2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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 -

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 ACTUALLY HAD A DRIVESHAFT IN STOCK. HE INDICATED THAT THIS TYPE OF PART WAS NOT A COMMON REPAIR AND WOULD USUALLY BE A PART THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. THE VEHICLE COST $1400.00 TO REPAIR. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT WHICH SHOW WHERE THE PIECE EXPLODED FROM THE DRIVESHAFT. I HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPANY CAR FOR MY DAILY WORK AND MY OFFICE IS LOCATED 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I DRIVE MY PERSONAL CAR VERY LITTLE AND KEEP IT IN TOP SHAPE. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR DRIVESHAFTS FOR THEIR TOUAREGS GOING BAD AROUND 80,000 MILES. I AM REPORTING THIS IN HOPES THERE IS A TREND THAT CAN BE LOOKED INTO. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS CAR ISSUE AND I PURCHASED THE TOUAREG BECAUSE I WANTED A SAFE SUV TO TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTERS IN. NOW I AM NERVOUS ABOUT THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

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 VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE RECORDS OF THE FAILURE RATES AND CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAULTY, WHICH RESULTS IN NON COMPLIANCE OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS STANDARDS. WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND PROVIDE A LONG TERM SOLUTION? *TR

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

MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE STUMBLED (MIS-FIRED), THEN THE ENGINE LINE CAME ON AND AS I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING NTHSA ISSUE OPEN ON VOLKSWAGEN DIESELS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG TDI (TURBO DIESEL INJECTION). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE EPS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND SPEED DECREASED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE REGAINED ACCELERATION AFTER THE EPS LIGHT SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,500.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME, I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN FOR A HIGH SPEED ROAD. WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED AND I HAD LOSS OF ALL POWER. BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO PRESS AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS STEERING (LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING). THE CAR ROLLED PASSED THE STOP SIGN AND HALF WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I FIRMLY PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT ONLY CRANKED AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTERSECTION IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A HILL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY FLASHERS (WHICH WOULDN'T DO GOOD FROM THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD) BUT THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACK ENOUGH, OUT OF THE WAY. UNDER A MINUTE, I WAS OUT OF THE WAY (FOR THE MOST PART). A SEMI AND A FEW ADDITIONAL CARS COME UP THE HILL ABOUT 10 SECONDS OF ME GETTING THE CAR ROLLED BACK, OUT OF THE WAY. I MAY HAVE VERY WELL BEEN HIT BY A SEMI GOING 55+ MPH. I FIND MYSELF VERY LUCKY I WASN'T STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND INJURED OR EVEN POSSIBLY KILLED. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. I'M TOLD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND TOOK OUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. VEHICLE IS A 2009 TOUAREG V6 TDI (TURBO DIESEL). *TR

DRIVING FROM COLUMBIA, SC TO CHARLESTON, SC AND REFUELED IN SUMMERVILLE. 20 MILES LATER ON THE HIGHWAY @40MPH, ENGINE STARTED HIGH PITCHED HUMMING NOISE THEN LOST POWER (WENT INTO LIMP MODE) WHEN ACCELERATOR PUSHED. GOT IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION "ENGINE FAILURE, SERVICE NOW" AND FORTUNATELY ABLE TO PULL SAFELY INTO PARKING LOT. VW REPORTS LOTS OF DEBRIS IN FUEL AND CLOGGED FILTER, BLAMING CONTAMINATED FUEL. HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, WONDERING IF THIS IS PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SINCE VEHICLE IS 2009 CLEAN DIESEL TDI. *TR

SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2 EQUIPPED WITH 3.6L GASOLINE ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. USA VERSION. HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM EMITS ABNORMAL GROWLING AND GROANING NOISES WHEN AMBIENT OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURES CLIMB ABOVE 85F. STEERING INPUT RESISTANCE INCREASES SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND NORMAL WHEN POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS EMITTING THE SUBJECT NOISES. ABNORMAL VIBRATION IS TRANSMITTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS EMITTING THE ABNORMAL NOISES. FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED ON OCT 10, 2010. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN GILBERT, AZ INSPECTED THE SUBJECT VEHICLE ON OCT 14, 2010 AND DEEMED THE NOISE TO BE "NORMAL" BUT REPLACED THE IDLER PULLEY ON OCT 14, 2010. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE, AZ INSPECTED AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP UNDER WARRANTY ON JUN 28, 2011. PROBLEM PERSISTED. VOLKSWAGEN REGIONAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN/REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED VEHICLE ON JUL 20, 2011 AND CONFIRMED "ABNORMAL NOISE ORIGINATING FROM POWER STEERING SYSTEM". NO FOLLOW UP OR CONTACT FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO DATE. NUMEROUS OTHER VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED BY THIS SPECIFIC THREAD ON THE CLUB TOUAREG.COM ONLINE FORUM - HTTP://WWW.CLUBTOUAREG.COM/FORUMS/F62/POWER-STEERING-NOISE-INTERMITTENT-41443.HTML. AS REPORTED BY OTHER TOUAREG OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE USA AND THE UK, VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE MOSTLY INCLINED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO COMPLAINING OWNERS AS "NOT REPRODUCIBLE" OR "NORMAL". VOLKSWAGEN HAS YET TO INTRODUCE A "FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM. SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED STEERING INPUT REQUIRED DURING "FAILURE PERIODS" COULD CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR