Volkswagen Touareg
Registered from 2003 to 2024.
About this model
The Volkswagen Touareg is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by Volkswagen from August 2002 until March 2026. The vehicle takes its name from the nomadic Tuareg people, inhabitants of the Saharan interior in North Africa. It served as Volkswagen's flagship SUV throughout its production life and was built exclusively at the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant in Slovakia, with CKD assembly in Malaysia commencing in 2024.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Touareg, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2015 3.0 diesel. 814 of 4,927 tests failed, 17%.
Better than 39% of 2015 cars. The typical one fails 15%, across 894 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 47% | 382 |
| Suspension | 27% | 221 |
| Tyres and wheels | 24% | 194 |
| Brakes | 14% | 113 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 11% | 86 |
| Visibility | 7% | 55 |
The defects inspectors cite
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- A tyre seriously damaged
Where it stands out against its peers
- Lights and electrics: failed more often than 94% of 2015 cars — 47% of its 814 failed tests, where an ordinary 2015 car has 22%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 27% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Tyres and wheels — 24% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Brakes — 14% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Exhaust and emissions — 11% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 47% of its failures
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 7% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 13% of its inspections, against the 20% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 10% | 10% | 211 | |
| 40–60k miles | 17% | 14% | 1,048 | |
| 60–80k miles | 16% | 17% | 1,771 | |
| 80–100k miles | 17% | 19% | 1,191 | |
| 100–120k miles | 17% | 20% | 460 | |
| 120–140k miles | 20% | 21% | 169 | |
| 140–160k miles | 13% | 20% | 45 |
4,895 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.0 diesel · 253 hp · 2092 kg · 2899 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 3.0 diesel · 2071 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 8.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 3.0 diesel · 2070 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 8.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 3.0 diesel · 270 hp · 2073 kg · 2901 mm wheelbase · 8.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 3.0 diesel · 219 hp · 2189 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 6.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 3.0 diesel · 222 hp · 2189 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 6.6 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 3.0 diesel · 222 hp · 2189 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 6.6 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 3.0 diesel · 227 hp · 2174 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 6.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 3.0 diesel · 232 hp · 2166 kg · 2904 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 3.0 diesel · 233 hp · 2171 kg · 2898 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 3.0 diesel · 235 hp · 2188 kg · 2877 mm wheelbase · 7.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 3.0 diesel · 2275 kg · 2882 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00191/24
The side airbag on the front left may have been installed incorrectly during the manufacturing process. In the event of an accident, this could reduce the protective effect of the side airbag, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0160/19
A seat-belt latch may not have been sufficiently secured to the rear, right-hand seat. In the event of an accident, the rear seat-belt latch may therefore break, increasing the risk of injuries to passengers.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01663/21
The electric tailgate has a defective spindle drive which may cause a pre-tensioned spring to come loose from the housing and injure persons standing nearby. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0256/17
It is possible that the wheel bolts were not tightened with the correct torque which could result in the loss of the wheel. Also, the running direction of the tyres may not have been taken into account when the winter tyres were fitted which could have a negative effect on driving stability.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0293/16
Water infiltration in the battery compartment (spare wheel recess) may cause a short circuit between the terminals of the high-voltage battery cells resulting in thermal destruction of the battery.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/04112/25
The high-voltage battery’s cell modules could overheat during charging. This may lead to fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users