Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Volkswagen Touareg owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 mph, the driver's side curtain air bag deployed inadvertently. Due to the inadvertent air bag deployment, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
I was traveling approximately 40 miles per hour when I rear ended a vehicle. My airbag deployed, but not as much as I thought it would. The airbag barely hit my upper body and then it seemed 3/4 deflated almost immediately. I don't think the airbag was working properly because I would think from what I've seen that the airbag would have been alot fuller and would have me pinned up against my driver seat, but it did not. I was able to exit my car without a struggle and don't remember even touching the airbag when I exited the vehicle. None of the other airbags deployed, are they supposed to when you get into an accident. I guess I'm lucky that when I hit the vehicle in front of me that the impact was not harder, because I don't believe the airbag would have kept me from hitting the steering wheel with great force or even saving my life. …
Airbag warning light comes on after changing battery. Local mechanics can't turn it off. Dealer wants large amount to "diagnose" the problem. Several other owners have the same issue with the seatbag warning system coming on randomly...very dangerous...and vw knows about the problem. Has been happening for years. The other issue is with the engine...the 2004 Touareg engine blew at less than 50K...dealer said we must have driven the car when it was hot. Just nonsense. Several others have had major problems with the touaregs.. Engine problems and the transmissions/engines surge on slowing down or even speeding up. Tons of problems with the vehicle line and vw America and Germany will not do anything about. The engine blew when it was about 100 degrees outside.. We always service our vehicles regularly.
Tl* - while traveling 40 MPH on a state road another vehicle slid into contact's vehicle, impacting the Volkswagen on the driver's side front fender to the back of the vehicle. Vehicle spun around and the passenger's side struck a guard rail. None of the airbags deployed during the crash. A police report and pictures were taken. Updated 02/06/07.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. While driving at 50 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front driver side seat air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000.
Airbag module defective with only 54,496 miles and a $1200 cost to fix. This is a safety issue! Dash lighting has went on and off for airbag. A washer pump defective, power train transmission jumps and has been an ongoing problem and known problem by Volkswagen but nobody wants to admit the defect problem.
I have a 2004 vw Touareg....it is a well know problem thought all vw service shops as it was sent out in a tsr? I have owned my vw for 2 yrs 8 months, and have already acquired 78000 miles, I drive everywhere...leaving me out of warranty due to mileage.....I have experienced the airbag issue that you have already reported to vw...the driver seat back and forth motion runs over the airbag wire harness causing it to split the wires causing a complete airbag fault...it cost me 425.00 to have this fixed....12.00 parts the rest labor....even the vw repair person I dealt with admitted this is a know issue but no recall has been issued.....why? Is it not safe to assume that your vehicle was equipped with airbags to save your life? Is it not absurd to have your entire system not function due to a 12.00 part that was improperly positioned in the first place? …
2004 vw Touareg v-8 many problems but 3 worth reporting: for no apparent reason passenger door could not be opened or unlatched by using any known means including the inside door handle or outside door handle, electric lock actuator clicks as if the door is unlocked but the door can not be opened or unlatched. Vehicle had to be brought to vw dealership and worked on by destroying the door handle to open the door and perhaps cutting a whole in the body pannel at the cost of 2 hours of diagnostics, 8 hours of labor to open door and probably 2 or 3 additional hours of replacing door handle if body of door is not bent, plus parts vehicle has many electrical glitches including but not limited to intermittent malfunction of air bag igniters....once again having the potential to cause serious harm occupants given the right circumstances this is a potential dangerous situation and has made me …
My 2004 Touareg with less than 5000 miles has been in for servicing 7 times. The brakes have been worked on and looked at three times. They still squeal but the problem has lessened. Of more concern are the safety issues that have affected me. I have been locked out of my vehicle twice, each time with a different resolution. Updated software was the latest fix. My airbag fault light is now on. Another software resolution is on the way. I have no confidence in the quality or safety of this vehicle or when the next issue will arise. Volkswagen told me my car was not problematic and I had "buyers remorse". I am in awe of their lack of concern especially when I know I am not the only Touareg owner out there with problems.
Both right and left side front airbag wiring harnesses required repair within 600 miles of first incident to correct prior repairs to replace harness connectors with spliced wire under voluntary service pack "recall". Both repairs were triggered by airbag fault light on dash. You had done an investigation in 2006 on this. Vw would not cover the repairs because I was "out of warranty". It cost me $600 to fix the problem and I have no assurance from the dealer it won't occur again or that I will need new harnesses or airbag modules.
NHTSA investigations
SRS warning light illumination
My 2004-05 (to 11/2004) touareg vehicles have a potentially faulty/loose side air bag wiring connector that can cause the wiring circuit resistance to exceed the design limit and illuminate the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag light.on 02/2005, vw issued a technical service bulletin (TSB #69-05-02) to address this condition by replacing the connector with a direct connection.vw's testing has shown that…
Airbag complaints in other Touareg years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg, 12% of the model year's 231 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Volkswagen Touareg airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Volkswagen Touareg airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.