What weaknesses does the VW Touareg 3 have?

The VW 3.0L TDI V6 (Diesel, 231–340 PS) comes with 3 different engines: DCBE (2018–2024, Be Careful) und DCBE (2018–2024, Be Careful) und DCBE (2019–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 3.0L TDI V6!

The VW 3.0L V6 TDI (Diesel, 231–286 PS) comes with 2 different engines: DEND (2018–2023, Be Careful) und DENA (2018–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 3.0L V6 TDI!

The VW 4.0L V8 TDI (Diesel, 421 PS) has the DMV (4.0L V8 TDI) — rated: "Good Choice", 5 known weaknesses.

The VW 2.0L TSI (Benziner, 249 PS) has the CYRC (2.0L TSI) — rated: "Be Careful", 5 known weaknesses.

The VW 3.0L TDI V6 (Diesel Plug-in-Hybrid, 381–462 PS) comes with 2 different engines: DCBE (2020–2023, Be Careful) und DCBE (2020–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 3.0L TDI V6!

The VW eHybrid (Diesel Plug-in-Hybrid, 381 PS) has the DCBE (3.0L TDI V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 9 known weaknesses.

Vehicle Weaknesses

	Weakness	Cost
✖	Air suspension: relay and compressor failure The 40A switching relay for the air suspension compressor gums up after 3–4 years. Vehicle sinks overnight, especially at the front. Compressor replacement including diagnostics: 400–1,500 €; air bag failures additional up to 2,000 €. Symptoms: Vehicle sinks on one side or at the front; warning message 'STOP — suspension fault'; compressor runs for a very long time or fails to start from 80,000 km Ad air suspensionssupercharger Touareg CR Schaltrelay air suspension CR7 air spring Touareg CR front rear	Medium
●	Rear axle: rumbling and knocking noises Rumbling noises occur at the rear axle on the right over rough road surfaces. Worn damper mounts or anti-roll bar bushings are the cause. Diagnosis is difficult as the noise sometimes persists after damper replacement. Symptoms: Rumbling or clattering from the rear right over bumps or potholes; worse at cold temperatures from 60,000 km Ad rear axle Touareg CR Lager damper Touareg CR rear strut mount Touareg CR rear	Medium

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Known Problems and Issues

A total of 43 weaknesses have been documented for the VW Touareg 3 (2018–2026) — 29 engine-related and 14 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Suspension, Brakes, Electronics, Other. Considered reliable: DMV (4.0L V8 TDI).

Touareg (DCBE, 2018–2024) — Be Careful: Water Pump Failure EA839 (Critical), Recall 93QQ — HV Battery Fire Risk, Hybrid Transmission Failure V6 PHEV. Power: 231 PS.

Touareg (DCBE, 2018–2024) — Be Careful: Water Pump Failure EA839 (Critical), Recall 93QQ — HV Battery Fire Risk, Hybrid Transmission Failure V6 PHEV. Power: 286 PS.

Touareg (DEND, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: VTG Turbo Guide Vanes Coking, Timing Chain Elongated, NOx Sensor / AdBlue System Faulty. Power: 231 PS.

Touareg (DENA, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: VTG Turbo Under Higher Load, Timing Chain Elongated, Camshaft Fracture (Material Defect EA897). Power: 286 PS.

Touareg (DCBE, 2019–2023) — Be Careful: Water Pump Failure EA839 (Critical), Recall 93QQ — HV Battery Fire Risk, Hybrid Transmission Failure V6 PHEV. Power: 340 PS.

Touareg (CYRC, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: EA888 Timing Chain Stretching, Water Pump Defective, Oil Pump Driver Wears Out — Engine Seizure Without Warning. Power: 249 PS.

Touareg (DCBE, 2020–2024) — Be Careful: Water Pump Failure EA839 (Critical), Recall 93QQ — HV Battery Fire Risk, Hybrid Transmission Failure V6 PHEV. Power: 340 PS.

Touareg (DCBE, 2020–2023) — Be Careful: Water Pump Failure EA839 (Critical), Recall 93QQ — HV Battery Fire Risk, Hybrid Transmission Failure V6 PHEV. Power: 381 PS.

Touareg (DCBE, 2020–2023) — Be Careful: Water Pump Failure EA839 (Critical), Recall 93QQ — HV Battery Fire Risk, Hybrid Transmission Failure V6 PHEV. Power: 462 PS.

What to watch out for with the VW Touareg? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems and weaknesses does the VW Touareg 3 have? +

The VW Touareg 3 has 29 known engine weaknesses and 14 vehicle weaknesses.

What should I look for when buying a used VW Touareg 3? +

faq.watch_a_solid

Which engine is recommended? +

Good choice: DMV (4.0L V8 TDI). The most reliable engine is the DMV (4.0L V8 TDI) with the lowest risk score. The most fun to drive is the DMV (4.0L V8 TDI).

Which VW Touareg 3 engine is the most reliable? +

The {code} ({displacement}) is the most reliable engine in the VW Touareg 3. It has the lowest risk score of all available engines and is rated "Good Choice". However, there are 5 known weaknesses to be aware of.

Which VW Touareg 3 engine is the most fun? +

The {code} ({displacement}) offers the most driving fun in the VW Touareg 3 — rated: "Legendary!". {description} 422 hp and 900 Nm, 0–100 in 4.9 seconds — that's Porsche Cayenne under a VW badge.

Is the VW Touareg 3 worth buying used? +

The VW Touareg 3 is a good choice as a used car — 1 of 5 engine variants are rated 'Good Choice'.

What horsepower variants are available for the VW Touareg 3? +

The VW Touareg 3 is available with engine variants from 231 to 421 hp. Petrol: CYRC (2.0L TSI). Diesel: DCBE (3.0L TDI V6), DMV (4.0L V8 TDI), DEND (3.0L V6 TDI), DENA (3.0L V6 TDI).

Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee