OUR 2015 TOUAREG TDI WITH 35,000MI LOST POWER ON INTERSTATE 10. THE VEHICLE WAS IN 'LIMP' MODE AND ONLY ABLE TO REACH A SPEED OF 20MPH IN A 75MPH ZONE ON INTERSTATE 10. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE MADE IT TO A DEALER IN LAS CRUCES, NM. AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS WATER IN THE AIR FILTER, THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE AIR FLOW SENSOR. AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH WE DISCOVERED THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EXTERIOR DRAIN SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES WATER TO FLOW INTO THE AIR INTAKE, THRU THE AIR FILTER, THRU THE TURBO, AND ULTIMATELY INTO THE ENGINE. THE UNDIRECTED EXTERIOR DRAIN WATER DAMAGES THE AIR FILTER, THE TURBO, AND, IN SOME CASES, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WILL FAIL. I WAS TOLD OUR 2015 TOUAREG TDI WOULD NEED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO REPLACE THE TURBO AT A COST OF $4,000-$5,000.
NHTSA ODI 11376259