Showing the 2006 Touareg V10. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
14–17 mpgcombined; city 12–15, highway 17–20; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$25,150–$28,750U.S. average; Ohio $23,700–$27,610 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 Touareg. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Touareg. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system
9
0
0
0
Electrical system
7
0
1
0
Power train
5
0
0
0
Air bags
4
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
4
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
4
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
0
0
0
Engine
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
6 more parts
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Touareg over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filter flange for cracks, replacing the flange if cracks are found. If no cracks are found, a protective cover will be installed onto the filter flange. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Ai.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 332 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Touareg, the latest on Sep 9, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (129), electrical system (87), engine and engine cooling (68), engine (32), fuel system (24).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Touareg.
EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Touareg 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 10 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Diesel
15 / 20 / 17
Touareg 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.2 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Premium Gasoline
14 / 19 / 16
Touareg 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.2 L, 8 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Premium Gasoline
12 / 17 / 14
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data