2011 Volkswagen Touareg recalls and problems

The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg has 2 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

1 / 0

Injuries / deaths

2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2011 Volkswagen Touareg vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2011 Volkswagen Touareg recalls

Recall 18V-329: Unknown or Other

Reported May 16, 2018 · 252 vehicles affected · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Recall 16V-170: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Mar 24, 2016 · 46,574 vehicles affected · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.

Risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46G4.

2011 Volkswagen Touareg problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Fuel/Propulsion System	4
Engine	4
Steering	3
Unknown or Other	3
Fuel System, Diesel	2
Air Bags	1
Electrical System	1
Vehicle Speed Control	1
Power Train	1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 39,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2011 Volkswagen Touareg complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Nov 4, 2021

On my 2011 VW Touareg TDI there is an exhaust leak. Can be smelled within seconds of starting it. A turbo/EGR pipe cracks and the result is a serious exhaust leak under hood right next to where air is drawn into the cabin for HVAC. Parts are backordered with no ETA. Even though when driving there is exhaust getting into the car the dealer and VW corporate just says "sorry for the delay of the parts". This part failure seems to be a known issue- The VW dealer was told by corporate that installing a used part is not acceptable either. Currently been waiting 11 months on this part. The leak was…

Engine · at 130,000 miles · reported Jun 14, 2020

This has happened multiple times, at low speeds, car goes into limp home mode randomly and creaks along at 8 miles an hour, most recently lost braking power and message comes up "hybrid error, pull over in a safe location." then when you turn it off and on again it works fine. This is not helpful as there is no information for the mechanic to go by to solve the problem. We have replaced the catalytic converter, both fuel pumps and pre-fuel pump mechanisms and still the odd error message lack of car running. I AM thinking about using it as a planter in my yard, currently is it living with the…

Engine · at 56,000 miles · reported Jan 4, 2020

Water found in the air intake box during air filter change on my 2011 vw touareg. Bottom 3.5 inches of old filter was found wet when air box was opened. This is a serious issue as liquid water that enters the engine during operation can cause the engine to stall while in traffic resulting in a serious safety issue. Water or filter material ingestion into the engine can also result in catastrophic engine damage requiring engine replacement. This appears to be a known issue by vw with no action taken to date, despite numerous complaints from owners regarding this issue. I request that NHTSA…

Fuel/Propulsion System · at 69,899 miles · reported Oct 7, 2018

The vehicle recently completed a 70,000 mile service at the local vw dealer. Two days after the service, the vehicle began to exhibit the faint smell of fuel on the driver's rear side of the vehicle when parked. With each passing day, the scent of fuel continues to increase and now enters the vehicle cabin at low idle speeds (Especially when exiting major roads of travel).

Unknown or Other · reported Mar 12, 2017

My diesel vw touareg needs the nox sensor replaced. Why is this not considered part of the warranty for the emissions system ? Sinde the epa has designated the vw diesels must be either buyback or replaced/repaired it seems apparent that this sensor is just as important to the function of the emissions system but it is not a covered part. This part is very expensive and functions along with the ad-blue pump which is covered.

Other Volkswagen Touareg years

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201220112010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

Compare all Volkswagen Touareg years · All Volkswagen models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg: 18V-329 (unknown or other), 16V-170 (service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg?

Owners report fuel/propulsion system problems most often (4 reports), followed by engine (4). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 39,500 miles.

Are Volkswagen recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Volkswagen dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.