NHTSA (USA)
At a glance
What can fail
Modifications made during an internal evaluation period may have left these vehicles not fully compliant with applicable regulatory requirements.
This page covers 5 recalls, 16 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg.
19–22 mpg combined
10.7–12.4 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
Complaints about the 2011 Touareg are spread thin across 16 reports, but engine and fuel system issues show up most consistently. On the engine side, owners describe check engine lights triggering catalytic converter diagnoses, water intrusion into the air intake box, and a cracked turbo/EGR pipe that produces an exhaust smell detectable almost immediately after startup, a concern given that the leak sits near the HVAC fresh-air intake. Fuel system reports involve a fuel smell that developed gradually after routine service, growing strong enough to enter the cabin at low idle speeds. A smaller cluster of reports mentions the hybrid system throwing errors and the vehicle dropping into limp mode at low speeds, sometimes accompanied by reduced braking, though these symptoms cleared after a restart without leaving diagnostic data for technicians to act on.
16
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg has 5 recalls, the most serious being a brake pedal that can come loose while driving, leaving the driver unable to slow or stop the vehicle.
The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing its securing clip. Without that clip, the pin can shift out of position, causing the pedal to wobble and eventually fracture at its pivot point or detach entirely. This affects all Touareg models in this generation, not just one trim. Two recalls cover this same brake pedal defect across different filings, but the underlying problem and risk are identical.
Two recalls are specific to Touareg Hybrid models. On those vehicles, the high-voltage battery tray can fail to drain water properly, allowing pooled water to cause an electrical short in the battery pack, which raises the risk of a fire. Hybrid models also have a label recall: the certification sticker inside the door lists incorrect tire pressure figures, which can lead owners to inflate their tires to the wrong level and risk premature tire wear or a blowup at speed.
The fifth recall stems from modifications made to certain vehicles during an internal evaluation period before sale. Those changes may cause the affected vehicles to fall short of applicable safety regulations, with a general elevated risk of crash, fire, or injury. This recall spans several Volkswagen models and is not specific to any particular system or component on the Touareg.
At a glance
What can fail
Modifications made during an internal evaluation period may have left these vehicles not fully compliant with applicable regulatory requirements.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will repair vehicles to restore full compliance or Volkswagen will repurchase them at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake pedal pivot pin may lack a securing clip, allowing the pin to shift and the brake pedal to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly and install any missing securing clips at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A clip that holds the brake pedal hinge in place may have come loose during manufacturing. This allows the pivot pin to shift, making the pedal wobble. Over time, the hinge can crack and break, causing the pedal to separate from its pivot and reducing braking power.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the brake pedal and install a securing clip if needed to hold the hinge in place.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water may not drain properly from the hybrid battery tray, allowing water to collect and cause an electrical short in the high voltage battery.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a fitted drain valve to allow water to drain properly from the hybrid battery tray.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure information printed on the vehicle's certification label is incorrect, making the label non-compliant with federal tire safety requirements.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply an overlay with correct tire pressure information to the certification label at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
