-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NlR6qRMRL9bLSFEWpCH6k6cDQnea+o2uZvpYl1gbFCD8ruvC55ewmZK0pC3M/UGb
 S+MvPzBB3gL8GSMTucSENA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000948046-05-000197.txt : 20051129
<SEC-HEADER>0000948046-05-000197.hdr.sgml : 20051129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051129142145
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000948046-05-000197
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051129
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEUTSCHE BANK AG\
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000948046
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			I8

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12733
		FILM NUMBER:		051231348

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TAUNUSANLAGE 12 D-60325
		CITY:			FRANKFURT AM MAIN GE
		STATE:			I8

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TAUNUSANLAGE 12 D-60325
		CITY:			FRANKFURT AM MAIN
		STATE:			I8

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOWER AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000925548
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL FORGING & STAMPINGS [3460]
		IRS NUMBER:				411746238
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		27175 HAGGERTY ROAD
		CITY:			NOVI
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48377
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(248) 675-6000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		27175 HAGGERTY ROAD
		CITY:			NOVI
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48377
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000925548</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOWER AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TWRAQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000948046</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEUTSCHE BANK AG\</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TAUNUSANLAGE 12 D-60325</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRANKFURT AM MAIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>I8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY (WEST)</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Tower Automotive Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5832190</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Tower Automotive 5 3/4 Convertible</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>15000000</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-11-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Tower Automotive Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3465000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23599965</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A total of $23,515,721 5 3/4 Convertible bonds are held, convertible into 5,432,139 common shares.

A total of 84,244 6 3/4 Convertible Prefs are held, convertible into 137,151 common shares</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey A Ruiz, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----