Does the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg, the most recent reported on May 16, 2018 (Unknown or other). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?

Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is fuel/propulsion system (6 complaints), followed by engine (5).

How many 2012 Volkswagen Touareg complaints mention a crash or fire?

1 of 28 complaints report a crash and 0 a fire; 3 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2012 Volkswagen Touareg recalls and problems

2 recalls and 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg.

recalls

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2012 Volkswagen Touareg recalls

Unknown or other

NHTSA campaign 18V329000 · reported May 16, 2018 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 252 vehicles potentially affected

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

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

NHTSA campaign 16V170000 · reported March 24, 2016 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 46,574 vehicles potentially affected

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

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Fuel/propulsion system6
Engine5
Steering5
Electrical system4
Power train3
Air bags2
Seat belts2
Service brakes2
Electronic stability control (ESC)1
Engine and engine cooling1

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

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…

Feb 20, 2025 · 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. When I pulled over to see what had happened I realized the right side mirror had exploded. The glass was completely gone with only the glue left on the back plate…

Dec 27, 2024 · 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. One minute, it was driving fine and out of nowhere, the engine shut off in the middle of the road leaving us…

Oct 3, 2023 · Engine and engine cooling · 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an oil odor and smoke odor in the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection, the contact observed oil leaking from underneath the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle…

Aug 23, 2023 · Air bags · 178,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt unintendedly unlatched while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the contact stated that the clockspring was defective, causing several failures with the vehicle. The contact stated while tilting the steering wheel…

Touareg model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2009	2	19	0	0
2010	1	25	1	1
2011	2	16	1	0
2012	2	28	1	0
2013	2	30	1	0
2014	2	27	1	2
2015	2	24	0	0

Across all years, the 2004 Touareg has the most complaints (231). All Volkswagen Touareg years →

Questions

Does the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg, the most recent reported on May 16, 2018 (Unknown or other). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?: Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is fuel/propulsion system (6 complaints), followed by engine (5).
How many 2012 Volkswagen Touareg complaints mention a crash or fire?: 1 of 28 complaints report a crash and 0 a fire; 3 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received March 23, 2026.