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2004 Volkswagen Touareg Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg, most often about the transmission (22% of complaints, typically around 44,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Touareg model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2004 Volkswagen Touareg problems
Transmission
50 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, transfer case (4-wheel drive), manual transmission.
Multiple engine light failures for over 4 years. Engine light came on and engine shut down immediately while wife was on the freeway. Very dangerous...essentially no warning. Have replaced wiring harness in the vehicle and have had it in the shop for electrical issues many times. Unsafe handling and acceleration...car…
I have a 2004 Touareg and have been having transmission issues hard shifts, bucking and hard downshifts. I have taken this to the vw dealer and they say there is nothing wrong with the transmission. It is very very dangerous when access the highway and in several cases it shifts so hard that it knocks it's self out…
Electrical
49 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition, horn.
: the contact stated a week after having the transmission replaced by the service dealer, the vehicle was driven 60 MPH on the highway, and the engine warning message read "turn the motor off immediately", as the electrical system failed and stalled the engine. The contact was able to steer and coast to a stop on the…
The esp light came on steady and the lights around the differential switch came on flashing. Then the vehicle lost electrical power and would not start. I had it towed into the dealer and the service people indicated there were numerous recalls on this vehicle that caused this problem. I was never notified of these…
Wheels and tires
39 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles. Parts named most often: pressure monitoring and regulating systems, tread/belt, sidewall.
Door handles stick on all four doors. Last year, my husband was in the passenger seat as I went around a corner, the passenger door flung open and my husband almost fell out. Luckily he was wearing his seat belt. The door handles were replaced by the dealership. However, the door handles have started sticking again. I…
Consumers vehicle is experiencing erratic shifting. When accelerating from a stop car will hesitate and jerk. This problem seems to only occure whil the transmission is in lower gears. The vehicle has been taken to the deler at least three times but they have not been able to locate or fix the problem. The consuemr…
Fuel system
33 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, delivery.
There was a recall issued on my vehicle back on september 20th 2017, I called the dealership on october 23rd 2017 to find out a resolution to this problem, they advised there was not a remedy yet but would contact me when there was. It has not been almost 6 months since the recall was issued with no contact from…
I received a letter from Volkswagen of america, in march of 2018, stating that there is a safety recall 20ai-fuel pump flange for my make and model of vehicle. I had already had that repair done, due to a severe leak in my fuel pump (gas was pouring out of the bottom of the vehicle as as fast as I was pumping the gas…
Engine
29 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. While driving at 45 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the brake pedal was difficult to depress. The contact had to…
: the contact stated that the vehicle stalled completely while driving at 5 MPH, and the starter motor would not engage when the key was turned to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer where the dealer was unable to determine the problem.
Air bags
27 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I have a 2004 vw Touareg....it is a well know problem thought all vw service shops as it was sent out in a tsr? I have owned my vw for 2 yrs 8 months, and have already acquired 78000 miles, I drive everywhere...leaving me out of warranty due to mileage.....I have experienced the airbag issue that you have already…
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. While driving at 50 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front driver side seat air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure…
Speed control
22 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Dt: the consumer stated that 2004, Volkswagen toureg experienced loss of acceleration when pulling out. When the car is started in the mornings it is fine, but after the car sits for a couple of hours it starts having a delay in the acceleration when pulling out. This has been happening for a couple of months. The car…
2004 Volkswagen Touareg that hesitates upon acceleration from a cold start approximately 20% of the time. This hesitation presents a hazard to both passengers in the Touareg and passengers in vehicles of oncoming traffic. Vehicle begins to accelerate then hesitates. It is impossible to determine when this might occur.…
Brakes
20 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist, foundation components.
6/04 & 9/04 - took vehicle in to dealership to check brake efficiency & squealing noise. Both times dealership reported no problem and brake noise was created by brake dust & was normal. 2/05 - brakes failed and caused car accident.
Volkswagen 2004 Touareg sport utility 4d has serious alignment problems resulting in premature tire wear on all 4 tires! Front 2 tires are down to metal showing with only 19,880 miles. Car has been in for all scheduled services and rotations. Almost lost control of car while driving! Also, pre-mature wear of front &…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Volkswagen Touareg recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filter flange for cracks, replacing the flange if cracks are found. If no cracks are found, a protective cover will be installed onto the filter flange. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began march 9, 2018. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20ai.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Seat belts
Risk: When involved in a crash, the child restraints may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injuries or death.
Fix: Dealers will permanently install a 'clip' in each of the two rear outboard seat belts. The clips will prevent unwanted deactivation of the alr mode with child seat installations. The recall began on april 11, 2005. Owners should contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." all three rear seat positions and the front passenger position are equipped with seat belt retractors that have a locking feature which converts the retractor from an emergency locking retractor (elr) mode to an automatic locking retractor (alr) mode for the purposes of child restraint installation. The belt may deactivate the alr mode with certain child restraints.
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the belt buckle. Owner notification began on june 21, 2004. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, the rear seat belt latch attachment bolt may have been insufficiently riveted.
Electrical: wiring
Risk: If this happens, the TPMS wiring circuit could be interrupted, resulting in an inoperative TPMS, and causing a short-to-ground condition that could potentially result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the TPMS wiring harness routing and, if necessary, correct the wiring harness routing. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-893-5298.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) wiring harness may have been improperly routed during assembly. An improperly routed TPMS wiring harness may contact the parking brake cable spring.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Srs warning light illumination
Summary
My 2004-05 (to 11/2004) touareg vehicles have a potentially faulty/loose side air bag wiring connector that can cause the wiring circuit resistance to exceed the design limit and illuminate the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag light.on 02/2005, vw issued a technical service bulletin (tsb #69-05-02) to address this condition by replacing the connector with a direct connection.vw's testing has shown that proper deployment of the side air bag is not affected by the connector fault.however, there are a large number of warranty claims due to air bag light (abl) illumination.vw is planning to initiate a touareg service pack/ customer satisfaction campaign (csc) in december 2006.vw will
Exterior door handle malfunction
Summary
Vw issued a technical service bulletin (tsb) dated june 10, 2005, describing a condition of exterior door handle sticks in the opened position after the door is opened.vw described the cause of the problem to be a potential for increased friction between the door handle and the lock cylinder housing . . . Because some guide nubs that were molded into the plastic door handle . . . Were slightly higher than specified.in addition to the tsb, vw has introduced production changes (lubrication, deletion of the guide nubs, introduction of a low friction guide surface on the lock cylinder housing) to address the problem.vw reports that the failure occurs predominantly in the very early life stage of
Questions about the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (50 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles); electrical (49 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); wheels and tires (39 complaints, typically around 15,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 20, 2017 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Volkswagen Touareg?
- It is the most complained-about Touareg model year since 2000, with 231 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.