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2012 Volkswagen Touareg

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Steering complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2026
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 cas…

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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. The fourth company came with special equipment which allowed to tow the vehicle with the shifter in „P“ The dealership found that the ESL module (electronic steering lock) was faulty, which could be a safety issue, especially if it actuates while driving the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11726250

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2016
Steering

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DURING HIGH WAY DRIVING. MOSTLY HAPPENS AROUND 80 MPH, HAVE DONE THE ROAD FORCE BALANCING AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. THE POWER STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAS A WEAK ASSISTANT TO TURN BACK TO CENTER. HERE IS A YOUTUBE LINK OF DEMONSTRATION OF STEERING SHAKE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GQIK_KW7KGG

NHTSA ODI #10854971

13,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Steering

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 7…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610742

850 miles · Apr 10, 2013
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 99% OF THE TIME. THE SPEED AT WHICH THIS OCCURS IS IN THE RANGE OF 65-80 MPH. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505743

400 miles · Nov 12, 2012
Steering

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS AND WHICH NECESSITATES CONSTANT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER TO HOLD THE CAR STRAIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484035

Official recalls

2

18V329000 · Unknown Or Other

May 16, 2018

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. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

16V170000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Mar 24, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46G4.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA11003 · High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Feb 7, 2011 · Closed Mar 27, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

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, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

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, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

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, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.