Air suspension
usually 100,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Car sits low, compressor runs long
Fix: Replace strut / compressor
€800–2,500
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Volkswagen Touareg III
2018–now · Volkswagen Touareg 3
1
engines covered
5
known faults
8,676
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
8
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Volkswagen Touareg III has been built since 2018.
For this generation we cover 1 engines and 5 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is Timing chain wear: it usually appears at 150,000–250,000 km and costs €3,000–5,000 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 50–100 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (4.9 %), suspension (3.8 %), lights, wipers and visibility (2.0 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: suspension. It fails less often than average on: brakes, tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6 | Diesel | Chain | 5W-30 · VW 507.00 · ~6.0–8.0 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults typical of this model
Transfer case / propshaft centre bearing
usually 100,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Vibration, clunk pulling away, 4x4 warning
Fix: Replace bearing / transfer case actuator
€500–2,500
Faults by engine
2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6
Timing chain wear
usually 150,000–250,000 km · High risk
Signs: Rattle at rear of engine
Fix: Replace chains (gearbox off)
€3,000–5,000
EGR / DPF
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Limp mode
Fix: Clean or replace
€400–1,800
Gearboxes
Automatic (Aisin / ZF Tiptronic)
Torque converter / valve body
usually 150,000–250,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Delayed or harsh shifts
Fix: Fluid service, repair
€300–2,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6 engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| DPF health check (soot / ash load)Emissions | every 20,000 km | €0–60 |
| Transfer case / rear differential oilTransmission | every 80,000 km | €60–160 |
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| Automatic transmission fluidTransmission | every 90,000 km | €200–450 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing chain inspection (listen on cold start)Engine | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 8,676 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.9 % | 1.9 % | 2.4 % |
| Suspension | 1.1 % | 3.8 % | 5.4 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 0.0 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 4.8 % | 4.9 % | 6.9 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 1.8 % | 2.0 % | 3.7 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.2 % | 0.2 % | 0.9 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.9 % | 0.8 % | 1.3 % |
Most common engine versions in the EU
New cars of this generation registered in the EU, Iceland and Norway 2010–2025: 88,518, of which 329 in Croatia. The share shows how common each version is.
| Version | Share | Years | CO₂ | Fuel use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 / 3.0 TDI V63.0 (2,967 cm³) · 210 kW (286 hp) · Diesel | 45.3 % | 2019–2025 | 220 g/km | 8.4 L |
| 2.7 / 3.0 TDI V63.0 (2,967 cm³) · 170 kW (231 hp) · Diesel | 29.3 % | 2019–2025 | 215 g/km | 8.2 L |
| 3.0 Hybrid3.0 (2,995 cm³) · 250 kW (340 hp) · Hybrid | 16.1 % | 2019–2025 | 58 g/km | 2.4 L |
| 3.0 Petrol3.0 (2,995 cm³) · 250 kW (340 hp) · Petrol | 3.8 % | 2019–2025 | 238 g/km | 10.8 L |
| 4.0 Diesel4.0 (3,956 cm³) · 310 kW (421 hp) · Diesel | 3.4 % | 2019–2022 | 246 g/km | 9.4 L |
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars, CC BY 4.0. CO₂ and fuel use are official type-approval values (WLTP from 2021), not real-world consumption.
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (8). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- Fire risk Hybrid battery management reprogramming15/12/2025 · R/2026/001
- Airbag On certain vehicles the side airbag fitted in the seat (front left) may not have been correctly secured onto the seat frame.20/12/2023 · R/2023/356
- Electronics / software If the rear lid is opened and manually pushed up too far the electric spindle drive can suddenly separate and expand13/10/2021 · R/2021/391
- Suspension / axles Nuts fitted in the bolted connection of the right and left transverse link may not be to specifcation21/06/2021 · R/2021/237
- Engine / loss of power A welded connection of the gearbox oil pipe can cause a leak of gear oil13/05/2020 · R/2020/132
- Steering Bolted connection between steering shaft and steering rack may loosen18/03/2020 · R/2020/079
- Suspension / axles The shock absorber fork on the front axle may not have been produced with correct casting temperature27/02/2019 · R/2019/064
- Seat belt The belt buckle holder of rear right seat may not meet the strength requirements27/11/2018 · R/2018/334
Common questions
Does the Volkswagen Touareg III have a timing chain or a timing belt?
2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6: chain.
What are the known problems with the Volkswagen Touareg III?
The faults with the highest risk: timing chain wear (150,000–250,000 km, €3,000–5,000); air suspension (100,000–200,000 km, €800–2,500); transfer case / propshaft centre bearing (100,000–200,000 km, €500–2,500); EGR / DPF (120,000–200,000 km, €400–1,800). The full list by engine is on this page.
What does the Volkswagen Touareg III most often fail its roadworthiness test on?
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 50–100 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (4.9 %), suspension (3.8 %), lights, wipers and visibility (2.0 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: suspension. It fails less often than average on: brakes, tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility.
What should you check when buying a used Volkswagen Touareg III?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (8 have been published for this model). On the test drive, watch for these signs: rattle at rear of engine; car sits low, compressor runs long. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other generations
Volkswagen Touareg I 2002–2010Volkswagen Touareg II 2010–2018
Models with the same engines
These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.
Audi A4 (B9) 2015–2024Audi A6 (C7) 2011–2018Audi Q5 (FY) 2017–Audi A6 (C8) 2018–Audi A5 (F5) 2016–2024Audi Q7 (4M) 2015–Porsche Cayenne (958 / 9Y0) 2010–Porsche Macan 2014–
Other Volkswagen models
Volkswagen Arteon 2017–2024Volkswagen Crafter II 2017–Volkswagen Golf VIII 2019–Volkswagen Polo VI (AW) 2017–Volkswagen T-Cross 2019–Volkswagen T-Roc 2017–Volkswagen Caddy V 2020–Volkswagen ID.3 2020–Volkswagen ID.4 2020–Volkswagen Tiguan II 2016–2024
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026