Touareg and reliability?
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/7a/7a5b5d4d9b857b996bc646cba71258dc7fb5579f5e5039ea112111f52a20dbcb.jpg
![]()
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/7a/7a5b5d4d9b857b996bc646cba71258dc7fb5579f5e5039ea112111f52a20dbcb.jpg
1st Gen Touareg Reliability?
So my mom recently sold her 7.3 Powerstroke, which was my occasional tow vehicle. I've been searching for another tow vehicle on a budget, and the Touareg popped into mind. How reliable are the T1 Touaregs? I know when they were first released they were kind of a disaster, I guess I'm asking if most of the common issues have VW or aftermarket fixes that if applied you'll have a fairly decent and reasonably trustworthy vehicle? I'd probably be looking at a V6 for economy and hopefully greater ease of serviceability.
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
The real early ones ('04-05) were a total crapshoot as far as reliability. Some were nightmares, some were very solid. Get the newest one you can afford, with the 3.6L engine if you're going the V6 route. I would personally get a V8 or a TDI, the V6 engines are overworked and get horrible mileage in these trucks, so you may as well have some power. As you mentioned, the main advantage to a V6 would probably be slightly easier serviceability.
Even if you get a "reliable" Touareg, parts are really expensive for them. They were a hell of an engineering exercise for VW, and are great-driving trucks, but they will cost you money. They go through brakes and tires pretty quick, and it's never cheap to replace that stuff. If you get an early one, make sure all recalls have been done, there were tons of them.
Getting a GX470 would probably be playing it a lot safer, and you still get an incredibly luxurious, off-road capable machine.
Even if you get a "reliable" Touareg, parts are really expensive for them. They were a hell of an engineering exercise for VW, and are great-driving trucks, but they will cost you money. They go through brakes and tires pretty quick, and it's never cheap to replace that stuff. If you get an early one, make sure all recalls have been done, there were tons of them.
Getting a GX470 would probably be playing it a lot safer, and you still get an incredibly luxurious, off-road capable machine.
Deathtrap ✓
Maintenance Nightmare ✓
Caught on Fire ✓
Maintenance Nightmare ✓
Caught on Fire ✓
This... All of it.The real early ones ('04-05) were a total crapshoot as far as reliability. Some were nightmares, some were very solid. Get the newest one you can afford, with the 3.6L engine if you're going the V6 route. I would personally get a V8 or a TDI, the V6 engines are overworked and get horrible mileage in these trucks, so you may as well have some power. As you mentioned, the main advantage to a V6 would probably be slightly easier serviceability.
Even if you get a "reliable" Touareg, parts are really expensive for them. They were a hell of an engineering exercise for VW, and are great-driving trucks, but they will cost you money. They go through brakes and tires pretty quick, and it's never cheap to replace that stuff. If you get an early one, make sure all recalls have been done, there were tons of them.
Getting a GX470 would probably be playing it a lot safer, and you still get an incredibly luxurious, off-road capable machine.
Sent from modern human failure
Father in law had a '07 GX470, sold it, bought a '13 V6 4Runner, gonna be selling and buying a '15/16 GX460.The real early ones ('04-05) were a total crapshoot as far as reliability. Some were nightmares, some were very solid. Get the newest one you can afford, with the 3.6L engine if you're going the V6 route. I would personally get a V8 or a TDI, the V6 engines are overworked and get horrible mileage in these trucks, so you may as well have some power. As you mentioned, the main advantage to a V6 would probably be slightly easier serviceability.
Even if you get a "reliable" Touareg, parts are really expensive for them. They were a hell of an engineering exercise for VW, and are great-driving trucks, but they will cost you money. They go through brakes and tires pretty quick, and it's never cheap to replace that stuff. If you get an early one, make sure all recalls have been done, there were tons of them.
Getting a GX470 would probably be playing it a lot safer, and you still get an incredibly luxurious, off-road capable machine.
Cheaper on parts and for the time he owned it, not even one set of brakes and did oil changes and that was it.
There's a reason why Lexus exists. It's for those that want a luxury car with reasonable maintenance costs.
Oh, and that V8, holy damn it was fast, and you could turn traction nannies off and get it to kick the ass end out easily.
I was working at a VW dealership when they first came out. One particular T-Reg had something like, 2 engine swaps and a transmission swap. I swear the head VW mechanic lost hair and grayed what was left over the early Touaregs. He didn't even like to talk about them.
How much weight are you pulling? Regardless, the Touareg isn't the vehicle I would choose.
Spring for a second generation Touareg, they can tow and they're reliable. Our '13 is approaching 60k with zero problems, its a very solid, reliable vehicle.
First gen Touareg??? Reliable??? In the same sentence?????
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No.
The V8 would be easier to service for general maintenance since the main maintenance on the engine is the timing belt. The V6 has chains (big VR6).
V10... just don't.
Driveshaft carrier bearing is common. Usually it's the rubber that fails around it. A rebuilt shaft with new mount/bearing is about the same cost as the Vertex upgrade mount (~$500).
Stepper motor on the transfer case goes bad.
Front diff lacks fluid with stock fill procedure. Incline the front to add slightly more fluid to prevent excessive wear.
