2016 Volkswagen Touareg recalls and problems

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg has 2 safety recalls and 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
45
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2016 Volkswagen Touareg vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2016 Volkswagen Touareg recalls

Recall 16V-243: Tires

Reported Apr 26, 2016 · 366 vehicles affected · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toureg vehicles manufactured July 7, 2015 to March 3, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. Additionally, the tire pressures printed on the Safety Certification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Risk: If the vehicle is driven on underinflated tires, the tires may fail suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will correct the TPMS settings and replace the safety certification label, free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2016. Volkwagen's number for this recall is 44M9.

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.

2016 Volkswagen Touareg problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine22
Forward Collision Avoidance13
Unknown or Other10
Service Brakes5
Electrical System5
Structure4
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Steering1
Suspension1
Air Bags1
Lane Departure1

Most reported parts

  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 6
  • Structure › Body — 4
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 4
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 3
  • Lane Departure › Warning — 1
  • Back Over Prevention › Rearview System Braking — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 21,000 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 2016 Volkswagen Touareg complaints

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

Structure · reported Oct 9, 2026
The interior door release mechanism broke, trapping my wife in the driver's seat and unable to open the door. Our VW dealer was not able to evaluate the broken mechanism for several days so we took the vehicle to a local repair shop. A disabled senior [XXX] was unable to exit the vehicle, unable to climb over the center console or into the back seat which is a serious safety issue. 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.…
Service Brakes · reported Nov 13, 2025
The car will stop (while driving) for no apparent reason. “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. A brief review on internet shows these sudden stops have caused accidents (people rear ending vehicle after sudden stops). Cars have also had to move quickly off highway to avoid collision. Another issue: the Panoramic Sunroof has had frequent issues with water leaks. We’ve already had to pay for one such leak ($1000) and now…
Service Brakes · reported May 19, 2025
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 DCH Acura of Montclair, NJ/ Lithia Motors in Verona, NJ [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Forward Collision Avoidance · reported Feb 5, 2025
Vehicle manufacture (Volkswagon) has quit supplying/manufacturing a safety guidence parts for my auto. 7P6-907-217-BX-Z1Y Collision Avoidance Camera NOT AVAILABLE i would like my anti Self collision guidance repaired, but no parts for my 8-9 year old car. part was on order (from 2024) and notified today NOT available and local car dealership order was cancelled. i might understand if I had hit a 10year threshold, but sure hurts now.
Forward Collision Avoidance · reported Jan 21, 2025
My ACC/AEB went out over 2 years ago. At the time this vehicle was out of warranty. The dealer ordered the part (camera) and charged me for it. I waited over a year for the part. During this time VW lost a class action lawsuit regarding this and notified me that this was now going to be covered under warranty. I returned to the dealer to file the warranty claim. Warranty claim is now 6 months old and VW still has no news on getting parts and repairing this safety feature.

Other Volkswagen Touareg years

Compare all Volkswagen Touareg years · All Volkswagen models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg: 16V-243 (tires), 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 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?

Owners report engine problems most often (22 reports), followed by forward collision avoidance (13). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 21,000 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.