Representative model. Photo: OSX, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Volkswagen Touareg recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 4
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 28
Latest campaign: May 16, 2018

Recall summary by component4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Unknown or other	1	May 16, 2018	18V329000
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	Mar 24, 2016	16V170000
Hybrid propulsion system	1	Jan 25, 2016	16V035000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Jan 20, 2015	15V019000

Safety recalls4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

May 16, 2018Latest campaign


May 16, 201818V329000	Unknown or other If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V329000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Touareg Campaign NHTSA 18V329000 · May 16, 2018
Mar 24, 201616V170000	Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V170000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Touareg Campaign NHTSA 16V170000 · Mar 24, 2016
Jan 25, 201616V035000	Hybrid propulsion system An electrical short in the high voltage battery increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V035000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Touareg Hybrid vehicles manufactured March 20, 2010, to April 11, 2015. The hybrid battery tray may not drain water sufficiently. If water collects in the hybrid battery tray, it may cause an electrical short in the high voltage battery. Risk An electrical short in the high voltage battery increases the risk of a fire. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a fitted drain valve to allow water to drain properly, free of charge. The recall began late February 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this 53B8. Filed under Touareg Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 16V035000 · Jan 25, 2016
Jan 20, 201515V019000	Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system fuel rail A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 15V019000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak. Risk A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers. Filed under Touareg Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 15V019000 · Jan 20, 2015

Merged from NHTSA model names: Touareg, Touareg Hybrid. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2012 Volkswagen Touareg? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component28

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

28Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

3Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system	6	21	0	0
Steering	5	18	0	0
Engine	5	18	0	0
Electrical system	4	14	0	0
Power train	3	11	0	0
Seat belts	2	7	0	0
Air bags	2	7	1	1
Fuel system	2	7	0	0
Service brakes	2	7	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	1	4	0	0
Gasoline	1	4	0	0
Vehicle speed control	1	4	0	0
Wheels	1	4	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	4	0	0
Exterior lighting	1	4	0	0

2 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

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“.”
Filed 03/23/2026 · ODI 11726250
Electrical system
“I was driving to church on the morning of 2/16/25 when I heard a very loud “Boom.” I thought something had hit the car. It sounded like a gun going off.”
Filed 02/20/2025 · ODI 11643863
Fuel/propulsion system
“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.”
Filed 12/27/2024 · ODI 11632714

Other Volkswagen Touareg model years

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2012 Volkswagen Touareg recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The most recent, 18V329000 (reported May 16, 2018), concerns unknown or other. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?

Fuel/propulsion system is the most-reported component, named in 6 complaints out of 28 filed with NHTSA (21%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.

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