2017 Volkswagen Touareg Safety Report
2017 Volkswagen Touareg Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (24) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2015 | Compare against the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg with 24 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg before buying across this generation. |
Volkswagen Touareg Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Volkswagen Touareg years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Volkswagen Touareg | 44 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Volkswagen Touareg | 24 | 2 | Use as a comparable safety baseline. |
2017 Volkswagen Touareg Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Volkswagen onlyUnknown Or Other,Engine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Volkswagen onlyUnknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Volkswagen onlySeats
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Seats issues Volkswagen onlyService Brakes
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Volkswagen onlyPower Train,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Volkswagen onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
Reliability Score
The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg receives a reliability score of 75 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Oil Consumption The engine is consuming excessive oil, leading to internal damage and potential engine failure. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Power Train Failure The power train has been severely impacted, rendering it non-operational and requiring immediate dealer inspection. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Water Ingress Into Air Filter Water is entering the air filter, causing engine damage and shutdown. This issue is recurring and needs urgent attention. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Adaptive Cruise Control Failure The adaptive cruise control intermittently fails, causing the cruise control to disengage, posing a safety risk. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg:
Engine oil consumption and power train failure are the most common issues.
Water ingress into the air filter is a significant recurring issue.
Adaptive cruise control failure is an occasional issue.
Unknown issues with the electrical system are reported.
Recall Details for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg by NHTSA:
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
I purchased a 2017 Volkswagen Touareg V6 in October 2023. A problem with the vehicle revealed itself right away. It was consuming too much oil. Oil splatter is present on the hood, the car doors, the back bumper and built up oil residue is present in both tailpipes. Oil has to be added in about three week intervals. The vehicle is displaying the same issues as the vehicles recalled under recall nu...
The vehicle has an internal oil drain system that slowly leaks oil past the pistons into the combustion chamber of the engine causing the engine to burn oil. This is very dangerous when smoke exits the vehicle from the exhaust and into the air that could be inhaled by others. This same issue over time can cause an engine fire after the exhaust system is entirely clogged by the burned oil residue i...
Exhaust line for cylinders 4-6 developed crack immediately before catalytic converter. Problem has occurred in other Touaregs, there is even a recall for 2014 models. Crack allows exhaust to leak nearby air intake to cabin. Noticeable exhaust smell inside cabin, especially when stopped. No warning, just check engine light after the crack. Crack along thin weld, leading right into the catalytic con...
While using Adaptive Cruise Control, vehicle intermittently displays "ACC not available" cruise control completely disengages and does not allow for traditional cruise control functions. Typically ACC begins to function again after about 5 mins or by powering off and powering on vehicle. Vehicle has never been in an accident. All incidents occur in Southern California. Situation when it diseng...
When coming to a stop with the AutoHold activated, sometimes it comes to an abrupt stop instead of a smooth stop. Also when you have Autohold engaged, when you come to a stop and put the car in park, disconnect the seatbelt the parking brake engages(expected), however when you turn the car off (after you've already removed your foot from the break pedal) it slightly releases and reengages the br...
Power seat reclining function on passenger and driver side. Due to the top of the adjustment lever being positioned too close to the top of the set cushion, if you sit on the edge of the seat, the seat back will continue to recline until you get up if you notice it or it hits the back seat bottom cushion. if there is a child in the back seat it could cause injury. My daughter almost had her legs...
While driving the power train was seriously impacted, it is no longer operational and available for inspection at the dealer now. This is absolutely a safety risk as there was power loss and inconsistency which could have been very dangerous depending on the level of control required by the traffic conditions. The dealer has diagnosed and insurance is scheduled to inspect. the manufacturer has bee...
In a non-driving environment rain water drains off the hood of the vehicle, down the right headlight and drains directly into the vehicle's intake pipe. In turn, this rain water collects in the intake air filter box, destroys the air filter and allows water to enter the combustion chamber causing erratic engine performance and untold engine damage due to the violent shuddering and erratic idle. T...
WATERLOGGED AIRFILTER - CAR WAS SERVICED EXACTLY ONE WEEK PRIOR TO ISSUE, AND SERVICE DIRECTOR ACCUSED ME OF DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. WHILE I HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH PROGRESSIVELY BAD WEATHER IN FL FOR YEARS, I EXPLAINED THAT I DIDN'T THAT WEEK AND ASKED IF THIS COULD BE DUE TO ACCUMULATION WHICH WAS OVERSEEN PRIOR, BUT HE DENIED. $1000.00 LATER, I AM UNCLEAR HOW THIS OCCURRED AND HOW TO PRE...
