Volkswagen Touareg problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 30 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2013 Volkswagen Touareg? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- steering — 8 owner reports · tends to show around 21,007 mi · ~$700 to fix
- engine — 3 owner reports · tends to show around 54,000 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 8.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
So there’s a campaign to add a bracket to one of the catalytic converters. That’s great except I never knew about it and the thing they added the bracket to prevent happened to me. The exhaust pipe from the catalytic separated from the flange connecting to the manifold. It’s a…
2013 touareg tdi glow plug warning light came on then the engine warning light. The vehicle lost throttle response -- did not stop running but also felt like running on only a few cylinders -- could not drive over 40 MPH on freeway. Also lost ability to downshift auto…
I have just over 50,000 miles on my touareg tdi and the check engine light came on. Dealership tells me the adblue heater needs to be replaced and it is not covered under the 80k emissions warranty and will cost me $1,200 to repair. How can this not be covered when adblue's…
The driver's seatbelt appears to be buckled, but releases under load. When inserting the end into the buckle it clicks and looks and feels buckled, but when loaded releases without warning. This occurred with different drivers and released unexpectedly multiple times while the…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA18003 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 8 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 21,007 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 30 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 21,007 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 8 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 21,007 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 21,007 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Volkswagen Touareg has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 30 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.