Engine Failure Problems of Volkswagen Touareg

Water and debris was ingested in to air filter box resulting in water-soaked air filter and the potential for catastrophic engine failure. It is unknown how long the problem has been occurring because I had never checked my air filter before. The vehicle has periodically been driven in rain over the last few years but never driven in deep or standing water. It appears that drains are not able to drain properly and water is entering the box somehow when it shouldn't be be able to.

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Air intake water ingestion brand new vehicle with only 134 dealer miles on it. Went from delivery truck to driveway where it was parked (no plates yet, so has not been driven). Opened air filter box to inspect filter element. . . Bottom 2-3 inches of the filter was soaked. This is consistent with complaints documented on the clubtouareg forum, and the recall issued by vw china. This also needs to be a recall in the USA since water ingestion may lead to hydro-locking and sudden and catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds.

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Water ingestion into air intake from design flaw. Changed air filter based on warning thread located at club Touareg online. If you drive a 2011-2017 Touareg please check your air filter. Many owners have reported complete engine failures and vw refused to take responsibility. Vw issued recall in china but are denying problems here in na. My air intake tube leading up to the airbox was full of water and the bottom 2-3 inches of the air filter itself was falling apart, soaking wet and moldy. It was basically sitting in water. Our vehicle in only used on road for commuting - never off road or on deep water situations. I'm attaching photos of my airbox full of water and the air filter I changed.

When changing air filter, the filter was soaked with water at the bottom. The air intake tube was filled with water and wasn't draining. I'm lucky the water wasn't sucked into the engine. The little drain at the bottom of the intake tube was clogged not allowing the water to drain but why was water allowed to get in there in the first place. This is a very poor design and can lead to catastrophic engine failure.