THE AIR INTAKE IS COLLECTING WATER AND GETTING INTO THE AIR FILTER HOUSING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUCK IN WATER, DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THERE IS A RECALL AT VW CHINA BUT VW NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. WE ASSUMED IT WAS A CRACKED WASHER FLUID TANK. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING DURING SERVICE APPOINTMENT. TECHNICIAN MENTIONED NOTHING OF THE WATER IN THE FILTER AREA. OVER NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS THE SAME PUDDLE NOTICED WHICH WE ASSUMED IT WAS MERELY HVAC CONDENSATION DUE TO US LIVING IN HIGH HUMIDITY REGION...
MY CAR ENGINE TRANSMISSION/FAULT LIGHTS CAME ON AND I BROUGHT IT INTO DEALER, WHO IDENTIFIED A WET, MOLDY AIR FILTER AND WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAMBER. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP, BUT I CHECKED AIR FILTER AGAIN TODAY AFTER A STEADY RAIN WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE BOX HAD WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF IT. ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS I NOTICED WERE CONDENSATION ON I...
WATER IS GETTING INTO AIRBOX, SOAKING THE ENGINE AIR FILTER.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2017 VW TOUAREG SPORT. WATER IS ENTERING THE AIR FILTER COMPARTMENT. IF WATER ENTERS THE ENGINE IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE CAR POSSIBLY IN TRAFFIC CAUSING A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION, IN ADDITION THE ENGINE WILL BE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE IS LIKE NEW AND 100% FACTORY EQUIPPED. THIS IS A FLAW IN DESIGN. I BECAME AWARE OF THE SITUATION WHILE CHANGING THE AIR FILTER. AFTER RESEARCHING...
WITH FAMILY IN VEHICLE THE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED DURING A RAIN STORM. CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART AND WAS ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR LENGTH OF TIME AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART. CAR RESTARTED AND THE IDLE WAS ROUGH AND KEPT HESITATING WAS NOT ABLE TO GET VEHICLE ABOVE 15 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM ADDED F FUEL ADDITIVE. UPON DRIVING HOME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN L...
ENGINE AIR INTAKE DESIGN IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING WITH WATER. A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER WILL COLLECT IN THE INTAKE TUBE BEHIND THE FRONT GRILL. THE DRAIN INSTALLED IN THE INTAKE TUBE IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH FOR HIGH VOLUMES OF WATER IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH AS IN A THUNDERSTORM. THE DRAIN ALSO CLOGS EASILY WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. THE WATER THEN MIGRATES INTO THE AIR FILTER BOX, WHERE IT CAN ...
THE ENGINE AIR FILTER BOX GETS FLOODED WITH WATER WHICH COULD LEAD TO ENTERING WATER IN THE ENGINE AND SEIZE THE ENGINE OPERATION. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAPPENS TO MULTIPLE TOUAREG OWNERS AND VW OF AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE VW OF EUROPE AND CHINA RE-CALLED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!
WATER GETTING IN THE ENGINE AIR FILTER BOX, AND SATURATING AIR FILTER. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN, OR THROUGH ANY PUDDLES.PROBLEM WAS FOUND AT DEALER OIL CHANGE SERVICE
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING WATER DAMAGE TO THE AIR FILTER. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS IS FROM A CAR WASH, DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR THE VEHICLE SITTING IN THE RAIN. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG AN ONLINE WEBSITE FORUM.
AIR INTAKE SYSTEM LETS WATER INTO THE ENGINE WHICH CAN CAUSE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. I INSPECTED THE AIR FILTER ON MY CAR TO EVALUATE IT FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE BOTTOM OF THE FILTER WAS SOAKED AFTER A CAR WASH. IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE THE WASH. VOLKSWAGEN HAS RECALLED THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THIS ISSUE IN GERMANY A...
Showing 20 of 24 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
Has the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG have?
The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG has 24 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG involve engine (14 complaints), unknown or other,engine (3 complaints), unknown or other,forward collision avoidance (1 complaints). Other affected components include seats, service brakes, power train,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG have?
There are no fire reports for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG.
Should I buy a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 24 complaints, 1 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG are: 1. ENGINE (14 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (3 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints), 4. SEATS (1 complaints), 5. SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 14 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
Be cautious of engine oil consumption and power train issues. Ensure regular maintenance to prevent water ingress into the air filter and cruise control failures. The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG has 24 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG receives a reliability score of 75/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 24 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Oil Consumption and Power Train Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG?
Known issues with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG include: Engine Oil Consumption, Power Train Failure, Water Ingress into Air Filter, Adaptive Cruise Control Failure. These are based on patterns found across 24 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What is the most common issue with the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg?
Engine oil consumption is the most common issue.
Can water ingress into the air filter cause engine damage?
Yes, water can damage the engine and cause shutdown.
What should I do if I experience cruise control failure?
Have the vehicle inspected by a dealer to address the issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine oil consumption and power train issues. Ensure regular maintenance to prevent water ingress into the air filter and cruise control failures.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Volkswagen Touareg
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg. The data includes 24 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16