2008 Volkswagen Touareg Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2008 Volkswagen Touareg most often describe gasoline odors and fuel leaks near the tank and fuel pump, and several of these mention the fuel filter flange recall. Other common complaints involve headlight wiring insulation breaking down and intake manifolds splitting under the hood. Mileage in these complaints ranges from very low to about 162,000 miles, and several describe the fuel smell while the car is parked.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Gasoline smell and fuel leaks near the tank and pump

   • 20 complaints (36%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2024

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor inside the cabin, around the outside of the car, or in the garage, and some see fuel dripping or pooling under the rear or the driver-side tank. Complaints mention a cracked fuel pump housing, a detached fuel filter flange, and a leak at the top of a tank near the fuel pump. According to complaints, the dealer or an independent shop found a leaking fuel line or a failed fuel pump, and in some cases the owner was told the repair would be at their own cost. A complaint describes an engine compartment fire that the owner links to a fuel leak. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 70 to 162,000 miles, and several describe the smell while the car is parked or stopped.

   Recall 17V151000Recall 08V035000

   What to check: Ask whether either the fuel filter flange recall (17V151) or the fuel supply line recall (08V035) applies to the vehicle and was completed, and have the fuel tank, pump area, and fuel lines checked for odor or wet spots. A smell that appears with the car parked is worth checking before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On december 28, 2020 I detected the distinct odor of gasoline outside of the driver's side of our 2008 vw Touareg while it was stationary, not running. Later while driving the pungent odor was also discernable within the vehicle. A picture of the tank reflects wetness on the driver's side. This morning during a call to donaldson's vw service, they responded that there are no open recalls for this vehicle regarding a fuel leak, for which a history of recalls exist. Is it possible that a prior recall service requires incremental remediation? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11385438, filed 2020-12, 78,000 miles

   “For the last 2 weeks, I started to have a smell of gas on the driver side of my car from outside. Progressively, the smell has get stronger and stronger, getting also inside the car. I put the car on a lift and realize that the entire fuel tank on the driver side located below the rear seat was covered by gas leak. It is also spilling on the exhaust system that is just on the side of that tank at extremely hot temperature. This is surely a scenario for disaster. The leak is coming from the top of the left side tank at the fuel pump location. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10664668, filed 2014-12, 75,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel recall repair delays and out-of-pocket charges

   • 15 complaints (27%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe the fuel filter flange recall (NHTSA 17V151, called 20Z4 by the manufacturer) as still unresolved, not carried out on the vehicle, or only partly repaired. Some owners say they were asked to pay for a diagnostic, for extra fuel-related parts such as a pump or sensor, or for the recall work itself. An owner who had recall work done later noticed a rattle and gasoline smell, and a complaint asks whether an earlier recall service may need further steps. Where mileage is given, these complaints fall between about 70,000 and 87,000 miles, and several were filed while the recall repair was still pending.

   Recall 17V151000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the open recall status for this vehicle's VIN and whether the fuel filter flange work was done. Get any repair charges in writing before agreeing to them.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I don't believe the recall was performed on this vehicle, but they say it was done now they want me to pay for it. I would like a investigation without me having to pay for it since my vehicle did not exhibit those symptoms or characteristics prior to having the service recall done.”

   NHTSA complaint #11218187, filed 2019-06

   “There is current safety recall 20z4 for fuel filter flange and my car is in the shop now to get it fixed however there are additional repirs needed and I wonder if these additonal repairs are related to the recent recall since they all pertain to fuel. The additional repairs are replace both fuel sensor/pipe and high pressure pump. The dealership has told me this will cost me about $1700. The recall letter I received has NHTSA#17v151.”

   NHTSA complaint #11032818, filed 2017-10
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight wiring insulation breaking down

   Mentioned in 5 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the insulation on wires inside the headlight and turn signal assemblies becoming brittle, crumbling, or falling off. According to complaints, bare wires then short out, which can disable headlights, side marker lights, or turn signals, and an owner describes smoke and a small flame from a burned-out headlight. Owners describe replacing headlight housings, bulbs, ballasts, or controllers as part of the repair, and a complaint notes that some cables had no covering at all. Mileage in these complaints ranges from 5 to 165,000 miles, and the miles given show no clear pattern.

