VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG · model year

2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG

25 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009VOLKSWAGENTOUAREG carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 TOUAREG is fuel/propulsion system with 8 filings, followed by steering (3) and fuel system, diesel (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2009 TOUAREG, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

25
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8
STEERING3
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL2
POWER TRAIN2
ENGINE2
AIR BAGS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recalls (2)

17V15100008/03/2017

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.

09V24800002/07/2009

STRUCTURE:BODY

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 14,416 MY 2007-2009 TOUAREG VEHICLES. THE FASTENING STRUTS ON THE ROOF EDGE SPOILER CAN CRACK, CAUSING THE SPOILER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POSSIBLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN THOUGH INITIALLY THE SPOILER MAY FEEL SECURE.

Recent Complaints

20230616VISIBILITY/WIPER

No warning prior to failure. At highway speed, Dashboard Notice: SYSTEM FAULT - SERVICE NOW. All electrical systems stopped working, including: Lighting - No Headlight/Running Light control- No Turn Signals- 4-Way Flashers worked, then stopped working- No Windshield Wipers- No interior Windshield defogger- No Side Window Control for manual traffic signals- Do not know if Brake Lights were working- Mechanic states that battery was not charging- Some Dashboard displays were not working - Cruise control stopped working -

20230616ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

No warning prior to failure. At highway speed, Dashboard Notice: SYSTEM FAULT - SERVICE NOW. All electrical systems stopped working, including: Lighting - No Headlight/Running Light control- No Turn Signals- 4-Way Flashers worked, then stopped working- No Windshield Wipers- No interior Windshield defogger- No Side Window Control for manual traffic signals- Do not know if Brake Lights were working- Mechanic states that battery was not charging- Some Dashboard displays were not working - Cruise control stopped working -

20230616EXTERIOR LIGHTING

No warning prior to failure. At highway speed, Dashboard Notice: SYSTEM FAULT - SERVICE NOW. All electrical systems stopped working, including: Lighting - No Headlight/Running Light control- No Turn Signals- 4-Way Flashers worked, then stopped working- No Windshield Wipers- No interior Windshield defogger- No Side Window Control for manual traffic signals- Do not know if Brake Lights were working- Mechanic states that battery was not charging- Some Dashboard displays were not working - Cruise control stopped working -

20220823FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

A fuel smell is detected in my vehicle, as noted in Repair Available for Safety Recall 20Z4 – Fuel Pump FlangeCertain 2007-2010 MY Volkswagen Touareg / NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V151000.

20201223FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE A FAULT LIGHT STARTED FLASHING "ENGINE FAULT SERVICE NOW" ALONG WITH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND MOVED INTO THE SLOW LANE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO ALLOW IT TO ROLL IT A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED (HPFP) WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD ROLL TO A SAFE PLACE AND WASN'T PULLING A TRAILER LIKE WE OFTEN DO. I WAS ALSO LUCKY I WAS IN AN AREA WITH CELL RECEPTION. I HAD SPENT MOST OF THE DAY DRIVING IN A REMOTE AREA THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD RECEPTION.

Mileage: 112,000

20191021FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STARTED WITH FAINT SMELL OF GAS OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE ON DRIVERS SIDE. THE GAS SMELL IS STRONGEST WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SOME TIME LIKE OVER NIGHT. DEVELOPED OVERTIME THAT THE GAS SMELL BEGAN TO BE SMELLED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE GAS SMELL IS EXTREMELY STRONG BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE.

20190218AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CRACKING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE AIR BAG CONTAINER. I FEAR SAFETY AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE AIR BAG WILL POP OUT THROUGH THE CRACKS AND CAUSE AN INJURY OR NOT BE FUNCTIONAL IF NEEDED. THE CRACKS HAVE BEEN SPREADING SLOWLY OVER TIME REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. CURRENTLY THE CRACKS ARE CLOSING IN TO THE FULL LINE AROUND THE AIR BAG CONTAINER. I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE CRACK LINE IS COMPLETE. WILL THE AIRBAG POP OUT ON ITS OWN AND CAUSE AN INJURY? I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG PRESSURE IS CAUSING THE CRACKS.

