2016 Volkswagen Touareg: engine failure

Filed Jun 21, 2021 · Engine · FL

2016 Touareg was towed to OStein VW service after engine would not accelerate and ran rough when got onto the interstate. OStein VW diagnostic was water into the air filter that got into engine and now need to replace engine block because of water getting into the air filter from the rain drain system system getting clogged for the Touareg. VW Service says can hear engine valves chattering. I see at the federal safety agency that at least 60 other complaints have been filed about this problem of water getting into the air filter.

Filed Dec 10, 2019 · Engine · 23,000 miles · GA

Faulty air intake system allows water to be ingested. Air filter becomes soaked with water, and will ultimately fail if left unchecked. Bits of soggy filter media will damage turbocharger and possibly reciprocating components requiring engine replacement. Engine can fail at any time without warning, causing an unsafe condition. Water ingestion can occur with vehicle stationary or being driven in wet conditions. This is occuring in light rain, and vehicle has not been driven through standing water.

Filed Feb 19, 2019 · Engine · 134 miles · FL

Air intake water ingestion brand new vehicle with only 134 dealer miles on it. Went from delivery truck to driveway where it was parked (no plates yet, so has not been driven). Opened air filter box to inspect filter element...bottom 2-3 inches of the filter was soaked. This is consistent with complaints documented on the clubtouareg forum, and the recall issued by vw china. This also needs to be a recall in the USA since water ingestion may lead to hydro-locking and sudden and catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds.

Filed Dec 3, 2018 · Engine · 21,565 miles · KY

While reading a vw forum I became aware of a known problem with the air filter housing drain becoming clogged and the air filter becoming wet and water being ingested into the engine, hydrolocking the engine and requiring the installation of a new engine. I then checked my air filter and found the bottom 3" - 4" of the air filter completely soaked, to the point that water was dripping from the foam portion of the filter. I contacted vw and they have noted my concerns but there is currently no recall for this problem. I am now hesitant to drive the vehicle at all. As this has been a known problem for a number of years with this vehicle I am surprised that there is no recall in place.

Filed Nov 26, 2018 · Engine · 35,000 miles · NY

When changing air filter, the filter was soaked with water at the bottom. The air intake tube was filled with water and wasn't draining. I'm lucky the water wasn't sucked into the engine. The little drain at the bottom of the intake tube was clogged not allowing the water to drain but why was water allowed to get in there in the first place. This is a very poor design and can lead to catastrophic engine failure.