Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Volkswagen Touareg problems

Owners filed 37 complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg with NHTSA between Aug 2006 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (9).

Complaints
37
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system9
  2. Electrical system7
  3. Power train5
  4. Air bags4
  5. Exterior lighting4
  6. Fuel system, gasoline4
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  8. Engine2
  9. Vehicle speed control1
  10. Visibility/wiper1
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  12. Engine and engine cooling1
  13. Equipment1
  14. Seats1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20061
20075
20081
20091
20102
20110
20126
20132
20142
20151
20162
20175
20184
20191
20201
20211
20220
20230
20242

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel/propulsion system

9 reports
“I get dizzy every time I drive my 2006 Volkswagen Touareg. There is a fuel smell inside the cabin and outside of the driver's rear wheel well. I noticed this during the short time I park in my garage. Since, the noticeable smell, I have been parking outside and have since minimized by use of the vehicle. I love the vehicle, but I am getting headaches and dizziness while driving it. Upon looking up more information on the fuel smell, I came across Volkswagen Manufacture Safety recall 20Ai and 20Z4. Since I last spoke of Community Volkswagen of Santa Maria, they said that the recall has been repaired. However, after further research, this is an Open Recall and is still eligible to be repaired. Please advise me on my next steps so as to not be in a dangerous situation while driving this vehicle. Thank you.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 31, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11622862

Electrical system

7 reports1 fire
“HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION HAS MELTED CREATING SEVERAL SHORTS AND CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. IT APPEARS TO BE ALL OF THE WIRING HEADING TO AND INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHT. IT HAS CAUSED FALSE CODES TO APPEAR AS WELL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11053313

Power train

5 reports
“2006 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP CONCERNING SEVERAL VEHICLE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FROM THE BEGINNING, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE UNIT WAS REMOVED AND INSTALLED AGAIN. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE EVAP PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED, THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED, CORROSION BUILT UP IN THE SENSOR AND WIRING OF THE HEADLIGHT, AND THE WIRING AND HEADLIGHT WERE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DUE TO A FAULTY PURGE VALVE, FOR THE THIRD TIME. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONSUMER FELT VIBRATIONS AND HEARD LOUD NOISES UNDER THE CENTER ARM REST. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PROPELLER SHAFT WAS BROKEN. ALSO, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS MATERIAL, WAS METAL ON METAL. THE BRAKES ONLY LASTED 24,600 MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE WATER PUMP AND OIL PAN WERE LEAKING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2013Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10533574

Air bags

4 reports
“The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the passenger’s side front side air bag and the passenger’s side rear side air bag independently deployed. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had stalled after the air bags had deployed. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2024Air bagsODI 11605170

Exterior lighting

4 reports
“I HAD MY TOUAREG IN PUERTO RICO FOR OVER 10 YEARS IN STORAGE. SINCE CAR HAD NOT USED FOR NORMALLY BUSINESS DAYS. THE HEADLIGHT CABLES AND LIGHTS ARE GOT BAD. ALL CABLES GOT DRY AND BROKE IN THE OUTSIDE CAUSE THE HEAT OF THE ISLAND. THE CONTROL UNIT GOT BAD. ALL FRONT LIGHT SISTEM DOESNOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAVE 86000 MILES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10918437

Fuel system, gasoline

4 reports1 related recall
“2006 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS RELATED TO A SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL , DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED ONLY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD NOT PROVIDE A REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2018Fuel system, gasolineODI 11096333
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.