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Volkswagen Touareg Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Touareg car check

Is the Volkswagen Touareg reliable? We analysed 582,886 real MOT tests across 50,422 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 582,886 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.3%
Typical Mileage
78,248mi
Annual Mileage
7,766mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Volkswagen Touareg is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Touareg.

Volkswagen Touareg Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Touareg. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volkswagen Touareg MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen Touareg to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.9%
2023
90.2%
2022
90.6%
2021
92%
2020
88.9%
2019
88.9%
2018
84%
2017
83.2%
2016
83.1%
2015
85.5%
2014
85.2%
2013
84.4%
2012
82.9%
2011
79.5%
2010
77%
2009
76.6%
2008
76.6%
2007
77.3%
2006
76.6%
2005
76.8%
2004

Volkswagen Touareg Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Volkswagen Touareg fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 7,919
coil spring broken 4,412
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,462
Stop lamp not working 2,649

Volkswagen Touareg Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Touareg models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,050

Volkswagen Touareg Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Touareg owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,084 mi/yr
Typical
7,766 mi/yr
Average
8,783 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,106 mi/yr

Volkswagen Touareg MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Touareg year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 121 90.9% 21,389 28,769 38,170
2022 204 90.2% 23,663 33,286 47,332
2021 735 90.6% 29,406 39,298 52,102
2020 2,355 92.0% 28,027 39,487 54,037
2019 14,864 88.9% 29,585 42,200 57,763
2018 9,556 88.9% 31,188 45,233 62,773
2017 26,677 84.0% 36,140 51,224 69,555
2016 35,410 83.2% 39,314 56,207 76,419
2015 43,573 83.1% 42,119 61,231 83,540
2014 36,139 85.5% 46,163 67,932 92,365
2013 30,478 85.2% 49,990 73,907 100,044
2012 27,813 84.4% 53,465 79,173 106,590
2011 28,328 82.9% 55,962 84,541 115,266
2010 14,257 79.5% 57,735 88,077 119,156
2009 25,614 77.0% 56,987 86,288 116,884
2008 39,759 76.6% 61,176 91,547 124,015
2007 61,850 76.6% 62,708 93,993 126,072
2006 64,926 77.3% 65,933 97,215 130,652
2005 57,501 76.6% 66,762 98,327 130,652
2004 44,241 76.8% 62,757 92,605 123,510

How Long Does a Volkswagen Touareg Last?

Based on 50,422 Volkswagen Touareg vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.2 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Volkswagen Touareg Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
78,248 mi
75th Percentile
111,236 mi
95th Percentile
161,305 mi
Max Recorded
1,313,827 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Touareg

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2020

92.0% MOT pass rate from 2,355 tests

Year to avoid
2005

76.6% MOT pass rate from 57,501 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Touareg is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.0% across 2,355 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Touareg Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Touareg THIS CAR 80.3% 582,886 78,248 mi 23 yrs
Volkswagen Golf 74.9% 22,270,993 83,305 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Polo 72.9% 14,598,296 60,351 mi 35 yrs
Volkswagen Passat 73.5% 6,960,690 105,632 mi 32 yrs
Seat Arona 87.1% 207,763 30,092 mi — yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Touareg outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Volkswagen Touareg you like?

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Touareg?

The Volkswagen Touareg has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.3% across 582,886 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Touareg are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (7,919 recorded failures), coil spring broken (4,412), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3,462). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volkswagen Touareg with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Volkswagen Touareg owner drives around 7,766 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Touareg models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Volkswagen Touareg — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Touareg reliable?
Based on 582,886 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Touareg has a 80.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Touareg?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Touareg do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Touareg does around 7,766 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Touareg last?
Most Volkswagen Touareg models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 50,422 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Touareg?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Volkswagen Touareg?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Touareg is 2020 with a 92.0% pass rate across 2,355 tests.