Mandatory fastener.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Volkswagen Touareg steering problems
moderate 3 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 3 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Volkswagen Touareg we track for steering problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Horn and ancillary steering wheel controls diagnosis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Updated to include model year 2017 applicability
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Technical Bulletin (Squeaking Noises From Front Of Vehicle): Squeaking/creaking noise from front of vehicle while fully turning steering wheel. The document also gives information on servicing the issue
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Technical Bulletin: Vibrations in Steering Wheel issues Document discusses diagnosis of problem, and potential remedy of issue. The diagnosis codes for checking warranty coverage for servicing the vehicle are also available. The document also contains a checklist to test customer satisfaction
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The steering wheel on this brand new car shakes persistently at any speed above 60mph making it unpleasant, if not dangerous, to drive. *tr
At highway speeds, 60-75mph, the steering wheel shakes dramatically. Dealer re-balanced, still shook. Dealer replaced eagle ls2's at 32k miles with same tires and road-force balanced...still shook. Based on others with same problem, I recommened they try gy latitudes...along with road-force balance and nitro fill, shaking has been gone for past 15k miles. But this is a repeatable event on…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen touareg. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH the steering wheel began to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure who advised the contact that the tires and rotors needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was…
Had steering trouble with your 2011 Volkswagen Touareg?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 13,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Volkswagen/Touareg.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.