( started noticing this problem about 1 to 2 years ago)while the automatic transmission is in 5th gear and speeds of under 50 mi./hr, when stepping on the accelerator, the automatic down shift occurs with a very harsh "kick" to a point that the passengers feel the jolt. A few years ago, a similar problem regarding the down-shift was subject of recall which the dealers had to install a "patch" ( updated software) in order to fix that problem.

- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Transmission jumps, lunges, has done this since 2009. The dealer states it needs replacing. Should be replaced by Volkswagen.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Driving along in a residential neighborhood under slight acceleration and a loud thumping noise begins in the transmission hump under the armrest - felt like something heavy had become wrapped around the driveshaft and was causing intense vibration above 30mph. Park the car and tow to repair shop and learn the drive shaft had broken and required complete replacement. This is a vehicle that has never been offroad and vast majority of miles are commuting on the freeway and general around-town driving. No way should a well-maintained vehicle doing light highway driving suffer a driveshaft failure at only 105K miles. Clearly a defect that the manufacturer should be responsible for. Repair bill was approximately $1600.

- Alamo, CA, USA

Airbag module defective with only 54,496 miles and a $1200 cost to fix. This is a safety issue! dash lighting has went on and off for airbag. A washer pump defective, power train transmission jumps and has been an ongoing problem and known problem by Volkswagen but nobody wants to admit the defect problem.

- Macomb, MI, USA

Car stalls, skips gears, jerks, when coming from a full stop to accelerating jerks and pull really hard going into 1st and 2nd gear, , took it to the dealer after paying 800 dollar they could find anything wrong, , and that was VW dealer.... I've been seein alot of the same complaints for this specific model and year, can some please let me know if Volkswagen is not going to take responsibility for this issue atleast tell me what could be wrong, so I can fix it and get rid of this stupid car. Im better off with an american car...

- Tucson, AZ, USA

The center carrier bearing on the drive shaft went out. At first it sounded like I had a flat tire but upon further inspection that was not the case. This seems to be a common failure. I was told a design flaw and all of these would fail.. the dealership says that the entire drive shaft has to be replaced. But it will not be covered since it is out of warranty. Since this is a common failure it should be fixed by VW and not costing all their customers over a grand to fix.

- Mount Vernon, KY, USA

Rear center drive shaft from gearbox to differential, middle bearing fails. Volkswagen only supplies new shafts for $1,400 no bearings or exchange. This happens to a lot of Touaregs according the clubtouareg forum. This is a premature design failure of this car.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

While accelerating onto the highway, a loud, repetitious bang/clunk from the middle underside of the vehicle started, sounding similar to a blown tire. No abnormal operations noted prior to this. Limped the car back to the shop at 15 mph and found the center driveshaft carrier bearing failed. The service tech acted as if this was common and was not surprised. I have a 1981 Mercury with over 305000 miles and never lost a bearing in my driveshaft. Mechanical parts fail. The worst part of this event is voa's reaction that somehow they are not responsible for a poor/weak design. List of other major component failures with no recall that are common to all Touaregs of this generation according to the company's own service tech's: center differential lock motor fail rear diff. Lock motor fail cooling fans do not shut off, drain battery thermostat housing leak radio failure.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

At 94,000 miles transmission problems, told transmission non-serviceable VW does not recommend any transmission fluid replacement. Could be gear box cost $2400 or entire transmission cost $7,000. Vwa will pay $1,000 to our choice of gear box or transmission replacement but if we choose wrong repair will not pay for anything further! vwa obviously is aware of problem and designed the transmission in such a way that it can't be serviced. We have had prior engine coil recall replaced, updated computer software and replaced drive-train at cost of $1900 at 74,000 miles.

- Minnetrista, MN, USA

In December 2009 my 2004 VW Touareg was in park with the engine idling while my son, who was driving the car, got out of the car to speak to a parking lot attendant. His wife was in the passenger seat and their two children were in car seats in the rear seat. About 2 minutes later, while my son was still out of the car, the car began to roll backwards into a busy street in nyc. He ran after the car while his wife frantically tried to get out of her seat belt to move into the driver's seat. He caught up with the car and jumped in and hit the brake to stop the car. He looked over at the gear shift thinking that it had been moved inadvertently but the car was still in park. He then turned off the ignition. The car was idling in park on a relatively flat surface - there are no real hills in nyc. He took his life in his hands to avoid a disaster whereby the car would have certainly been hit broadside in the busy adjoining street with his family in the vehicle. We took the car into a VW dealer repair shop near my home in Maryland the next week and they checked the car out thoroughly, but could not find anything wrong, nor could they duplicate the experience. This was a frightening and dangerous experience and I am afraid that it could happen again.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

I have a 2004 VW Touareg V8, I have a airbag light that come on (airbag fault), now the tran light is coming on when I start the SUV.

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA