Most common 2009 Volkswagen Touareg problems
Share of the 19 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 →
2009 Volkswagen Touareg recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel filter flange if cracks are found. A protective cover will be applied to the fuel filter to prevent oxidization cracks from forming.
Structure › Body
Volkswagen is recalling 14,416 my 2007-2009 touareg vehicles. The fastening struts on the roof edge spoiler can crack, causing the spoiler to become loose and possibly detach from the vehicle without warning, even though initially the spoiler May feel secure.
Remedy: Dealers will install reinforcement wedges to the roof edge spoiler free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2009. Owner May contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg:
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information,…
What 2009 Volkswagen Touareg owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
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.
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.
Steering
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. …
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.
2009 Volkswagen Touareg engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Touareg rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Touareg at the same age. It is one of the best Touareg years by this measure. 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 2009 Volkswagen Touareg?
The fuel & propulsion system — 11 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (3) and transmission & drivetrain (2).
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg, the most recent from March 8, 2017 (fuel system, gasoline). 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 2009 Volkswagen Touareg problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 81,000 miles; 14% 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.