Car problem(s) with the 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. This database includes information received by NHTSA from consumers either directly or as recorded by the Vehicle Safety Hotline. This information may be used by NHTSA during the investigation process. WHILE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN 5TH GEAR AND SPEEDS OF UNDER 50 MI./HR, WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE AUTOMATIC DOWN SHIFT OCCURS WITH A VERY HARSH "KICK" TO A POINT THAT THE PASSENGERS FEEL THE JOLT. A FEW YEARS AGO, A SIMILAR PROBLEM REGARDING THE DOWN-SHIFT WAS SUBJECT OF RECALL WHICH THE DEALERS HAD TO INSTALL A "PATCH" ( UPDATED SOFTWARE) IN ORDER TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION JUMPS, LUNGES, HAS DONE THIS SINCE 2009. THE DEALER STATES IT NEEDS REPLACING. SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN. 1200 COST TO FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! DASH LIGHTING HAS WENT ON AND OFF FOR AIRBAG. A WASHER PUMP DEFECTIVE, POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND KNOWN PROBLEM BY VOLKSWAGEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO ADMIT THE DEFECT PROBLEM. THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT WENT OUT.
AT FIRST IT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE. I WAS TOLD A DESIGN FLAW AND ALL OF THESE WOULD FAIL.. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED. BUT IT WILL NOT BE COVERED SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY VW AND NOT COSTING ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS OVER A GRAND TO FIX. REAR CENTER DRIVE SHAFT FROM GEARBOX TO DIFFERENTIAL, MIDDLE BEARING FAILS. 1,400 NO BEARINGS OR EXCHANGE. THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF TOUAREGS ACCORDING THE CLUBTOUAREG FORUM. THIS IS A PREMATURE DESIGN FAILURE OF THIS CAR. WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, A LOUD, REPETITIOUS BANG/CLUNK FROM THE MIDDLE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE STARTED, SOUNDING SIMILAR TO A BLOWN TIRE. NO ABNORMAL OPERATIONS NOTED PRIOR TO THIS.
LIMPED THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AT 15 MPH AND FOUND THE CENTER DRIVESHAFT CARRIER BEARING FAILED. THE SERVICE TECH ACTED AS IF THIS WAS COMMON AND WAS NOT SURPRISED. I HAVE A 1981 MERCURY WITH OVER 305000 MILES AND NEVER LOST A BEARING IN MY DRIVESHAFT. MECHANICAL PARTS FAIL. THE WORST PART OF THIS EVENT IS VOA'S REACTION THAT SOMEHOW THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR A POOR/WEAK DESIGN. LIST OF OTHER MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES WITH NO RECALL THAT ARE COMMON TO ALL TOUAREGS OF THIS GENERATION ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY'S OWN SERVICE TECH'S: CENTER DIFFERENTIAL LOCK MOTOR FAIL REAR DIFF. LOCK MOTOR FAIL COOLING FANS DO NOT SHUT OFF, DRAIN BATTERY THERMOSTAT HOUSING LEAK RADIO FAILURE. AT 94,000 MILES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TOLD TRANSMISSION NON-SERVICEABLE VW DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT. 1,000 TO OUR CHOICE OF GEAR BOX OR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BUT IF WE CHOOSE WRONG REPAIR WILL NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING FURTHER!
VWA OBVIOUSLY IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND DESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAN'T BE SERVICED. 1900 AT 74,000 MILES. AT 94,000 MILES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TOLD TRANSMISSION NON-SERVICEABLE VW DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT. 1,000 TO OUR CHOICE OF GEAR BOX OR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BUT IF WE CHOOSE WRONG REPAIR WILL NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING FURTHER! VWA OBVIOUSLY IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND DESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAN'T BE SERVICED. 1900 AT 74,000 MILES. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED, THE ENTIRE CONSOLE AND WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND SETTLING IN THE TRUNK NEAR THE SPARE TIRE. THE DEALER REMOVED THE SHIFTER CABLE AND REPLACED THE HARNESS, A WIRE AND THE SHIFTER COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,285 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,065. UPDATED 11/02/10. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY.
THE TIRE SENSORS WOULD COME ON. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND FROM BELOW ON MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. LOOKED UNDER MY CAR, THE MIDDLE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS GONE. THERE WAS A KNOCKING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE UNDERCARRIAGE, BUT WHEN THE PART CAME IN AND INSTALLED IT, THE KNOCKING WAS STILL THERE. DROVE IT LAST NIGHT BECAUSE I NEED MY CAR; I HEARD MY CAR HAVE RATTLING NOISES UNDERNEATH. SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S LOSS PARTS UNDER THE CAR. I NEVER TOOK MY CAR OFF ROAD, THE ROADS ON OAHU ARE TERRIBLE, BUT NEVER HAD THIS EVER DONE ON MY OLDER CARS. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND SAW THAT A LOT OF OTHER TOUAREG OWNERS HAVE/HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR A DEFAULT PART, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ITS BEARINGS ARE THE MAIN PARTS OF THE CAR POWERTRAIN. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THIS FIX. ONCE AGAIN HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OCCUPANTS GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAS MADE ME LOSE ALL FAIH IN THIS MANUFACTURER. VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFIC LIGHTS AND BEGINNING TO PROCCEED ON A GREEN. I HAVE A 2004 TOUAREG AND HAVE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES HARD SHIFTS, BUCKING AND HARD DOWNSHIFTS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE VW DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. 1,150 PARTS PLUS LABOR OF APPROX. 1,000 WHICH INCLUDED COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC. UPON PICK UP FROM MECHANIC PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MECHANIC.
