The Volkswagen Tiguan Limited spans 2018–2018 with 1 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2018 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2018. It delivers up to 23 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Volkswagen Tiguan Limited is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2018 to 2018 across multiple generations.
How to read a Volkswagen Tiguan Limited VIN — every digit explained
Every Volkswagen Tiguan Limited carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Volkswagen and the country it was built in (real Volkswagen codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Tiguan Limited.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- GermanyWV1 · WV2 · WVG · WVW
- USA1V1 · 1V2 · 1VW
- Mexico3VV · 3VW · 9BW
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Tiguan Limited, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited have?
The Volkswagen Tiguan Limited has 1 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2018–2018. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
Best and worst years for the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 1 tracked years, the worst years are 2018 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2018.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Tiguan Limited | Power Train | Avoid |
What are the most common Volkswagen Tiguan Limited problems?
The most-reported Volkswagen Tiguan Limited problems are Engine (2 reports), Air Bags (1 reports) and Steering (1 reports) — out of 6 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Volkswagen Tiguan Limited specifications & dimensions
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Volkswagen Tiguan Limited cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Tiguan Limited holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Volkswagen Tiguan Limited tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited get?
The Volkswagen Tiguan Limited returns up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $3,350/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited (2L 4-cyl) gets 23 mpg combined and costs about $3,350/yr to fuel, emitting 391 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 5/10, smog 3/10) — about $5,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Tiguan Limited | 20 | 26 | $3,350 | 391 | 3/10 | 2L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Tiguan Limited stacks up against the most fuel-efficient SUVs, or calculate this Tiguan Limited's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited have? Power & range
The Volkswagen Tiguan Limited is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Volkswagen Tiguan Limited tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Tiguan Limited's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
How much does a Volkswagen Tiguan Limited cost to own?
A Volkswagen Tiguan Limited depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Tiguan Limited is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Tiguan Limited loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $16,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Tiguan Limited ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Volkswagen Tiguan Limited to insure?
A Volkswagen Tiguan Limited costs about $1,288 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 10% below the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (90, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the Tiguan Limited's HLDI loss index. See Volkswagen insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Tiguan Limited yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Volkswagen Tiguan Limited last?
A well-maintained Volkswagen Tiguan Limited typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Volkswagen Tiguan Limited’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Tiguan Limited’s VIN free →All Volkswagen Tiguan Limited model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Tiguan Limited | 1 recall | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Tiguan Limited?
By owner-complaint volume, 2018 drew the most reports. 2018 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Tiguan Limited have?
1 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2018–2018. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Volkswagen recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Tiguan Limited get?
Up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Tiguan Limited last?
A well-maintained Tiguan Limited typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Tiguan Limited reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Tiguan Limited is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited warranty?
New Volkswagen models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Volkswagen dealer.
Where is the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Tiguan Limited's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Volkswagen may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Tiguan Limited have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.