AI Damage2012 Volkswagen Touareg: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 28
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 21% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 18% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 18% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 6 complaints (21% of all).
- Engine: 5 complaints (18% of all).
- Steering: 5 complaints (18% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (11% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- 3 L · hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 28 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
After driving the car for approximately 30 minutes without any problems and turning it off, it would not turn the ignition back on, release the parking brake or shift out of âPâ.
Thank God the window was not down with a passenger in the right front seat. In cool weather I often drive with the window down. Someone could have been hurt. I have owned many cars but NEVER one with a side mirror that exploded. This design is DANGEROUS.
One minute, it was driving fine and out of nowhere, the engine shut off in the middle of the road leaving us blocking a lane and creating a dangerous situation. The dealership is claiming that the high pressure fuel pump suffered a catastrophic failure and that the entire fuel system needs to be replaced, which is…
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an oil odor and smoke odor in the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection, the contact observed oil leaking from underneath the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated.
The contact stated that the driverâs side seat belt unintendedly unlatched while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the contact stated that the clockspring was defective, causing several failures with the vehicle.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact looked underneath the vehicle at the gas tank and noticed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel tank onto the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,081 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Touareg has 46 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 28, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, engine, steering. Total complaints: 28. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (21%), fuel system, fuel smell (18%), vibration (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2012 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.