FINE AND LET ME GO A FEW BLOCKS STILL SLUGGISH AND THEN LOST POWER AGAIN. I REPEATED THIS PROCESS FOR ABOUT 5 MILES OR SO WHEN I WAS FORCED TO PARK IT CUZ I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK CROSSING THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DID THE FLANGE RECALL, THAT DIDNT' FIX THE PROBLEM SO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FUEL PUMPS AND THAT WAS ROUGHLY @ 103,000. 8 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENS AGAIN THIS TIME AROUND 107,000. DEALERSHIP TOOK 4 HOURS TO DIAGNOSE ONLY TO TELL ME I NEED THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BECAUSE SOMEHOW ALL THE WIRES, CONNECTORS, AND CAPS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINES/TANK/PUMPS ARE EITHER MISSING, CRACKED, OR DAMAGED SO I NEED A WIRING HARN

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 8, 2019CO

FUEL FLANK WAS SEALED BY THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THERE IS FUEL LEAKING.

SteeringCrash
Filed Mar 29, 201911,000 milesSC

TAKATA I WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE AND I CAME UPON A TURNING TO MAKE THE LEFT AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR START SLIDING OUT OF CONTROL I TRIED TO CONTROL IT BECAUSE THERE WAS A DITCH CLOSE BY WHERE I WAS IT WAS SLIDING TO THE RIGHT TRIED TO SPIN THE STEERING TO THE LEFT BUT THE CAR WAS JUST DOING WHAT IT FELT LIKE I ENDED UP HITTING IN THE RAIL WHERE THE DITCH WAS AND PUSHING THE CAR BACK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BEAR IN MIND I HAD MY CHILDREN IN MY CAR NO ONE CAN GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION TO MY MY CAR JUST SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL AND I KNOW I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST I AM NOT A FAST DRIVER ONE THING IS TO BE DONE AND CHECK OUT WITH THIS VEHICLE BEFORE IT CLAIM THE LIFE OF ANYONE THAT GOD MY LOVE AND MY KIDS WAS SPARED THE BRAKES SPEED CONTROL AND BODY OF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED AS WELL BUT IT IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO SELECT ALL OF THE OPTIONS ABOVE

Air Bags
Filed Mar 10, 20191,180,000 milesDE

HIT A VERY MASSIVE POTHOLE AND IT CAUSED THE AIRBAG FAULTY STATEMENT TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. IT APPEARS THE AIRBAG ATTEMPTED TO DISCHARGE UPON HITTING A POTHOLE AND DID NOT DISCHARGE AND THUS THE AIRBAG MECHANISM WAS CONSIDERED FAULTY. A POTHOLE/RUMBLE STRIP SHOULD NOT CAUSE A AIRBAG FAULT TO APPEAR AS THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 7, 2018150,000 milesPA

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON THIS VEHICLE FAIL DUE TO THE INTERNAL WIRING INSIDE OF THE HOUSING. THIS LEADS TO ZERO VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT TIME. THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN OPERATING CORRECTLY ALSO DO NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH LIGHT OUTPUT TO BE ABLE TO SEE DURING THE NIGHT EVEN WITH A BRAND NEW ASSEMBLY.

Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2018168,835 milesCO

THE TOUAREG MADE SOME RATTLING NOISE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH. AS SOON I STOPPED AND MADE IT MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR THE CAR WOULDN'T START UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. FINALLY, AFTER A WELL OVER A WEEK, THEY DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL SIX FUEL INJECTORS. THE FUEL INJECTORS GOT REPLACED NOW THE CAR TURNS ON BUT AS SOON AS YOU STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR DIES.

Wheels
Filed Jul 4, 20182 milesCA

FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE( IN DECEMBER OF 2003), TPMS HAS BEEN "ON" IN YELLOW/ORANGE COLOR INDICATING THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IN ALL/VARIOUS LOCATIONS NEED ADJUSTMENT. AFTER INSPECTION BY MYSELF, GAS STATION ATTENDANTS, TIRE SHOP COMPANIES, AND VW DEALERSHIPS, I FINALLY GAVE UP. IN THE BEGINNING, THE DEALERSHIP ( WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) WOULD NOT OFFICIALLY ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM, BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, IN A VERY INFORMAL WAY, THEY CLAIMED THE THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS BRAND NEW AND THAT IT HAS ITS FLAWS! THAT I SHOULD NOT TAKE THOSE WARNINGS TOO SERIOUSLY. UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS, I GAVE UP ON THIS TOPIC. NOW, I JUST WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD!

Power Train
Filed Jul 4, 20185 milesCA

( STARTED NOTICING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 1 TO 2 YEARS AGO)WHILE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN 5TH GEAR AND SPEEDS OF UNDER 50 MI./HR, WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE AUTOMATIC DOWN SHIFT OCCURS WITH A VERY HARSH "KICK" TO A POINT THAT THE PASSENGERS FEEL THE JOLT. A FEW YEARS AGO, A SIMILAR PROBLEM REGARDING THE DOWN-SHIFT WAS SUBJECT OF RECALL WHICH THE DEALERS HAD TO INSTALL A "PATCH" ( UPDATED SOFTWARE) IN ORDER TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 3, 201893,000 milesHI

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, IN MARCH OF 2018, STATING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL 20AI-FUEL PUMP FLANGE FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. I HAD ALREADY HAD THAT REPAIR DONE, DUE TO A SEVERE LEAK IN MY FUEL PUMP (GAS WAS POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AS AS FAST AS I WAS PUMPING THE GAS IN ON ONE OCCASION). I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND COULDN'T DRIVE IT UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. THEN, 3 YEARS LATER, I RECIEVED A RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM VOLKSWAGEN FOR THE EXACT REPAIR THAT I HAD DONE FOR THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP FLANGE. I COMPLETED THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM AND SUBMITTED IT TO VOLKSWAGEN. MY REIMBURSEMENT WAS REJECTED BECAUSE MY REPAIR WAS MADE PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING ISSUED. I WAS TOLD BY VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE NHTSA LIMITS RECALL REPAIRS AND REIMBURSEMENTS, AND IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NHTSA BECAUSE THEY SET THE TIMELINE.

20 of 231 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201724100Routine
201644200Routine
201524200Routine
201427220Routine
201330200Routine
201228200Routine
201116200Routine
201025110Routine
200919200Routine
200856440Routine
20079300Routine
200637110Routine
200575200Routine
2004 — this page231450Above average

Compare every Touareg year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 20, 2017. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.