Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | 18% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 7% |
| Power train | 2 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 4% |
| Engine | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 si
NHTSA complaint: Electrical 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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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,
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated that there was an abnormal gasoline odor on the driver’s side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact looked underneath the veh
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE SEAT BELT TO LATCH AND BE SECURE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND JULY 2020.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS OWN FLANGE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE EXHAUST HEADER. ULTIMATELY CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND UNDER NORMAL OPERATI
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 ma
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
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.
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 o
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 57 | average |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 5 of them (18%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.