Short answer
Among Volkswagen Touareg model years through 2024, 2006, 2010 and 2017 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2012 have the most (4). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volkswagen Touareg: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 14 (2004–2017)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 15
- Fewest recalls
- 2006, 2010 and 2017 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2012 (4)
- Most recalled system
- Fuel system, gasoline (10)
Volkswagen Touareg Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | Not rated | Unknown or other |
| 2016 | 2 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Tires |
| 2015 | 3 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Service brakes, hydraulic, Unknown or other |
| 2014 | 3 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Service brakes, hydraulic, Unknown or other |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Service brakes, hydraulic, Unknown or other |
| 2012 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Hybrid propulsion system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Hybrid propulsion system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2010 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2009 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment, Structure |
| 2007 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2005 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
| 2004 | 4 | Not rated | Seat belts, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20171 recall
- 20162 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20124 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20101 recall
- 20092 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20073 recalls
- 20061 recall
- 20052 recalls
- 20044 recalls
Volkswagen Touareg: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volkswagen Touareg recalls are fuel system, gasoline (10), service brakes, hydraulic (6), unknown or other (6), hybrid propulsion system (5) and seat belts (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Volkswagen Touareg Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Touareg?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2006, 2010 and 2017 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Volkswagen Touareg model years have the most recalls?
2004, 2008, 2011 and 2012 have the most, with 4 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Touareg", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy