The 2004 Volkswagen Touareg has 8 recalls, the most serious being two separate fire risks: a cracking fuel pump flange that can leak gasoline near ignition sources, and a misrouted tire pressure monitoring wiring harness that can short to ground and ignite.
The fuel and electrical fire risks are the dominant concerns here. The fuel pump flange can develop cracks that allow raw fuel to escape near the engine bay, and separately, the tire pressure monitoring system wiring, if it contacts the parking brake cable spring, can lose its circuit and create a short that may start a fire. Both issues raise a real fire risk while the vehicle is in normal operation.
On the restraint side, there are three recalls covering rear seat occupant protection. The rear seatbelt latch attachment bolt may not be adequately secured, meaning the latch can pull away under crash loads and leave the occupant unrestrained. A related recall addresses child restraints specifically: certain vehicles do not meet federal occupant crash protection standards, and child seats attached using the vehicle's built-in anchors may not stay properly secured in a collision.
The final recall is a label compliance issue. Certain vehicles are missing required tire pressure and load information on the driver's side door pillar label, including the vehicle's gross weight ratings and recommended wheel rim size. This does not represent a mechanical defect but means owners and service technicians lack key reference data for safe tire and load decisions.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel filter flange can crack, causing fuel to leak from the fuel system.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the flange for cracks and replace it if damaged, or install a protective cover if no cracks are found.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump flange may crack over time, allowing fuel to leak. A fuel leak near a heat source or spark could cause a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the flange for cracks and replace it if damaged, or install a protective cover to prevent future cracking.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Seat belt retractors in rear and front passenger seats can accidentally switch out of child restraint mode when certain child car seats are installed, potentially loosening the restraint.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a clip on each rear outboard seat belt to keep the retractor in child restraint mode during car seat installation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure label on the driver's side B-pillar is missing some required information: vehicle GVWR, GAWR, and recommended wheel rim size. The compliance certification label also lacks tire size, rim size, and inflation pressure details.
What the fix does
No corrective action is required. The information is available by reviewing both labels together on the driver's side B-pillar.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolt that attaches the rear seat belt latch may not have been properly riveted, which could cause the attachment to loosen or fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the belt buckle and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rivet securing the rear seat belt latch attachment bolt may be weak, reducing the belt latch's ability to hold during a crash and failing to restrain the occupant properly.
What the fix does
Dealer inspects the seat belt buckle and replaces it if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System wiring may be routed too close to the parking brake cable spring, causing the wire to break or short out. This stops the tire pressure system from working and could start a fire.
What the fix does
The dealer will re-route the TPMS wiring harness to prevent contact with the parking brake cable spring.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system wiring may be routed incorrectly during assembly, potentially contacting the parking brake cable spring.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the wiring routing and correct it if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
