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Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI 240hp BMT Highline common faults.

2010–2014, SUV, diesel, 240 HP.

The fault list covers: CASA engine.

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4 fault write-ups. All are important. 10 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

4 important faults

critical3

The timing chain of the longitudinal V6 diesel runs at the back of the engine, on the gearbox side, so replacing it means taking out the engine or the gearbox. That alone makes it expensive, but the mechanism is the point: the chains stretch and the hydraulic tensioners lose their pressure. The first and only early sign is a 2 to 3 second metallic rattle audible on a cold start. If that is ignored, the chain jumps or breaks, and the engine is badly damaged inside. The same chain kit also drives the oil pump: if that seizes, the engine is left without lubrication.

What to check

  • Start it cold, in a quiet place, with the bonnet open: the rattle is audible in the first 2 to 3 seconds
  • Stand at the gearbox side of the engine: the noise comes from there, not from the front
  • Ask whether the chain and the tensioner were replaced, and ask for the invoice (it involves removing the engine)
3 more steps in the write-up

The timing chain of the V6 3.0 TDI is at the rear of the engine, at the gearbox end. Replacing the chain and the tensioner means removing the gearbox and effectively the engine too. One of the most expensive chain repairs in the industry.

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The precursor is a few second rattle on a cold start that then goes away. Many sellers say this is normal. It is not: the tensioner is not holding the chain, and if the chain jumps, the engine is finished. Long oil change intervals and neglected oil speed it up.

What to check

  • A cold start is mandatory: on a warm engine the rattle is not audible
  • Pay attention to the first 2 to 3 seconds: a metallic rattle from the gearbox side
  • Ask whether a chain was replaced, and ask for the invoice
2 more steps in the write-up

The valvetrain of the 4.2 V8 TDI works with gears and a chain, and this is the best known weak point of the engine: the gear drive wears out and the chain stretches. The repair is as deep as on the V6, only more expensive.

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This engine is rare, and that is exactly what makes it dangerous: there is little experience, few workshops, and the parts are expensive. Whoever buys a V8 TDI Touareg has to plan for this risk alongside the purchase price.

What to check

  • On a cold start listen through the whole first half minute
  • Ask for the full service history: on the V8 TDI that is not optional
  • Ask whether any valvetrain work was done, and ask for the invoice
1 more steps in the write-up

expensive1

The Touareg works with four air springs and one central compressor. The rubber bellows of the air spring cracks over time, the system loses pressure, and the compressor tries to make it up by running more and more, until it burns out. The symptom is typically that the car settles overnight, or stands lopsided.

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The fault goes in a circle: the leaking air spring is what kills the compressor, so if only the compressor is replaced, the next one goes too. A full overhaul is four springs plus a compressor plus a dryer, and that is the most expensive routine repair on a Touareg.

What to check

  • Look at the car cold, after standing a night: has it settled
  • Raise it to the highest, then the lowest setting, and time it
  • Listen to the compressor: a unit running long or loudly is already tiring
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI 240hp BMT Highline

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

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On every car

Ask the owner

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Official recall10 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 5 May 2021

21V321000UNKNOWN OR OTHERUNKNOWN OR OTHER5 May 2021 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

18V329000UNKNOWN OR OTHERUNKNOWN OR OTHER16 May 2018 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

17V151000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8 March 2017 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel filter flange if cracks are found. A protective cover will be applied to the fuel filter to prevent oxidization cracks from forming. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 20Z4.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

16V243000TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMSTIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS26 April 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toureg vehicles manufactured July 7, 2015 to March 3, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. Additionally, the tire pressures printed on the Safety Certification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Risk: If the vehicle is driven on underinflated tires, the tires may fail suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will correct the TPMS settings and replace the safety certification label, free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2016. Volkwagen's number for this recall is 44M9.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

16V170000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGESSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES24 March 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.

Risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46G4.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/00222/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/00546/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The screw connection between the steering shaft and the steering box may not have been tightened sufficiently and may loosen over time. This will impair the vehicle’s steerability, increasing the risk of an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/0160/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

A seat-belt latch may not have been sufficiently secured to the rear, right-hand seat. In the event of an accident, the rear seat-belt latch may therefore break, increasing the risk of injuries to passengers.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/0256/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

It is possible that the wheel bolts were not tightened with the correct torque which could result in the loss of the wheel. Also, the running direction of the tyres may not have been taken into account when the winter tyres were fitted which could have a negative effect on driving stability.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/0592/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The suspension damper forks are defective and could break. As a result, the tyre could be pressed against the wheel arch, potentially causing an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

CASA · 3.0 TDI

176 kW (239 HP) · diesel

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
BMT Highline
Body
SUV
Fuel
diesel
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
2967 cc
Power
176 kW (239 HP)
Drive
AWD
Production
2010–2014

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years
  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years
  • Engine oil and oil filter

    • LongLife30,000 km or 2 years(valid only with LongLife-approved oil)
    • 15,000 km or 1 year
  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)
  • Coolant (antifreeze) change

    • first: 193,000 km or 10 years, then 97,000 km or 5 years(G13 / G12++: first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles or 5 years)
  • Fuel filter, diesel

    • 60,000 km or 2 years

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms