Most common 2006 Volkswagen Touareg problems
Share of the 37 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Touareg complaints by model year
Best Touareg years: 2007, 2009, 2011. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005, 2016. Compare all years →
2006 Volkswagen Touareg recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filter flange for cracks, replacing the flange if cracks are found. If no cracks are found, a protective cover will be installed onto the filter flange.
What 2006 Volkswagen Touareg owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
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.
Vehicle was smelling like gas - thought it was due to running over debris but no damage to tank found in inspection. Mechanic removed tank shields and straps and found that the fuel pump flange was leaking due to a crack and needed to be replaced along with connector seal. Car owner has the part if it needs to be sent in for review. Did research and noticed that 2007-2010 vw Touareg's were recalled for this exact issue (https://www.NHTSA.gov/vehicle/2007/Volkswagen/Touareg/4%252520dr/AWD#recalls). Want to ensure that this recall should not be widened as research on several vw owner sites have noted this same issue with more years. Owner called vw to put in complaint but was told the car is not under recall and that there is nothing they could do. Mechanic bill attached - part is in owner's possession for review if needed.
Electrical system
I am an automobile insurance adjuster. A 2006 vw Touareg belonging to one of my customers caught fire at his work. He had taken the car to lunch, then back to work. 30 minutes after his return to work, the engine caught fire. The fire department put it out. Both a Volkswagen representative and a forensics engineer hired by the insurance company have inspected the damage. The preliminary finding is a faulty ignition coil. It appears vw is going to 'total' this customer's car under warranty, and pay for its replacement. This complaint is only to alert NHTSA that the ignition coil May be a known issue affecting additional vw vehicles.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain
I own a 2006 vw Touareg. It has only 54K miles and has never been driven off road. It has been a family car and bought new in 2006. Just yesterday sept 2009 I left a parking lot and began accelerating when it sounded like and felt like the car lost the front two tires. I quickly pulled over thinking I would see blown tires but saw nothing. Got back in drove a 100 feet to have the same noise and shaking. I pulled over and had it towed to nearest vw shop. Found out the drive shaft was shot. $1100 for the part and only $65 to install new drive shaft. Mechanic thought it was interesting that the local vw dealer happen to have one in stock. He thought it meant they must be having this problem with a lot of touaregs. I am going to call vw in hopes that they will take some responsibility. Is this not an off road vehicle? They sure market it as one. …
I noticed a small vibration coming from the bottom around the middle of the vehicle. When I took it to a mechanic I was told that the hanger bearing and that the hanger bearing is not an available part hat the entire driveshaft needs to be replaced for $1,400.! The car is only two weeks out of warranty with only 51,000 miles so I took it to Volkswagen. Volkswagen said that they will not fix it under warranty because I am two weeks out but, if I had been a loyal customer, meaning if I had all my service done by vw they would have covered it! Really! So in other words they don't stand by there product unless you get your oil changed by them! Anyway after doing extensive research on this problem on Volkswagen forums it seems that this problem is very common on the vehicles and it happens at low mileage. …
2006 Volkswagen Touareg engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 10-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Touareg rates average: 15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Touareg at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg?
The fuel & propulsion system — 13 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (7) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg, the most recent from September 20, 2017 (fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Touareg?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2009 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2005 and 2016. See the full Volkswagen Touareg years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Volkswagen Touareg problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.