2004 Volkswagen Touareg Powertrain & Transmission Problems

( STARTED NOTICING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 1 TO 2 YEARS AGO)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.

DRIVING ALONG IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND A LOUD THUMPING NOISE BEGINS IN THE TRANSMISSION HUMP UNDER THE ARMREST - FELT LIKE SOMETHING HEAVY HAD BECOME WRAPPED AROUND THE DRIVESHAFT AND WAS CAUSING INTENSE VIBRATION ABOVE 30MPH. PARK THE CAR AND TOW TO REPAIR SHOP AND LEARN THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BROKEN AND REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OFFROAD AND VAST MAJORITY OF MILES ARE COMMUTING ON THE FREEWAY AND GENERAL AROUND-TOWN DRIVING. NO WAY SHOULD A WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE DOING LIGHT HIGHWAY DRIVING SUFFER A DRIVESHAFT FAILURE AT ONLY 105K MILES. CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. REPAIR BILL WAS APPROXIMATELY $1600.

AIRBAG MODULE DEFECTIVE WITH ONLY 54,496 MILES AND A $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. *TR

CAR STALLS, SKIPS GEARS, JERKS, WHEN COMING FROM A FULL STOP TO ACCELERATING JERKS AND PULL REALLY HARD GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR,, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER PAYING 800 DOLLAR THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG,, AND THAT WAS VW DEALER.... I'VE BEEN SEEIN ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC MODEL AND YEAR, CAN SOME PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE ATLEAST TELL ME WHAT COULD BE WRONG, SO I CAN FIX IT AND GET RID OF THIS STUPID CAR. IM BETTER OFF WITH AN AMERICAN CAR... *TR

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. *TR

TL* 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. *LJ 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. UPDATED 11/04/10

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. IT IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ACCESS THE HIGHWAY AND IN SEVERAL CASES IT SHIFTS SO HARD THAT IT KNOCKS IT'S SELF OUT AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL RESETS TO 4TH GEAR FROM 6TH. I NOW HAVE TO SHIFT MANUALLY. I HAVE THIS ISSU E DAILY AND I KNOW THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. *TR

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. *TR

2004 VW TOUAREG V-8 MANY PROBLEMS BUT 3 WORTH REPORTING: FOR NO APPARENT REASON PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED OR UNLATCHED BY USING ANY KNOWN MEANS INCLUDING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE, ELECTRIC LOCK ACTUATOR CLICKS AS IF THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED BUT THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED OR UNLATCHED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND WORKED ON BY DESTROYING THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND PERHAPS CUTTING A WHOLE IN THE BODY PANNEL AT THE COST OF 2 HOURS OF DIAGNOSTICS, 8 HOURS OF LABOR TO OPEN DOOR AND PROBABLY 2 OR 3 ADDITIONAL HOURS OF REPLACING DOOR HANDLE IF BODY OF DOOR IS NOT BENT, PLUS PARTS VEHICLE HAS MANY ELECTRICAL GLITCHES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF AIR BAG IGNITERS....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. *TR

CAR: 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG V6 SUV 38,900MILES PROBLEM: CAR FREQUENTLY JERKS WHILE SLOWING DOWN (AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-40MPH). WAS TOLD DRIVE SHAFT WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $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. I WAS TOLD THAT DAMAGED DRIVE SHAFT DAMAGED 2 VALVES IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH NOW ALSO NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF $1600. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED A 'BULLETIN" ON THE CAR REGARDING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 39,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN WITH CARE. IT SEEMS EXTREMELY PREMATURE TO HAVE ANYTHING OF THIS NATURE HAPPEN ESPECIALLY AT A COST OF ALMOST $4000 OUT OF POCKET TO ME AND OTHER OWNERS. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY IN CORRECTION/REIMBURSEMENT (POSSIBLE RECALL) OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

AT 94,000 MILES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, TOLD TRANSMISSION NON-SERVICEABLE VW DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT. COULD BE GEAR BOX COST $2400 OR ENTIRE TRANSMISSION COST $7,000. VWA WILL PAY $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. WE HAVE HAD PRIOR ENGINE COIL RECALL REPLACED, UPDATED COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND REPLACED DRIVE-TRAIN AT COST OF $1900 AT 74,000 MILES. *TR

2004 VW TOUAREG MILES 72,000 BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. TOLD I NEED NEW TRANSMISSION, NOT UNDER WARRANTY HOW CAN THE CAR NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AT 72,000 MILES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD TROUBLES WITH THIS SUV VW SHOULD REPLACE THIS, TONS OF STUFF HAS GONE WRONG WITH SUV. *TR

IN DECEMBER 2009 MY 2004 VW TOUAREG WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE IDLING WHILE MY SON, WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR, GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO SPEAK TO A PARKING LOT ATTENDANT. HIS WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN WERE IN CAR SEATS IN THE REAR SEAT. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER, WHILE MY SON WAS STILL OUT OF THE CAR, THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO A BUSY STREET IN NYC. HE RAN AFTER THE CAR WHILE HIS WIFE FRANTICALLY TRIED TO GET OUT OF HER SEAT BELT TO MOVE INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. HE CAUGHT UP WITH THE CAR AND JUMPED IN AND HIT THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. HE LOOKED OVER AT THE GEAR SHIFT THINKING THAT IT HAD BEEN MOVED INADVERTENTLY BUT THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK. HE THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS IDLING IN PARK ON A RELATIVELY FLAT SURFACE - THERE ARE NO REAL HILLS IN NYC. HE TOOK HIS LIFE IN HIS HANDS TO AVOID A DISASTER WHEREBY THE CAR WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN HIT BROADSIDE IN THE BUSY ADJOINING STREET WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A VW DEALER REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME IN MARYLAND THE NEXT WEEK AND THEY CHECKED THE CAR OUT THOROUGHLY, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NOR COULD THEY DUPLICATE THE EXPERIENCE. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

REAR CENTER DRIVE SHAFT FROM GEARBOX TO DIFFERENTIAL, MIDDLE BEARING FAILS. VOLKSWAGEN ONLY SUPPLIES NEW SHAFTS FOR $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. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW TOUAREG V8, I HAVE A AIRBAG LIGHT THAT COME ON (AIRBAG FAULT), NOW THE TRAN LIGHT IS COMING ON WHEN I START THE SUV. *TR

TRANSMISSION JUMPS, LUNGES, HAS DONE THIS SINCE 2009. THE DEALER STATES IT NEEDS REPLACING. SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN.

DRIVE SHAFT SUPPORT BEARING FAILURE @ 62,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER VW DOES NOT SELL INDIVIDUAL BROKE PART BUT SELLS ASSEMBLY WHICH COST $1,100 PLUS TAX. THIS IS COMMON AND SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG. WHEN THE CONTACT ACCELERATED MORE THAN 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING, SHAKING AND WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING AT THE DESIRED SPEED. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF; HOWEVER, IT WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED 4 MONTHS LATER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 10/06/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT. UPDATED 10/06/09

DRIVE TRAIN FAILED WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD. ALSO, THE MODULE FAILED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE DRIVE TRAIN BEING REPLACED. THE ABS MODULE HOWEVER; FAILED 3 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. AS A RESULT I SKIDDED UNPREDICTABLY ON ICE AND CAME WITHIN INCHES OF CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. $1500 WAS QUOTED TO ME TO REPLACE THE MODULE. *TR

THE ESP LIGHT CAME ON STEADY AND THE LIGHTS AROUND THE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH CAME ON FLASHING. THEN THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER AND WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED INTO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE INDICATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THESE RECALLS. *TR