The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg is associated with 44 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 20 reports (45% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3l 6-cyl and 3.6l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 19 to 24 MPG combined. Detailed NHTSA crash-test ratings are not available in the current AutoUtility dataset for this model year.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 44 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Engine (20 / 45%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 0 crash / 0 fire / 1 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: Not rated by NHTSA
- • EPA Efficiency: 19–24 MPG (2 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Touareg Diesel | 3L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $3,300 / yr |
| Touareg | 3.6L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 17 MPG | 23 MPG | 19 MPG | — | $3,250 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| SUV AWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Volkswagen Touareg models.
View complete 2016 Volkswagen Touareg crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Volkswagen Touareg problems & component breakdown (19 categories) →
Affected Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Defect Summary: 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."
Free Manufacturer 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.
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2016 Volkswagen Touareg recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →