Volkswagen Touareg Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Touareg should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg has the most documented problems with a problem score of 9 — driven by 3 recalls, 0 complaints.

Q: What is the best year Touareg to buy?

The 2005 Volkswagen Touareg is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 3, meaning 1 recall and 0 complaints on record.

Q: Which Touareg has the fewest problems?

The 2005, 2010, 2017 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Volkswagen Touareg model year (2004–2017) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Volkswagen Touareg Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2004

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 9

#2 WORST

2007

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 6

#3 WORST

2008

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 6

Best Volkswagen Touareg Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2005

1 recall · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 3

#2 BEST

2010

1 recall · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 3

#3 BEST

2017

1 recall · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 3

Found the right year? Verify that specific Touareg with a free VIN report.

Volkswagen Touareg — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2017	1	—	—	3	Good
2016	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2015	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2014	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2013	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2012	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2011	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2010	1	—	—	3	Good
2009	2	—	—	6	Avoid
2008	2	—	—	6	Avoid
2007	2	—	—	6	Avoid
2006	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2005	1	—	—	3	Good
2004	3	—	—	9	Avoid

All 14 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Volkswagen Touareg Shopping Guide by Era

2013–2017

Best: 2016

Mid-decade Touareg units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2016 shows the lowest problem count for this era.

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Touareg models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Touareg should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg if possible. It has 3 recalls, 0 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 9 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Touareg to buy?+

The 2005 Volkswagen Touareg is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 3. It has only 1 recall and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Touareg has the fewest problems?+

The 2005, 2010, 2017 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Volkswagen Touareg Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Volkswagen Touareg.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Volkswagen Touareg.

Check a Specific Volkswagen Touareg VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →