Used car guide

2017 Volkswagen Touareg: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Volkswagen Touaregs, from 3,257 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,257MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
9,000typical miles a year
31.7×the usual rate for rear fog light

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Volkswagen Touaregs than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Rear fog light31.7× usual
    Volkswagen Touareg
    9.5% All 2017 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.4%, against 0.3% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Coil springs2.4× usual
    Volkswagen Touareg
    7% All 2017 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.3% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    23% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    16% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    13% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    9% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    3% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volkswagen Touareg?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,028Tyres 24%
20211,969Tyres 23%
20201,941Tyres 21%
20192,854Tyres 23%
20181,554Tyres 22%
20163,824Tyres 23%
20154,102Tyres 24%
20143,006Tyres 25%
20132,269Tyres 28%
20121,787Tyres 25%
20111,618Suspension 27%
2010695Suspension 37%
20091,011Suspension 44%
20081,234Suspension 45%
20071,696Suspension 43%
20061,382Suspension 51%
2005927Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Volkswagen Touaregs registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score