Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Volkswagen Touareg problems

Owners filed 56 complaints about the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg with NHTSA between Feb 2008 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (23).

Complaints
56
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system23
  2. Electrical system8
  3. Engine7
  4. Exterior lighting6
  5. Seat belts4
  6. Power train3
  7. Structure3
  8. Tires3
  9. Suspension2
  10. Air bags2
  11. Fuel system, gasoline2
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  13. Service brakes1
  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
20082
20092
20105
20110
20120
20132
20144
20152
20162
201716
20185
20197
20205
20211
20221
20231
20241

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

23 reports2 fires
“I was driving the vehicle and noticed smoke coming out from under the hood I pulled over immediately and the whole engine compartment was on fire I tried to put fire but Fire department showed up and extinguish the fire, fire was due to a fuel leak”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2024Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11627551

Electrical system

8 reports3 fires
“Protective coating on wires in the headlight and turn signal assemblies crumbled and disintegrated, causing all the lighting components and ballast for HID lights, light level adjusters and the fuses and relays to short out, sparks and potential fire hazard.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2023Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11508422

Engine

7 reports2 fires
“UPON STARTING THE ENGINE IN MY 2008 VW TOUAREG AS NORMAL TO LEAVE, THE ENGINE TURNED OVER TO START, BUT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TURNING OVER LONGER THAN USUAL. I GRABBED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION TO TURN IT OFF. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I HEAR A LOUD POP, FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE EMERGE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED AND WAS IN PIECES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2020EngineODI 11377040

Exterior lighting

6 reports2 fires
“WHILE DRIVING, FIRST SIDE MARKER AND RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL BEGAN TO FAIL, THEN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED. UPON INSPECTION ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE FAILED COMPONENTS, INSULATION WAS CRUMBLING & NON- EXISTENT. IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SAME CONDITION OF WIRE INSULATION FALLING OFF WIRES, CAUSING SHORTING OUT OF COMPONENTS. REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY, BULBS, BALLASTS AND CONTROLLERS WAS REQUIRED TO OPERATE VEHICLE CONDITION. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (PRESTON VW, BOARDMAN, OHIO), THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROPLEMS WITH THE TOUAREG RELATED TO WIRING OR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE W OEM THROUGH ROCK AUTO AUTO PARTS (MOST COST EFFECTIVE) WAS TOTAL$1,314.82”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11363544

Seat belts

4 reports
“MY ISSUE STARTED OUT WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEING ON EVEN WHEN AN AVERAGE SIDE ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT ESCALATED TO AN AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT ON IN THE CONTROL PANEL. THIS LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF. ANOTHER ISSUE STARTED WHEN I WOULD ENTER THE CAR AND THE DOOR SIGNAL WAS SUDDENLY LOUD AND ODD SOUNDING. THIS WENT ON FOR A WEEK OR SO THEN ALL OF THE SOUNDS IN THE CAR CEASED COMPLETELY. NO BLINKER SOUND, NO LIGHTS ON INDICATOR, NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, NO DOOR OPEN INDICATOR, AND NO PARKING BRAKE INDICATOR. LASTLY, WHILE PICKING MY DAUGHTER UP FROM COLLEGE, I FOLDED THE BACKSEAT DOWN IN ORDER TO FIT HER BAGGAGE. THE CENTER SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE DEFAULT POSITION. I AM UNABLE TO GET THE SEAT ALL THE WAY DOWN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND IT IS NOW SNUG AGAINST THE BACKSEAT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2018Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11129528

Power train

3 reports
“2008 Touareg 3.6L/V6 Intake Manifold/Valve Cover explosion.... March 2021, several incidents while driving vehicle would completely shut off/ loose power, with no prior warning or apparent cause, leaving driver at a total loss of steering control, as well as leaving vehicle completely disabled supposedly resulting from battery dying. Engine code scanner findings: several cylinders misfiring, possible timing chain, & (P0456) EVAP leak (among others). Repairs performed: 06/25/21 valve cover & battery replacement. Shortly after repairs noticed (never before seen) oil leak caused from recently repaired (faulty part) valve cover, which was then replaced again. (Jump ahead to present) July 14, 2022, upon attempted ignition, quickly noticed vehicle TRYING to turn over for several seconds without success, so turned key to off immediately heard an extremely loud "BOOM" followed by smoke bellowing out from under my hood/ engine. Popped hood to inspect the cause & discovered the valve cover had blown its top right off, exploded into several pieces, exposing valves to naked eye. Vehicle was then stranded, not starting, engine would not turn over. Had to have it towed to…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2022Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11474003
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.