Most common 2012 Volkswagen Touareg problems
Share of the 28 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 →
2012 Volkswagen Touareg recalls (2)
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 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 2012 Volkswagen Touareg owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated that there was an abnormal gasoline odor on the driver's side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact looked underneath the vehicle at the gas tank and noticed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel tank onto the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 17V151000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.
While driving my family around, the car lost engine power and came to a stop on a busy roadway leaving us stranded until a tow truck could arrive. There were no warnings or indications that anything was wrong. One minute, it was driving fine and out of nowhere, the engine shut off in the middle of the road leaving us blocking a lane and creating a dangerous situation. The dealership is claiming that the high pressure fuel pump suffered a catastrophic failure and that the entire fuel system needs to be replaced, which is going to cost more than $13,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an oil odor and smoke odor in the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection, the contact observed oil leaking from underneath the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined the diesel particulate filter needed to be replaced but was unable to locate the part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 124,000.
This happened to this my 2012 Touareg. The engine randomly died, even on freeway, which is too dangerous. The previous time in in jan,2018 and this time was on feb, 5th, 2018. I went to vw dealership, they couldn't find out anything. Saying everything is normal and they couldn't suggest anything. But it is extreme unsafe for me to drive this car. The issue randomly happens. Per http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4965979-car-randomly-dies-while-driving-on-freeway, seems this is a common issue among vw vehicles, and people thought it is high pressure fuel pump problem or other relevant parts. Vw should take it seriously and find out the root cause and fix it. Thanks, liang
Steering
After driving the car for approximately 30 minutes without any problems and turning it off, it would not turn the ignition back on, release the parking brake or shift out of P". Several towing companies were unable to tow the vehicle due to the manufacturer's failure to provide instructions on how to release the shifter in case of a problem. Other vehicles have a release button somewhere, the 2012 VW Touareg doesn't. On page 481 of the owners manual VW advises the owner that if you want to have the vehicle towed, the gear shift selection lever must first be released with the emergency procedure. Get professional assistance." The manual doesn't explain what this emergency procedure would be. We had to call 3 different towing companies with professionals who didn't have any clue in regards to the question how to release the shifter. …
I have a 2012 Touareg tdi that has a steering shaking problem which it has exhibited since I purchased it. Vw has tried to rectify the problem by road force balancing and installing new tires but this has not resolved the problem. The steering wheel shakes, or oscillates, when driving at speeds reaching anywhere between 65 and 70 MPH and higher. The oscillation continues up through higher speeds without subsiding. The steering wheel continuously cycles back and forth from left to right with about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. The vibration can be felt and seen when my hands are on the steering wheel.
2012 Volkswagen Touareg engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged hybrid | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Touareg rates average: about as many complaints as 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 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?
The fuel & propulsion system — 8 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (6) and steering (5).
How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg, the most recent from May 16, 2018 (unknown or other). 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 2012 Volkswagen Touareg problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 57% 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.