MajorVery commonSuspension

Volkswagen Touareg: Air Suspension Compressor Diaphragm Failure & Air Spring Leak

Air Suspension Compressor Diaphragm Failure & Air Spring Leak is a very common suspension fault on the Volkswagen Touareg on the 2010–2018 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $4,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 19 documented faults on the Volkswagen Touareg.

Vehicle: Volkswagen Touareg
Years: 2010–2018
Gearbox: auto
System: Suspension

This page covers the Volkswagen Touareg as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Volkswagen Touareg faults19 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 7P Touareg air suspension uses the same Wabco/Continental compressor platform as the Q7 and shares identical failure modes. The compressor rubber diaphragm splits after 8–12 years of heat cycling causing loss of compression capacity. The air spring bellows crack at convolution fold points or at the upper crimped metal cap leading to air leaks and vehicle sag. A seized or burnt-out compressor motor results when the unit runs continuously to compensate for leaking springs. Replacement of the compressor diaphragm repair kit extends life temporarily but full spring replacement is typically required once bellows cracking is found during inspection.

What you would notice

Vehicle sinking to bump stops after overnight parking
Air suspension or ride height fault warning on instrument cluster
Compressor running excessively or failing to activate
Rough ride quality on all road surfaces
Hissing sound from suspension area when engine is off

How to check it

Where to look. Compressor mounted in the right rear cargo area behind inner trim panel; air springs at all four corners adjacent to the shock absorbers

Park on level ground overnight then measure ride height at all four corners in the morning. With ignition on listen for compressor activity. Apply soapy water to air spring bellows and pneumatic line joints. If a workshop inspection is possible: Use a VAG diagnostic tool to read air suspension fault codes and check level sensor live data values.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $4,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the air compressor or any individual air springs been replaced?”
“Does the vehicle maintain its correct ride height after overnight parking?”
“Are there any suspension-related warning lights currently present?”

Now check the Volkswagen Touareg you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Volkswagen Touareg buyer questions

Is air suspension compressor diaphragm failure & air spring leak serious on a Volkswagen Touareg?

We rate it major and very common on the Volkswagen Touareg. The 7P Touareg air suspension uses the same Wabco/Continental compressor platform as the Q7 and shares identical failure modes. The compressor rubber diaphragm splits after 8–12 years of heat cycling causing loss of compression capacity. The air spring bellows crack at convolution fold points or at the upper crimped metal cap leading to air leaks and vehicle sag. A seized or burnt-out compressor motor results when the unit runs continuously to compensate for leaking springs. Replacement of the compressor diaphragm repair kit extends life temporarily but full spring replacement is typically required once bellows cracking is found during inspection.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volkswagen Touareg?

$1,200 to $4,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Volkswagen Touareg years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2018 Volkswagen Touareg. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.