What 16 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE -- DID NOT STOP RUNNING BUT FELT LIKE RUNNING ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY; VEHICLE DIED AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALER, WHO SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED FROM BACK TO FRONT. DEALER CLAIMS THAT REAR LIFT PUMP CAUSED THE INCIDENT BUT ALSO SAYS THE HPFP (INJECTOR PUMP) FAILED. THREE WEEKS INTO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10491775

WEDNESDAY 8/15 - FOLLOWING AN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM HOME TO A REMOTE OFFICE LOCATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STANDING AT A STOP LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND PROCEED A SHORT DISTANCE THROUGH THE LIGHT, WHEREIN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, WITH MULTIPLE ENGINE LIGHTS, GLOW PLUG COIL SIGNALS DISPLAYED. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. FOLLOWING DAY, 8/16 ADVISED THAT THE 'ALGAE' DISCOVERED IN FUEL - REQUIRING DRAIN OF FUEL TANK, FLUSH AND CLEANING OF FUEL SYSTEM - ESTIMATED COST ~ $400. FOLLOWING DAY, 8/17 ADVISED THAT DRAIN, FLUSH COMPLETE BUT THAT FUEL RETURN VALVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT - ESTIMATED COST INCREASED TO ~$800. PARTS ORDERED, CAR TO REMAIN AT DEALERSHIP THROUGH WEEKEND. TUESDAY 8/21 RECEIVED CALL, ADVISED THAT 'METAL SHAVINGS IN FUEL SYSTEM' REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF FUEL SYSTEM - APPROX. $10,000 REPAIR. REGIONAL VW SERVICE REP. REVIEWED MATTER AND ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. QUESTIONED SUDDEN SHIFT FROM ALGAE TO METAL SHAVINGS CONTAMINATION WITHOUT MATERIAL RESPONSE. LATER THAT DAY RECEIVED FOLLOW UP CALL THAT PARTS REQUIRED 'RED TAG' ORDERING, MEANING PARTS HAD TO COME FROM GERMANY. CAR TO BE LAID UP FOR ADDITIONAL 10 DAYS (APPROX). 8/27 - ASKED FOR UPDATE AND USE OF LOANER CAR. PARTS STILL ON ORDER. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT EXPERIENCED NON - GASOLINE GENERATED FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION/FAILURE - NO REASONED EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. LOANER CAR DENIED AS CAR WAS BEYOND 36K WARRANTY PERIOD, YET VW ELECTED TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. WEB BASED RESEARCH INDICATESWELL DOCUMENTED AND GROWING TDI FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE PROBLEM. *TR *JS

NHTSA ODI 10472821