2016 Volkswagen Touareg problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 10, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg, most often about engine. There are 2 recalls for this model year.

Complaints: 26
Recalls: 2
Crashes: 0
Fires: 0
Injuries: 3
Median mileage: 18,293 mi

Key facts

Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 11 of 26 complaints (42%).
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (9) and electrical system (4) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 18,293 mi.
Owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries.
The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg has 2 recalls on file.
It has the most serious complaint record of all 13 Volkswagen Touareg model years we track.
That is 100% more complaints than the 2015 model year (13).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Engine	11
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	6
Unknown or other	5
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	4
Electrical system	4
Structure:body	3
Service brakes	3
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	3

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 Volkswagen Touareg complaints that list mileage.

2016 Volkswagen Touareg recalls (2)

Recall 16V243000Apr 26, 2016366 vehicles
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toureg vehicles manufactured July 7, 2015 to March 3, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. Additionally, the tire pressures printed on the Safety Certification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: If the vehicle is driven on underinflated tires, the tires may fail suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will correct the TPMS settings and replace the safety certification label, free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2016. Volkwagen's number for this recall is 44M9.
Recall 16V170000Mar 24, 201646,574 vehicles
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.
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.

Recent 2016 Volkswagen Touareg complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Nov 13, 2025WABrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
The car will stop (while driving) for no apparent reason. “Phantom Braking”. This is without any known objects/people approaching our vehicle. It’s a part of the electronic automatic braking system but obviously it is not programmed correctly. It is DANGEROUS. A brief review on internet shows these sudden stops have caused accidents (people rear ending vehicle after sudden stops). Cars have also had to move quickly off highway to avoid collision. Another issue: the Panoramic…
NHTSA complaint #11699303 · source
Filed Aug 16, 2025FLDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown
My lane assist camera is not functioning and Volkswagen is telling me the part is now obsolete and can't be repaired. It is part #7p6907217bxz1y. I took it to Pompano Volkswagen on 4/4/24 and have been waiting for the part which has been out of stock and they (Gunther Volkswagen since Pompano closed) just told me on 8/8/25 the part is no longer available and offer no solution to fix this issue. Seems very odd that a car manufacture would be allowed to not supply a…
NHTSA complaint #11681082 · source
Filed May 19, 2025NJBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown
UNKNOWN- simply picking up my kids and various alerts came on the dashboard including the ABS brakes error, Parking brake error, and others that I am not sure of. I just bought this suv on Friday from DCH Acura of Montclair, NJ/ Lithia Motors in Verona, NJ [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11662004 · source
Filed Feb 5, 2025TXDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
Vehicle manufacture (Volkswagon) has quit supplying/manufacturing a safety guidence parts for my auto. 7P6-907-217-BX-Z1Y Collision Avoidance Camera NOT AVAILABLE i would like my anti Self collision guidance repaired, but no parts for my 8-9 year old car. part was on order (from 2024) and notified today NOT available and local car dealership order was cancelled. i might understand if I had hit a 10year threshold, but sure hurts now.
NHTSA complaint #11640977 · source
Filed Jan 21, 2025CADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
My ACC/AEB went out over 2 years ago. At the time this vehicle was out of warranty. The dealer ordered the part (camera) and charged me for it. I waited over a year for the part. During this time VW lost a class action lawsuit regarding this and notified me that this was now going to be covered under warranty. I returned to the dealer to file the warranty claim. Warranty claim is now 6 months old and VW still has no news on getting parts and repairing this safety feature.
NHTSA complaint #11637367 · source
Filed Aug 22, 2024TXDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
car has a design flaw. If car sits in the sun the emergency stop braking system will fail due to heat. The camera/computer board is mounted in the ceiling behind the rearview mirror. when the sun is out the system will fail do to heat. This problem is in Volkswagons, Audi's and Porche's with various models. The issue is described in detail in multiple blogs and car clubs. I bought the car used. I think this system is as important for safety as airbags. As a 2 stage safety…
NHTSA complaint #11610332 · source
Filed Jan 10, 2024NCDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The windshield camera that is responsible for the imaging used for many of the system on the 2016 Touareg is a high failure item and has been constituently backordered from VW. When this camera fails, the advanced systems that were part of this option fail to operate. This includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. The system does provide warning notifications, but they may occur at any time and…
NHTSA complaint #11564741 · source
Filed Sep 10, 2023TXFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
I was driving to lunch one day when my 2016 Volkswagen Touareg TDI stalled in the middle of the road and was not able to be restarted due to a failed CP4 HPFP (High Pressure Fuel Pump) this repair was major and everything that the diesel fuel touches was replaced such as fuel pump, lift pump, all fuel lines, fuel filter canister, injectors, fuel rails, etc…
NHTSA complaint #11543719 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology