The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. The contact stated the gear shift selector would not move out of park and he was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. While the vehicle was being towed, the entire console and warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated water was entering the vehicle and settling in the trunk near the spare tire. The dealer removed the shifter cable and replaced the harness, a wire and the shifter column. The failure mileage was 75,285 and the current mileage was 76,065. Updated 11/02/10. The consumer stated the trunk would not open properly. The tire sensors would come on. The ignition switch was defective and had to be replaced. Updated 11/04/10

- Whitestone, NY, USA

2004 VW Touareg V-8 many problems but 3 worth reporting: For no apparent reason passenger door could not be opened or unlatched by using any known means including the inside door handle or outside door handle, electric lock actuator clicks as if the door is unlocked but the door can not be opened or unlatched. Vehicle had to be brought to VW dealership and worked on by destroying the door handle to open the door and perhaps cutting a whole in the body pannel at the cost of 2 hours of diagnostics, 8 hours of labor to open door and probably 2 or 3 additional hours of replacing door handle if body of door is not bent, plus parts vehicle has many electrical glitches including but not limited to intermittent malfunction of air bag igniters....once again having the potential to cause serious harm occupants given the right circumstances this is a potential dangerous situation and has made me lose all faih in this manufacturer. Vehicle lunges forward when stopped at trafic lights and beginning to procceed on a green.

- Wyckoff, NJ, USA

I took delivery of my 2004 VW Touareg on 7-11-04. By 9-9-04 it was having problems. It has been in 6 times for electrical problems, 3 times for the ac, 3 times for the battery, and 1-2 times for other things. Tomorrow, I will be taking it in again for further A/C problems, brakes that catch on their own while in drive, intermittent faulty triggering of tire pressure monitoring system, and a hole that I discovered only day in the fire blanket under the hood. Apparently the engine heat has been burning a hole in it and has burned away a hole right through the blanket to the hood itself, but not through the hood yet. This car has meant time lost from work and an inordinate amount of time spent in the shop and paying for rental cars. This car is a fire and safety hazard. Fairfax county consumer protection (roy seger) had contacted VW as this car falls under the lemon law. VW responded that they would not comply, stating that they had fixed the battery. Their response failed to account for the multitude of other problems...and now this. I have never felt so powerless. Is there anything you can do to help??

- Dunn Loring, VA, USA

Twice in 18 months the entire front grill of our 2004 Volkswagen touraeg has flown off the car, crashed into the windshield, and then bounced off the top of the car into oncoming traffic. In both cases the motorist, and in one case motorcyclist had to swerve to avoid being hit. The first time it happened was in summer 2004. We had it repaired and VW assured us it was a freak incident, but it occurred again last Saturday. Both times it occurred when driving at highway speed, but certainly not excessively. It happened once when I was driving, and once to my husband. There was no warning at all. The grill did not appear to be loose or making any rattling noises. We feel very lucky that serious injury was avoided, but are concerned that this is a recurring defect that will sooner or later lead to injury or death to the people driving behind us in particular.

- West Newbury, MA, USA

While traveling with sun roof open vibration inside of vehicle hurt consumer's ears.

- Newton, MA, USA