Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 4% | 45,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 4% | 19,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% | 18,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 11% | 45,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 6% | 130,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 8% | 65,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 11% | 88,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 5% | 95,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 11% | 41,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 14% | 66,000 miles |
| 2005 | 10 | 13% | 70,000 miles |
| 2004 | 50 | 22% | 44,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
For my situation my vehicle shut off by itself while I was driving on the highway at 60 MPH. It has happened 3 times already. The first couple of times the dealer has replaced the battery. After they replaced the battery the dealership told me that the car looks fine. When this happened again for the 3rd time, it really scared me because I was driving on the highway. Before the vehicle shuts off by itself, all of the electronics turned off also. The weird thing about this issue is that after the vehicle is shut off by itself, I am able to restart my vehicle. At this time I brought my car to the dealer to let them check out what is going on. They told me that they couldn't find anything wrong that everything looked right. They will release my vehicle to me this Saturday. My concern is I can take the vehicle back but I don't know when is this problem going to happen again. …
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
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. …
There are intermittent sudden forceful jerks when car is in motion. Also car hesitates when you depress the gas petal at times, like when you are trying to merge into interstate traffic. Also at times, when slowing down to bring the car to a stop, something happens that sounds and feels like you have been hit from behind, or that some underneath your car is breaking off.
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. …
Due to a leak in either the sunroof or the windshield water continuously drips down every time it rains onto the floorboard of the driver side of this vehicle, creating a sopping wet floor board that has 2 inches of water, which in turn soaks the whole electrical system for this vehicle. I mean the water continuously drips from the time you purchase this vehicle until forever I guarantee that anybody who has a v8 version of the 2005 Volkswagen Touareg has a sopping wet driver, side floor board! The water never has a chance to dry, especially in colder climates Mine went into limp mode due to this electrical system, failing. VW MECHANICS told me I needed a whole new engine w! …
I currently own a 2005 v-6 Volkswagen Touareg. The vehicle has less than 15,000 miles. Approximately 3 months after owning vehicle, the vehicle exemplified obvious shifting concerns as well as poor gas mileage. The transmission was replaced in hopes to correct the issues described above, however, it has not improved. I was asked to drive the vehicle for at least another 6 months to a year, to break it in. In this time, my car has worsened. The shifting is more erratic, losing power, jumping gears, and nearly stalling when taking off from a stop and at intersections. As a result of the erratic shifting, I have been nearly rear-ended. My car has been in 5 times for 3 to 8 days at a time. The dealership has not been able to duplicate this issue, since it has replaced the transmission. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Touareg years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (50), 2005 (10) and 2006 (5) model years. Transmission complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Touareg transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Volkswagen Touareg model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Touareg transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles; 51% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (31 mentions), followed by the driveline (6).
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.