Used car guide · 2003–2026

Volkswagen Touareg common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volkswagen Touareg, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 111,302 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2023 Volkswagen Touareg

Cars registered in 2023 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Volkswagen Touareg as a whole.

2,737on the UK register at the end of 2025
2026first MOT due
Dieselfuel type
What to check on a 2023 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003

What usually goes wrong with a Volkswagen Touareg?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Clogged particulate filters and oil leaks

    Cars registered 2010–2018 · Diesel

    Clogged particulate filters are reported on a number of cars, and oil leaks on some.

    At the viewing: Look for oil under the engine and watch for a DPF warning.

    Source: What Car?: used Volkswagen Touareg (2010-2018) reliability

  • Sensor faults and starting problems

    Cars registered 2010–2018 · All engines

    Sensor faults are known, and older cars have had starting problems.

    At the viewing: Start it several times and check for warning lights.

    Source: What Car?: used Volkswagen Touareg (2010-2018) reliability

Common Volkswagen Touareg MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Diesel

  • Sub-frame bushes

    up to 17.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Seat belts

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021 and 2022.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Volkswagen Touareg MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg did best (77% passed first time, 13 points above all 2012 cars) and the 2017 did worst (77%, 3 points below all 2017 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202292%89% +31,063
202191%87% +44,046
202091%87% +45,900
201987%85% +28,734
201885%83% +24,665
201777%80% -39,744
201678%77% +111,497
201577%74% +312,353
201479%70% +99,164
201378%67% +116,937
201277%64% +135,554
201173%62% +115,067
201066%60% +62,179
200964%59% +53,295
200863%57% +64,287
200764%57% +75,908
200664%56% +85,013
200563%57% +63,464
200465%57% +81,897
200365%57% +8535

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volkswagen Touareg

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the sub-frame bushes? (Flagged at MOT 15.4× as often on the Volkswagen Touareg as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 10.2× as often on the Volkswagen Touareg as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the seat belts? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the Volkswagen Touareg as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Touareg?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score