   What to check: Turn on the headlights and turn signals and look at the wiring behind each headlight assembly for brittle, cracked, or bare insulation. Ask whether any headlight wiring repair has already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Insulation on wires in headlight assembly falls off wires causing shorts and disables both headlights causing loss of vision at night. This also stops daytime running lights. Also plastic headlight assembly hazes and scratches resulting in poor light before the shorting wires disable all headlights.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341573, filed 2020-07, 75,000 miles

   “When changing any of the three bulbs in each headlight assembly, wiring to the bulb holder(s) will be missing insulation and having exposed, or bare, copper wires. Even where the insulation is still intact, the insulation is very likely to be brittle and just the minimal movement of the wires, necessary to replace any of the bulbs, will cause additional insulation to break away from the wiring inside these housings. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11064291, filed 2018-01, 92,500 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Intake manifold splits apart under the hood

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 115,346 mi at 9.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2024

   Owners describe the plastic intake manifold breaking apart with a loud pop, smoke, and debris under the hood. Some complaints describe the failure during or just after an attempt to start the engine. A complaint pairs the manifold and valve cover failure with sudden power loss, cylinder misfires, and an evaporative system leak code. Where mileage is given, the failures are reported between about 113,000 and 198,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the intake manifold has already been replaced, and listen for unusually long cranking at startup. Look under the hood for smoke, debris, or plastic fragments around the intake.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon starting the engine in my 2008 vw Touareg as normal to leave, the engine turned over to start, but sounded like it was turning over longer than usual. I grabbed my key in the ignition to turn it off. A few seconds later, I hear a loud pop, from under the hood. A few puffs of white smoke emerge. I open the hood and see the intake manifold had exploded and was in pieces.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377040, filed 2020-11, 113,659 miles

   “April 21, 2008, my wife finished her job and called me that she will be home soon. Few minutes later I got the call from her telling me that something has happened to our 2008 vw Touareg that there was a big explosion and smoke was coming from under the hood. She was very disturbed not knowing what just had happened. I arrived at the scene and noticed that hood had some dents from the inside out. I lifted the hood and saw fuel intake manifold completely destroyed. My wife was shaking, people form work were asking what happened? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322027, filed 2020-04, 198,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Stuttering, jerking, or sudden loss of power

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine stuttering with the check engine light on, sudden intermittent jerks, and hesitation when pressing the accelerator, such as when merging onto an interstate. An owner describes being limited to low speed on the highway, with low fuel pressure found and the fuel pump replaced. Another complaint describes a timing chain replacement after the stutter and check engine light, and a different complaint describes a complete loss of power with misfiring cylinders while driving. Where mileage is given, these complaints fall between about 78,000 and 97,000 miles, and the symptoms are described during normal driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the service bulletins on high-pressure fuel pump timing and engine misfire diagnostics were checked during service, and have stored trouble codes read with a scanner before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the vehicle the engine stuttered and the check engine light came on. I pulled into a firestone dealer and ran a diagnosis. Test revealed a problem with the timing chain. I called harper vw in knoxville and was advised to bring it in. Dealer had to replace the timing chain at a cost of $6,500. Vehicle had 78,000 miles timing chain should last the life of the vehicle. If the chain had completely separated the engine would have quit suddenly creating a serous traffic problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10945251, filed 2017-01, 78,000 miles

   “Takata recall. It happened several months ago, when I felt my car is hard to accelerate during driving. So while I am driving on the highway, it cannot go beyond 35 MPH, which is really dangerous. It felt like the fuel cannot be powered on. I took the car to a dealership. They first recommended changing the intake manifold, which was also recommended from dealer's body shop, where they had done some inspection a few days ago. After they changed the intake manifold, then they found the fuel pressure is low, and then they replaced the fuel pump. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11022524, filed 2017-09, 97,000 miles

Buying note. A buyer should ask for proof that the fuel filter flange recall work was completed and have the fuel system, headlight wiring, and intake manifold checked before purchase. Repair records for these areas show whether earlier fixes were made.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.