2012 Volkswagen Touareg problems and recalls

Owners have filed 28 complaints on the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Fuel/Propulsion System (6 complaints).

28
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
3
Injuries
69.5
Severity index

Severity index 69.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 69.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 6 complaints (21.4%)6 21%SteeringSteering: 5 complaints (17.9%)5 18%EngineEngine: 5 complaints (17.9%)5 18%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 4 complaints (14.3%)4 14%Power TrainPower Train: 3 complaints (10.7%)3 11%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 2 complaints (7.1%)2 7%Air BagsAir Bags: 2 complaints (7.1%)2 7%Fuel SystemFuel System: 2 complaints (7.1%)2 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM621.4%
STEERING517.9%
ENGINE517.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM414.3%
POWER TRAIN310.7%
SEAT BELTS27.1%
AIR BAGS27.1%
FUEL SYSTEM27.1%

Complaints filed per year

0482012: 22013: 22014: 42015: 22016: 82018: 22019: 12021: 12022: 12023: 22024: 12025: 12026: 1 (partial year)121314151681819212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20122
20132
20144
20152
20168
20182
20191
20211
20221
20232
20241
20251
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2019 to 2022 (4 against 3).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V32900016/05/2018UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen 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
16V17000024/03/2016SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGESVolkswagen 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.

Other Volkswagen Touareg model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 6 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.