The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·16V035000·Announced 2016-01-25

Volkswagen Recalls Touareg Hybrids for Battery Fire Risk

Volkswagen is recalling 2011-2015 Touareg Hybrid vehicles because water in the battery tray may cause an electrical short and fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (hybrid battery tray) that creates a risk of fire, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for significant injury/property-damage reports or structural defects.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Touareg Hybrid vehicles manufactured between March 20, 2010, and April 11, 2015. The recall involves 825 vehicles.

The hybrid battery tray may not drain water sufficiently. If water collects in the tray, it may cause an electrical short in the high voltage battery, which increases the risk of a fire.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a fitted drain valve to allow water to drain properly, free of charge. The recall began in late February 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG HYBRID
Brand
VOLKSWAGEN
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Hybrid Propulsion System
Hazard
Affected units
825

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • TOUAREG HYBRID

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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