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2016 Volkswagen Touareg problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 45owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 22%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Volkswagen Touareg year on file: 45 complaints, against an average of 26 for the other 5 model years.
Every Volkswagen Touareg model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?
The components named most often in the 45 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 Volkswagen Touareg owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 45 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSABrake pedal may fail and make hard braking impossible
Risk: On affected vehicles the retaining clip for the pivot shaft of the brake pedal bearing may have inadvertently been lost during assembly. Movement of the shaft may affect braking efficiency and in extreme cases cause loss of braking.
Fix: Inspect pivot shaft mounting and where necessary fit a new clip.
UK DVSAFire may occur
Risk: Water ingress may gather in the spare wheel well may accumulate and cause the battery to short circuit.In extreme cases this could cause a fire.
Fix: On affected vehicles fit an additional drain valve to the spare wheel well.
EU Safety GateThe screw connection between the steering shaft and the steering box may not have been tightened sufficiently and may loosen over time.This will impair the vehicle’s steerability, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateCars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general…Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateIt is possible that the wheel bolts were not tightened with the correct torque which could result in the loss of the wheel.Also, the running direction of the tyres may not have been taken into account when the winter tyres were fitted which could have a negative effect on driving stability.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe brake pedal pivot pin may become dislodged with the consequence that it is no longer possible to activate the brakes fully.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2016, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2016 Volkswagen Touareg owners report?
12 of the 45 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The interior door release mechanism broke, trapping my wife in the driver's seat and unable to open the door. Our VW dealer was not able to evaluate the broken mechanism for several days so we took the vehicle to a local repair shop. A disabled senior [XXX] was unable to exit the vehicle, unable to climb over the center console or into the back seat which is a serious safety issue. The outside door handle release was still functional and I was able to open the door. If I were not at home, my wife would have had to call a neighbor, police or fire department to free her from the vehicle…
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 Sunroof has had frequent issues with water leaks. We’ve already had to pay for one such leak ($1000) and now face…
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 replacement part or be able to fix the problem for a car that is 8 years old. Especially for such an important feature like lane…
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)
Rear viewing camera does not display when vehicle is placed in reverse.
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…
Random engine hesitancy reducing acceleration while driving. Vehicle maintained by the dealer for all scheduled maintenance and service visits. Within 30 days of a manufacture's repair that dealt with the HVAC and air filter AND a service visit to change oil and rotate tires, the hesitancy during driving was more pronounced. The dealer's service center stated the air filter was flooded from an HVAC leak and a clog. I have found similar owners have had problems like this and VW will not address it systemically. I otherwise enjoy my vehicle, but am concerned that it will not accelerate when…
There was a big rain last week locally. I drove through a couple big puddles but nothing that's super uncommon for the area. Almost immediately, my car's electric components started going crazy. ACC stopped working completely. Lane assists aren't working. There was an error that I think was shift lock, but it was red, and the car was driving really weird.
Electronic Parking Brake lever light was flashing and dashboard showed parking brake error message. Drove car to VW Dealership, which diagnosed problem as likely bad Parking Brake Control Module (Part J540). Dealership ordered part, and stated I could drive car home. Within 1 mile of dealership, parking brake engaged automatically abruptly slowing car and error flashed on dash stating "Disengage Parking Brake." Pulled over, turned car off and back on, which disengaged parking brake. Returned to dealership and left car until it could be repaired. Had I been on the interstate traveling at a…
NTHSA folks, Two months ago, I began getting an "Error Airbag" amber warning in the Touareg's driver-information display. I visited the dealer and was told "the airbag module" (volkswagen-2016-volkswagen-touareg-control-module-7p0959655g08p) was the issue. I was told they'd order the part, only to hear back later: "There are none in the U.S. and it'll take 5-8 weeks to get one from. Europe." This has since been updated with "We have no idea if or when this part will be available." As a consequence, it appears I must simply wonder whether the airbags will deploy if needed, which strikes me (no…
2016 Touareg was towed to OStein VW service after engine would not accelerate and ran rough when got onto the interstate. OStein VW diagnostic was water into the air filter that got into engine and now need to replace engine block because of water getting into the air filter from the rain drain system system getting clogged for the Touareg. VW Service says can hear engine valves chattering. I see at NHTSA that at least 60 other complaints have been filed about this problem of water getting into the air filter.
AFTER LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, AND OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE(S) FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, RENDERING THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INACTIVE. THE NATURE OF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN VOLKSWAGENS IS SUCH THAT IF ONE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, NONE WILL - THUS, THE 'FRONT ASSIST' COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM IS NO LONGER ACTIVE, WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ACTIVE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY IN THE TOUAREG. IN ADDITION, BASIC SPEED MODULATION OF CONVENTIONAL CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO UNAVAILABLE. THE RELIABILITY OF BASIC SYSTEMS SUCH AS CRUISE…
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2016 Volkswagen Touareg: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg; the most common categories were engine (22, 48.9%), forward collision avoidance (8, 17.8%), electrical system (5, 11.1%). There are 2 safety recalls. 3 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?
Across 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (48.9% of complaints), forward collision avoidance (17.8% of complaints), electrical system (11.1% of complaints), service brakes (11.1% of complaints), structure (8.9% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg; the most recent (campaign 16V243000, 2016-04-26) concerns Tires: Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg had engine failures?
5 of the 45 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg (11.1%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "2016 Touareg was towed to OStein VW service after engine would not accelerate and ran rough when got onto the interstate. OStein VW diagnostic was water into the air filter that got into engine and now need to replace engine block because of water getting…" (NHTSA complaint 11421686, June 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does water leak into my 2016 Volkswagen Touareg?
5 of the 45 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg (11.1%) describe water leaks into the cabin, sunroof or trunk. One owner wrote: "Sunroof leaking moisture into car and vw refuses to repair under warranty. mold growing in a enclosed environment could be toxic." (NHTSA complaint 11330385, June 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 Volkswagen Touareg stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
4 of the 45 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg (8.9%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "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…" (NHTSA complaint 11543719, September 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Touareg
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2016 only.