AI Damage2016 Volkswagen Touareg: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg filed 45 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 384 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 45
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 384
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 49% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 2% of all complaints
- Engine: 22 complaints (49% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 50.
- Forward collision avoidance: 8 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 73.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
- Structure: 4 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 16.
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 5 complaints
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 45 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 22 | 0 | 50 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 73 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 16 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 137 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 75 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The outside door handle release was still functional and I was able to open the door. If I were not at home, my wife would have had to call a neighbor, police or fire department to free her from the vehicle. Photograph of broken part is part of this report as well as receipt for the repair.
“Phantom Braking”. This is without any known objects/people approaching our vehicle. It’s a part of the electronic automatic braking system but obviously it is not programmed correctly. It is DANGEROUS.
My lane assist camera is not functioning [dealer] the part is now obsolete and can't be repaired. It is part #7p6907217bxz1y. I took it to Pompano Volkswagen on 4/4/24 and have been waiting for the part which has been out of stock and they (Gunther Volkswagen since Pompano closed) just told me on 8/8/25 the part is no…
UNKNOWN- simply picking up my kids and various alerts came on the dashboard including the ABS brakes error, Parking brake error, and others that I am not sure of. I just bought this suv on Friday from [dealer], NJ/ Lithia Motors in Verona, NJ [XXX].
Rear viewing camera does not display when vehicle is placed in reverse.
I was driving to lunch one day when my 2016 Volkswagen Touareg TDI stalled in the middle of the road and was not able to be restarted due to a failed CP4 HPFP (High Pressure Fuel Pump) this repair was major and everything that the diesel fuel touches was replaced such as fuel pump, lift pump, all fuel lines, fuel…
Electronic Parking Brake lever light was flashing and dashboard showed parking brake error message. Drove car to VW Dealership, which diagnosed problem as likely bad Parking Brake Control Module (Part J540). Dealership ordered part, and stated I could drive car home.
NTHSA folks, Two months ago, I began getting an "Error Airbag" amber warning in the Touareg's driver-information display. I visited the dealer and was told "the airbag module" (volkswagen-2016-volkswagen-touareg-control-module-7p0959655g08p) was the issue.
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 918 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 44% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Touareg has 35 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 45, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Suggested fuel additive
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided
- Differences between a leak and seepage
- Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during…
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…
- Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
- Inquiries
- Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start
- Lubricating engine components before reassembly
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during…
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 error message ERP0204E could occur during…
- Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting
NHTSA lists 384 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Total complaints: 45. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (11%), windows, sunroof (11%), engine failure or replacement (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?
NHTSA lists 384 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 2016 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 2016 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 2026-11-04.