3-stage intake flapper system has wear issues. The flaps seize in the intake and the links break. Aftermarket aluminum links are available and the flaps can be freed up and lubed.
Air-suspension inlets at struts hold salty-crust due to placement and corrode then break off. Non-issue if not in salt area.
Peeling soft-touch interior pieces.
VW electrical issues (cluster displays go dark, window switches get buggy, headlight internal wiring, etc...).
Brakes and tires wear quickly in my experience due to lower load rating tires being used and cheaping out on brake parts. It's a 2.5+ ton vehicle...
Transmission valve bodies go bad. Performing trans fluid exchange helps prevent it.
Mine has had about 1/3 of the above issues. DO NOT buy one if you don't confidently have the ability to work on it yourself. See the above list and previous posts. They are complicated VWs. Not a good combo...
That said, I really like mine a lot. :screwy:
V10... just don't.
Driveshaft carrier bearing is common. Usually it's the rubber that fails around it. A rebuilt shaft with new mount/bearing is about the same cost as the Vertex upgrade mount (~$500).
Stepper motor on the transfer case goes bad.
Front diff lacks fluid with stock fill procedure. Incline the front to add slightly more fluid to prevent excessive wear.
3-stage intake flapper system has wear issues. The flaps seize in the intake and the links break. Aftermarket aluminum links are available and the flaps can be freed up and lubed.
Air-suspension inlets at struts hold salty-crust due to placement and corrode then break off. Non-issue if not in salt area.
Peeling soft-touch interior pieces.
VW electrical issues (cluster displays go dark, window switches get buggy, headlight internal wiring, etc...).
Brakes and tires wear quickly in my experience due to lower load rating tires being used and cheaping out on brake parts. It's a 2.5+ ton vehicle...
Transmission valve bodies go bad. Performing trans fluid exchange helps prevent it.
Mine has had about 1/3 of the above issues. DO NOT buy one if you don't confidently have the ability to work on it yourself. See the above list and previous posts. They are complicated VWs. Not a good combo...
That said, I really like mine a lot. :screwy:
Someone my wife worked with had one. VW took it back and gave them another since it was in the shop so much.
I'm sorry, but you can't claim a mass production vehicle is reliable because it's approaching 60k miles. :facepalm: Talk to us when it's at 160k.Spring for a second generation Touareg, they can tow and they're reliable. Our '13 is approaching 60k with zero problems, its a very solid, reliable vehicle.
I had a 2004 Touareg V6. I sold it after about a year of having it. I feel like I drove the passat loaner more than I drove my touareg. It was the most random things that would go wrong. For example, went to put my key in the ignition, and the whole thing fell down into the dashboard and I couldn't start my car. All sorts of electrical issues, like the alarm going off randomly, door locks failed from time to time, headlights not working properly, etc. Also, the AC would randomly just start blowing heat through the defroster vents and had no way to correct it other than to turn the car off and back on. My issue with the car was, all the problems were not consistent. So by the time I got to the dealer the car would be fine, and then as soon as I left it would start acting up again. These were all just some of the issues I had. Best bet is to stay away from 1st generation for sure....at least the 2004 models.
Reliability with the T1s is a crap shoot. Despite that, they are really, really nice little trucks, drive fantastically, and are comfortable. And the TDI has enough torque to change the tides. That's what I'd go with if I was towing.
Edit: Here is a TDI just wiping the floor with a Duramax.
Edit: Here is a TDI just wiping the floor with a Duramax.
On a side note... This is the first thread I've seen refer to the Touareg as a truck. I'm noticing even little Korean and Japanese CUVs are starting to be referred to as trucks. Is this a new thing I'm missing?
I owned a 2004 moderately equipped V6 - it was bought back by VW after 6 months and 47 visits to the dealer.
Replaced with a 2005 Loaded to the 9's V6 and loved it.....until it too started to spend more time at the shop than in my garage.
Off it went, replaced with an Audi Allroad.... which was sold the second the CPO was about to expire.
I guess I don't learn.....
Replaced with a 2005 Loaded to the 9's V6 and loved it.....until it too started to spend more time at the shop than in my garage.
Off it went, replaced with an Audi Allroad.... which was sold the second the CPO was about to expire.
I guess I don't learn.....
It is a good truck to burn money... I highly recommend it. :thumbup::thumbup:
Lol I don't think reliable and Touareg should ever be in the same sentence as many people have already pointed out. Friend has a V10TT TDI with full R50-spec body conversion and while it's pretty much the coolest Touareg out there, getting almost 500 miles on a tank, being super comfortable/quiet with unreal power and the ability to tow a whole lot, I'd be terrified to own it or any other T-reg without an extensive aftermarket extended warranty, which he has and has used to replace both turbos lol :laugh:
Picture of awesome Touareg
![]()
Picture of awesome Touareg
I had an 05 V8 for 7 years and about 100k and never had a problem with it. Did brakes once around 50k and they were still on it when i sold it around 100k. If you can find an extended warranty for piece of mind, but late 05s and up most of the issues were worked out. Check out clubtouareg.com if no one has mentioned that yet. i'd also recommend a V8 as the VR6/V8 get about the same MPG anyway... If towing look for air suspension too..
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
VW Vortex - Volkswagen Forum
A forum community dedicated to all Volkswagen owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, builds, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, new releases, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
