Large SUV · 2003–2021 cars

Volkswagen Touareg reliability

The Volkswagen Touareg fails 22.5% of first MOT tests, 26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 139,839 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 74/100#17 of 30 large suvs

Checking a Volkswagen Touareg before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 22.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 26% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 139,839; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 10,100; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Volkswagen Touareg ages

Each point is the share of Volkswagen Touaregs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Volkswagen TouaregAll cars

Volkswagen Touareg first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Volkswagen Touareg	All cars
3	8.9%	12.3%
4	11.9%	14.1%
5	16.6%	16.4%
6	20.4%	19.1%
7	20.3%	22.1%
8	18.5%	25.5%
9	20.5%	28.8%
10	19.8%	31.8%
11	22.7%	34.6%
12	27%	37.3%
13	30.4%	39.5%
14	33.1%	41.1%
15	34.9%	42.3%
16	35.8%	42.9%
17	35.3%	43.4%
18	33.4%	43.5%
19	32.9%	43.4%
20	33.6%	42.8%

By year

The best and worst Volkswagen Touareg years

2014 cars come out best and 2017 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Volkswagen Touareg MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Touareg	1,751	10.3%	23% fewer fails	33,096
2020 Touareg	4,888	8.8%	38% fewer fails	36,513
2019 Touareg	9,983	10.8%	29% fewer fails	41,830
2018 Touareg	6,318	11.6%	30% fewer fails	46,532
2017 Touareg	12,768	20%	2% more fails	56,209
2016 Touareg	14,726	20.1%	13% fewer fails	65,698
2015 Touareg	16,530	20.4%	23% fewer fails	75,185
2014 Touareg	12,464	17.3%	43% fewer fails	86,303
2013 Touareg	9,366	20.4%	39% fewer fails	96,447
2012 Touareg	7,272	21.6%	41% fewer fails	104,761
2011 Touareg	6,590	24.9%	37% fewer fails	114,138
2010 Touareg	2,881	30.8%	26% fewer fails	122,101
2009 Touareg	4,511	33.9%	21% fewer fails	120,772
2008 Touareg	5,920	35%	21% fewer fails	131,902
2007 Touareg	8,414	35.3%	22% fewer fails	136,180
2006 Touareg	7,109	34.6%	25% fewer fails	141,434
2005 Touareg	4,937	36%	22% fewer fails	143,301
2004 Touareg	2,700	34.1%	26% fewer fails	134,896
2003	711	33.8%	26% fewer fails	126,973

Common problems

What fails most on a Volkswagen Touareg

Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 35% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics9%27% below avg
Suspension7.2%28% below avg
Tyres4.9%30% below avg
Brakes4.5%41% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.4%51% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.3%35% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.6%35% above avg
Body, chassis and structure1.1%70% below avg
Steering0.5%76% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.48% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Rear fog lamp not working 2.31% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.71% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.03% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
5
Stop lamp not working 1.03% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
6
Position lamp not working 1.03% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
7
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 0.99% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
8
Diesel engine warning light faulty 0.92% of tests
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen Touareg's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit12.63%
Brake pads wearing thin7.37%
Engine oil leak, not excessive5.48%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.72%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear2.54%
Brake discs showing some wear2.05%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Volkswagen Touareg

1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Volkswagen Touareg covers about 10,100 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel97.6%
Petrol2.2%
Hybrid0.1%
LPG0%
Other0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Black, White, Grey, Blue, Silver

Average engine size: 3.0 litres.

Compare

How the Volkswagen Touareg compares with its rivals

Volkswagen Touareg against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Porsche Cayenne	13.8%	52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Lexus RX	19.2%	43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi Q7	16.8%	41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz M-Class	27%	29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Touareg	22.5%	26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Range Rover Velar	13.7%	13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mitsubishi Shogun	33.1%	11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large suv ranked in the large suv reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.

Questions

Volkswagen Touareg questions, answered

Is the Volkswagen Touareg reliable?

On MOT results, the Volkswagen Touareg is better than average: it fails 22.5% of first MOT tests, 26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 17 of 30 large suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Volkswagen Touareg MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Touareg are coil spring fractured or broken (4.48% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (2.31% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.71% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 9% of its tests.

Which Volkswagen Touareg year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2014 cars do best (43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2017 cars do worst (about average for its age).

How many miles does a Volkswagen Touareg do a year?

A typical Volkswagen Touareg covers about 10,100 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Volkswagen Touareg before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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