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Volkswagen Touareg headlights problems

32 of the 646 owner complaints about the Volkswagen Touareg describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2004 model year.

owner complaints
32
worst model year
2004
typical mileage
70,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 24, 2024 · Lights · OH

Hello: this is the 2nd VW TOUAREG this year to repair so far, this one is a 2004 model that I have had to replace complete left & right xenon headlamp assembly Very pricy. Wiring insulation turns brittle, cracks & falls off inside the headlamp assembly, This allows the bare wires to touch & short causing fuses to blow shutting off headlamps while driving at night. This I think should be recalled, I have fixed 5 of these TOUAREGs in 4 years for this same problem. THANK YOU 10/24/24

Filed Jun 16, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · CA

No warning prior to failure. At highway speed, Dashboard Notice: SYSTEM FAULT - SERVICE NOW. All electrical systems stopped working, including: Lighting - No Headlight/Running Light control- No Turn Signals- 4-Way Flashers worked, then stopped working- No Windshield Wipers- No interior Windshield defogger- No Side Window Control for manual traffic signals- Do not know if Brake Lights were working- Mechanic states that battery was not charging- Some Dashboard displays were not working - Cruise control stopped working -

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 Feb 21, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · OH · fire

Protective coating on wires in the headlight and turn signal assemblies crumbled and disintegrated, causing all the lighting components and ballast for HID lights, light level adjusters and the fuses and relays to short out, sparks and potential fire hazard.

Filed Feb 20, 2023 · Electrical · CA

After doing major research with other owners of like year and model I have discovered that i'm not the only one that is experiencing headlight electronics or headlight electrical system within the headlight assembly frying the electrical wires, cracking the brittle wire coating and exposing many of the electrical wires together within the housing unit of the headlight Assembly. This caused many short circuits Headlights Shutting off at random times but most importantly shutting off at night on a dark highway. Depending on the bumps and bruises of the streets would cause the Wires to touch each other and short circuit. Although this is a 17-year-old vehicle but I've never experienced electrical components being degraded this much For like Like age of any vehicle.

Filed Nov 25, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · AL · fire · 1 injury

Leaking gas caught on fire put it out but now I have no head lights no high beams replaced everything still nothing. All lights on dash go crazy kills battery all the time and had to replace something in the rear end. Overall it has cost me $2500 and I still have no headlights at all and leaking gas. It’s my only vehicle I hope next time it doesn’t catch back on fire could have been worse and still could be. Somebody could get hurt and I have kids.

Filed Jun 3, 2021 · Engine · NY

In a non-driving environment rain water drains off the hood of the vehicle, down the right headlight and drains directly into the vehicle's intake pipe. In turn, this rain water collects in the intake air filter box, destroys the air filter and allows water to enter the combustion chamber causing erratic engine performance and untold engine damage due to the violent shuddering and erratic idle. This is a safety issue when driving in rain because the condition can be exaggerated causing the engine to lose power at highway speeds. This is a known safety issue and has been addressed via recall in China and Europe.

Filed Oct 9, 2020 · Lights · 165,000 miles · OH

While driving, first side marker and right side turn signal began to fail, then while driving at night headlight failed. Upon inspection attempting to replace failed components, insulation was crumbling & non- existent. Immediately checked the left side headlight assembly. Same condition of wire insulation falling off wires, causing shorting out of components. Replacement of headlight housing assembly, bulbs, ballasts and controllers was required to operate vehicle condition. We contacted the local vw dealership (preston vw, boardman, ohio), their response was that they were not aware of any proplems with the touareg related to wiring or the headlight assemblies. Total cost to replace w oem through rock auto auto parts (most cost effective) was total$1,314.82

Filed Jul 27, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 75,000 miles · MS

Insulation on wires in headlight assembly falls off wires causing shorts and disables both headlights causing loss of vision at night. This also stops daytime running lights. Also plastic headlight assembly hazes and scratches resulting in poor light before the shorting wires disable all headlights.

Filed Mar 2, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 165,000 miles · GA

Insulation on wiring inside headlight housing deteriorated leaving exposed wire. Short circuit occurred causing complete loss of headlights while driving.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Volkswagen Touareg headlights

Which Volkswagen Touareg years have headlights failing or too dim problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2004 (11 complaints), 2008 (6 complaints) and 2005 (5 complaints).

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