Check a VIN

Volkswagen Touareg fuel smell problems

42 of the 646 owner complaints about the Volkswagen Touareg describe gas smell in the cabin, most of them for the 2008 model year.

owner complaints
42
worst model year
2008
typical mileage
89,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 9, 2025 · Fuel system · IL

I have contacted Volkswagen about my recall over a month ago the man claimed he ordered the parts and would be in contact but has never contacted me ever since and since then my vehicle has completely stopped working and the gas smell is at a very dangerous level

Filed Oct 31, 2024 · Fuel system · CA

I get dizzy every time I drive my 2006 Volkswagen Touareg. There is a fuel smell inside the cabin and outside of the driver's rear wheel well. I noticed this during the short time I park in my garage. Since, the noticeable smell, I have been parking outside and have since minimized by use of the vehicle. I love the vehicle, but I am getting headaches and dizziness while driving it. Upon looking up more information on the fuel smell, I came across Volkswagen Manufacture Safety recall 20Ai and 20Z4. Since I last spoke of Community Volkswagen of Santa Maria, they said that the recall has been repaired. However, after further research, this is an Open Recall and is still eligible to be repaired. Please advise me on my next steps so as to not be in a dangerous situation while driving this vehicle. Thank you.

Filed Oct 10, 2024 · Fuel system · CA

Previous recall in 2017 regarding fuel filter housing cracks and seals has failed. In 2017 it was approved to allow VW to use cellophane sticky tape to cover the fuel filter crack in plastic housing. It has failed. The car has 43,000 miles, the cabin has strong odor smell. The left rear wheel arch has extremely strong gasoline smell. How was VW able to get approval to fix a serious fuel leak with sticky tape?

Filed May 19, 2023 · Engine · MD

Exhaust line for cylinders 4-6 developed crack immediately before catalytic converter. Problem has occurred in other Touaregs, there is even a recall for 2014 models. Crack allows exhaust to leak nearby air intake to cabin. Noticeable exhaust smell inside cabin, especially when stopped. No warning, just check engine light after the crack. Crack along thin weld, leading right into the catalytic converter. Also environmental concern that exhaust gasses are not being treated. Potential fire hazard.

Filed Apr 24, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · TX · fire

My SUV was sitting for a few days at the airport and I when I got in the car, it started fine but the headlights, interior lights, power folding mirrors and the voltmeter were not working. I had to leave the car there since it was night time. The next day I drove it home in daylight and started checking fuses. I noticed two fuses (#2, #12) on the driver side fuse panel were failed. I replaced the #2, 5 amp, fuse and no changes were noticed. Then I replaced the #12, 25 amp, fuse and I heard a number of systems clicking and powering on; the lights flickered. Then I smelled burning and saw a puff of smoke come from under the dash. I immediately pulled the fuse . After troubleshooting, I found the body control module 7L6-937-049-K had caught fire internally and started to burn through the casing. Had I not pulled the fuse and disconnected the battery, this could have been catastrophic. Once I smelled the smoke, I realized it was like the acrid smell in the suv the night before. The fact the fuse blew the previous day saved the vehicle. It was parked on the fourth floor of parking garage at the airport so many vehicles could have been damaged and people endangered had it caught fire. Not to mention the disruption at an airport. There were no warning lamps. The only indication of a problem was the inoperable systems I mentioned. Also thinking back, the slight acrid smell was present the day I arrived at the airport, I had mistaken it for plane exhaust and car exhaust smells in the garage. The vehicle has not been inspected by any dealer, manufacturer or govermental agency. I have contacted the manufacturer for guidance and help with repairing. I am awaiting a response.

Filed Aug 23, 2022 · Fuel system · FL

A fuel smell is detected in my vehicle, as noted in Repair Available for Safety Recall 20Z4 – Fuel Pump FlangeCertain 2007-2010 MY Volkswagen Touareg / the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V151000.

Filed Aug 9, 2022 · Fuel system · 119,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated that there was an abnormal gasoline odor on the driver’s side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact looked underneath the vehicle at the gas tank and noticed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel tank onto the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number 17V151000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

Filed Aug 2, 2022 · Fuel system, Lights · MO

Gas leak (see pics). I started noticing a strong gasoline smell and my car keeps running out of gas almost immediately after filling up. This has not been inspected nor confirmed by a dealer. This is my only source of transportation and needs to be fixed ASAP. There is not a VW dealership where I live, the closest being in Mario, IL, or St. Louis, MO.

Filed Dec 4, 2019 · Fuel system · 85,000 miles · CA

There is a strong smell of gasoline outside of the car after the car has been driven (or while it's driving, but it's not often I'm outside of the car while it's running). This is due to the plastic housing on the fuel pump that has developed a crack, and is leaking gasoline. This is similar to another recall, 17v583000, which is for the fuel filter flange, but vw is saying they will not cover it under that because this is the housing, not the flange. But it's the same result...

Filed Oct 21, 2019 · Fuel system · SC

Started with faint smell of gas outside of vehicle on drivers side. The gas smell is strongest when vehicle has been parked for some time like over night. Developed overtime that the gas smell began to be smelled inside of the vehicle. Currently the gas smell is extremely strong both inside and outside of vehicle.

Related recalls

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pumpReported September 20, 2017 · 73,941 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Touareg vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel filter flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filter flange for cracks, replacing the flange if cracks are found. If no cracks are found, a protective cover will be installed onto the filter flange. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Ai.

Recall number 17V583000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasolineReported March 8, 2017 · 20,908 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel filter flange if cracks are found. A protective cover will be applied to the fuel filter to prevent oxidization cracks from forming. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 20Z4.

Recall number 17V151000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported January 28, 2008 · 96 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles, a fuel supply line was changed during production which could lead to insufficient sealing of the fuel supply line connector.
Risk
This condition could lead to a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel supply line, if necessary. The recall is expected to begin during february 2008. Owners may contact vwoa at 1‑800‑822‑8987.

Recall number 08V035000 · Recall details

Questions about the Volkswagen Touareg fuel smell

Which Volkswagen Touareg years have gas smell in the cabin problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2008 (12 complaints), 2004 (7 complaints) and 2006 (5 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Volkswagen Touareg?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history