2008 Toyota Highlander vs 2008 Volkswagen Touareg
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Toyota Highlander | 2008 Volkswagen Touareg |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 403 | 56 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 281 | 417 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 44 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–26 | 14–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 95,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Highlander | Volkswagen Touareg |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 66 | 1 |
| Engine | 58 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 57 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 | 0 |
| Steering | 40 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 23 |
| Tires | 25 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 24 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 22 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 20 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 13 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 11 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 5 |
2008 Toyota Highlander
2008 Volkswagen Touareg
Compare all Toyota Highlander vs Volkswagen Touareg years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.