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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Volkswagen Touareg Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Volkswagen Touareg has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 231 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2004 Volkswagen Touareg owner complaints

Owners have filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg, describing incidents dated August 1, 2003 to September 24, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 50 complaints
  • Electrical System 49 complaints
  • Tires 36 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 33 complaints
  • Engine 29 complaints
  • Air Bags 27 complaints

Of the 231 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 231 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11698472 · Filed

    I have contacted Volkswagen about my recall over a month ago the man claimed he ordered the parts and would be in contact but has never contacted me ever since and since then my vehicle has completely stopped working and the gas smell is at a very dangerous level

  • ODI #11685014 · Filed

    The flange for the fuel does not leak from that i can see couse if it was leaking it would be on the ground.

  • ODI #11621837 · Filed

    Hello: this is the 2nd VW TOUAREG this year to repair so far, this one is a 2004 model that I have had to replace complete left & right xenon headlamp assembly Very pricy. Wiring insulation turns brittle, cracks & falls off inside the headlamp assembly, This allows the bare wires to touch & short…

Read all 231 complaints

Owner-reported

2004 Volkswagen Touareg mileage at failure

160 of the 231 complaints on file for the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Power TrainMedian 45,000 milesMiddle half 5,000–80,000 milesBased on 38 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 35,000 milesMiddle half 10,000–90,000 milesBased on 35 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Fuel Filter Flange May Crack Causing Fuel Leak

NHTSA #17V583000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported September 20, 2017 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 73,941 vehicles

Repair completion: 22.68% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 20Ai · Owners notified March 9, 2018 · Vehicles built February 18, 2003 – November 30, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

VW/FMVSS 208/SEAT BELT RETRACTORS

NHTSA #04V592000 · Seat Belts · NHTSA notice

Reported December 15, 2004 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 50,483 vehicles

Volkswagen campaign UY · Owners notified April 11, 2005 · Vehicles built March 26, 2003 – September 20, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD RESTRAINTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

VW RECALL NO. UY.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

VW/SEAT BELT BUCKLE RIVET

NHTSA #04V233000 · Seat Belts — Rear/Other · NHTSA notice

Reported May 19, 2004 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 24,269 vehicles

Volkswagen campaign VN · Owners notified June 21, 2004 · Vehicles built April 1, 2003 – December 31, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCH ATTACHMENT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENTLY RIVETED.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

VWOA RECALL NO. VN.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

VW/TPMS WIRING HARNESS ROUTING

NHTSA #03V266000 · Electrical System — Wiring · NHTSA notice

Reported July 25, 2003 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

Potentially affected: 670 vehicles

Volkswagen campaign WS · Owners notified October 10, 2003 · Vehicles built April 1, 2003 – July 25, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

VW RECALL NO. WS.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Volkswagen Touareg model years

Check your 2004 Volkswagen Touareg VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen Touareg at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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