Mileage: 155,000

20190218STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CRACKING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE AIR BAG CONTAINER. I FEAR SAFETY AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE AIR BAG WILL POP OUT THROUGH THE CRACKS AND CAUSE AN INJURY OR NOT BE FUNCTIONAL IF NEEDED. THE CRACKS HAVE BEEN SPREADING SLOWLY OVER TIME REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. CURRENTLY THE CRACKS ARE CLOSING IN TO THE FULL LINE AROUND THE AIR BAG CONTAINER. I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE CRACK LINE IS COMPLETE. WILL THE AIRBAG POP OUT ON ITS OWN AND CAUSE AN INJURY? I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG PRESSURE IS CAUSING THE CRACKS.

Mileage: 155,000

20180904FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE GAS INSIDE & OUT WHETHER STILL, OR DRIVING, RUNNING OR OFF. THEN A FEW DAYS IN, FUEL, OR A GAS-SMELLING SUBSTANCE, BEGAN RAPIDLY LEAKING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS ALSO COOLANT.

20170815ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STRUGGLED TO ACCELERATE ON THE INCLINE AND DECELERATED. NEMER MOTOR GROUP OF LATHAN, NEW YORK AND HACKELS FOREIGN CAR SERVICES OF ALBANY, NEW YORK WERE NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V151000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20170815FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STRUGGLED TO ACCELERATE ON THE INCLINE AND DECELERATED. NEMER MOTOR GROUP OF LATHAN, NEW YORK AND HACKELS FOREIGN CAR SERVICES OF ALBANY, NEW YORK WERE NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V151000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20170708FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THERE IS AN OPEN, PENDING RECALL ON THE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY. IT IS NOTICED BY THE SMELL OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE AND POSSIBLY INSIDE THE CABIN, MOSTLY COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR AS THE ASSEMBLY IS UNDER THE BACK SEAT ON THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 90,500

20160626AIR BAGS

THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CRACKING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE AIRBAG CONTAINER. I FEAR THAT THE AIRBAG WILL BE ABLE TO COME LOSE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY OR BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL AND THUS UNSAFE WHEN IN NEED

20160626UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CRACKING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE AIRBAG CONTAINER. I FEAR THAT THE AIRBAG WILL BE ABLE TO COME LOSE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY OR BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL AND THUS UNSAFE WHEN IN NEED

20160504ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AFTER REFILLING THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID WITH PEAK BRAND ISO 22241-1 COMPLIANT DEF THE NO START IN 450 MILE WARNING CAME ON. TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THE VW DEALERSHIP REPLACES THE PUMP, HEATER, AND CONTROLLER. BUT THEY FAILED AT FLUSHING OUT THE LINES AND INJECTOR FOR WITHIN 50 MILES OF BEING PICKED UP THE WARNING FOR NO RESTART WAS BACK ON AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO NOW.

Mileage: 70,250

20150704POWER TRAIN

I OWN A 2009 TOUAREG 2, V6 AUTOMATIC & HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH IT. I PURCHASED IT AS A PRE-OWNED VW CERTIFIED VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2012 WITH 32,423 MILES ON IT. IN MARCH OF 2013 (62227 MILES) WHILE DRIVING HOME I HAD INCREASED DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1600. UNFORTUNATELY THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED A WEEK OR SO BEFORE & THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THEN IN JULY OF 2013 (72913 MILES) THE PROP SHAFT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING $1400. NOW ON JULY 2, 2015 (122,000 MILES) WHILE DRIVING HOME I START TO HEAR A WHINING NOISE & DIFFICULTY STEERING & AM JUST ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. WE HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC & FIND ALL THE HYDRAULIC FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT & AGAIN THE POWER STEERING RACK WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR APPX. $1600+. WAY TOO MANY REPAIRS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

