Used car guide

2018 Volkswagen Touareg: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Volkswagen Touaregs, from 1,554 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,554MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
9,300typical miles a year
3.8×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Volkswagen Touaregs than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Coil springs3.8× usual
    Volkswagen Touareg
    6.4% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 1.3% of all 2018 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

Tyre condition: 6.7% here, against 13.9% of all 2018 cars.

By area

The share of 2018 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    22% 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
    14% 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.

  • Suspension
    14% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Volkswagen Touareg?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,028Tyres 24%
20211,969Tyres 23%
20201,941Tyres 21%
20192,854Tyres 23%
20173,257Tyres 23%
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 2018 Volkswagen Touaregs registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score