Mileage: 62,227

20150415POWER TRAIN

ON APRIL 11, 2015, I WAS RETURNING FROM A DAY AT THE MALL WITH MY MOTHER AND CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I ENTERED A 35 MILE PER HOUR ZONE AND REDUCED MY SPEED ACCORDINGLY. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD RUMBLING SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. WE FIRST THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. WE PULLED OVER, GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE CAR AND ALL OF THE TIRES WERE FINE. WE PULLED BACK ON TO THE ROAD AND DIDN'T HEAR THE SOUND AGAIN UNTIL MY SPEED REACHED 25 MILES PER HOUR, THEN THE LOUD RUMBLING STARTED AGAIN. I WAS ALMOST AT MY MOM'S HOUSE SO WE MADE IT TO THE HOUSE AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED ME ON MONDAY MORNING 4/13/15 AND LET ME KNOW THAT SOMETHING EXPLODED IN THE DRIVESHAFT OF THE CAR AND THE WHOLE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE INDICATED IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM TO HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE WITH 87,766 MILES ON IT. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE FOUND IT STRANGE THAT WHEN HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, THEY ACTU

Mileage: 87,766

20141225FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

MY 2009 VW TOUAREG TDI EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE REDUCTANT PUMP FOR THE DIESEL EMISSION FLUID SYSTEM (DEF.) RESEARCHING FAILURE RATES OF THIS SYSTEM HAS SHOWN A VERY HIGH FAILURES OF THIS SYSTEM IN THE VW TOUAREG AND PASSAT CLEAN DIESEL APPLICATION FOR MODEL YEAR 2009 AND NEWER. PROPOSED SOLUTION TO REDUCE CRYSTALLIZATION AND CLOGGING OF SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN 3 SERVICE REVISIONS, WITH THE MOST RECENT CALLING FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM (TANK, PUMP, LINE AND INJECTOR) AT A COST OF $1,5000. VW WILL NOT COVER ANY COSTS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS SAME SYSTEM AND PARTS ARE USED IN THE FORD F350 AND CHEVROLET DURAMAX CLEAN DIESEL APPLICATIONS WITH SIMILARLY HIGH FAILURE RATES TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE ALL LIGHT DUTY CLEAN DIESEL MANUFACTURERS ARE EXPERIENCING A FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM WITH NO RECALL OR COVERAGE AGAINST FUTURE FAILURE. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE SUPPLIER OF THE DEF SYSTEM USED IN COMMON LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FAULTY PARTS ON MULTIPLE VE

Mileage: 81,000

20141125FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FLASHED A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ON THE DASH AND STATED SERVICE NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY. AS I WAS PULLING OVER TO SIDE, THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY STALLED OUT AND TURNED OFF. MY STEERING WAS COMPROMISED AND I HAD NO ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON OR MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO AFTER INSPECTION DID NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOW THE REASON. THEY REACHED OUT TO VW OF AMERICA WHO CONFIRMED WITH THEM AN ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT WAS IN ORDER AS A RESULT OF A FAILED FUEL PUMP. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. THE FACT THAT IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT AND ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD GREATLY ASSISTED ME IN STAYING SAFE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY INTERSECTION OR HIGH SPEED ROADS OR CURVES THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20141125STEERING

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FLASHED A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ON THE DASH AND STATED SERVICE NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY. AS I WAS PULLING OVER TO SIDE, THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY STALLED OUT AND TURNED OFF. MY STEERING WAS COMPROMISED AND I HAD NO ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON OR MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO AFTER INSPECTION DID NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOW THE REASON. THEY REACHED OUT TO VW OF AMERICA WHO CONFIRMED WITH THEM AN ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT WAS IN ORDER AS A RESULT OF A FAILED FUEL PUMP. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. THE FACT THAT IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT AND ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD GREATLY ASSISTED ME IN STAYING SAFE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY INTERSECTION OR HIGH SPEED ROADS OR CURVES THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

Compare 2009VOLKSWAGENTOUAREG to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG have?
The 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG has 25 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
Yes, the 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
The most-complained component for the 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.
Is the 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.