The Volkswagen Tiguan spans 2009–2026 with 2 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 5.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2009, 2016, 2026 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2010, 2011, 2012. It delivers up to 29 mpg combined and 5-star NHTSA 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 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2009 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Volkswagen Tiguan VIN — every digit explained
Every Volkswagen Tiguan 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.
- 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.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your Tiguan VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Tiguan have?
The Volkswagen Tiguan has 2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2009–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls 2
Latches/locks/linkages
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
Risk. If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
Fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Risk. Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
Best and worst years for the Volkswagen Tiguan
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 18 tracked years, the worst years are 2009, 2016, 2026 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2010, 2011, 2012.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Tiguan | Engine | Avoid | |
| 2010 Tiguan | — | Best | |
| 2011 Tiguan | — | Best | |
| 2012 Tiguan | — | Best | |
| 2013 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2014 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2015 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2016 Tiguan | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2017 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2018 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2019 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2020 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2021 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2022 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2023 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2024 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2025 Tiguan | — | Average | |
| 2026 Tiguan | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
The most-reported Volkswagen Tiguan problems are Other (1 reports), Seats (5 reports) and Engine (89 reports) — out of 261 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:
Engine 89 Read
Vehicle completely stopped while i was driving on the freeway. I was in the far left lane, and the engine failed and i was not able to move to the right shoulder. I put my hazards on and called for assistance. While on the phone it was clear that i was not in a safe position, so myself and my passenger exited the vehicle when there was a break in traffic. We were able to get across to the right side of the road, behind a guardrail. While on the phone with 911 someone slammed into the back of my car, causing extensive damage to both vehicles. Luckily no one was injured, and no other cars were affected. Both vehicles were inoperable and had to be towed from the scene. I was told by the volkswagen dealership that an engine coil broke off, and backfed into the harness, causing the engine to fail. In addition, i had just been to the dealer for an oil change that morning, and had driven 8 miles when the incident happened. The dealer says there is no relationship, and that engine parts failed. I am concerned that there is a defect with this part, as i have very low mileage on the vehicle. This incident put me in an extremely unsafe situation, and i want to report this in order to find out if this is a defective piece, so that this does not happen to anyone else. *tr
The contact's friend owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test showed that the vehicle and determined that the steering rack, wheel speed sensors, and engine cooling fans needed to be replaced. The contact's friend declined the repair, and the warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that coolant was leaking into the engine and discovered various engine leaks. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. The VIN was invalid.
I bought a 2016 VW Tiguan in 2019 from the Audi Rockville dealership. Recently I had an oil leak issue that requires a substantial repair. I first took it to a certified VW mechanic, Ourisman VW of Rockville, and they diagnosed the issue to be a 4,109.19 dollar repair. Following this, I took it to get a second look at an independent mechanic shop, Wilniq Auto Body & Mechanical Repairs, and the mechanic came to the conclusion that the engine head gasket needs to be replaced and that it should be covered under the manufacturers power train warranty. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty by just 241 miles (Warranty is up until 60,000 miles and my car is at 60,241). Based on what the mechanic saw while diagnosing the issue (The color and consistency of the leaked oil and where it was located), he alluded to this oil leak issue definitely starting prior to my car hitting 60,000 miles and that the other mechanics who worked on my car prior should have noticed this issue. They also mentioned that from what they can tell this issue has nothing to do with how I maintained the car but an issue with the car itself. I regularly maintained the car with all scheduled oil changes on time. The last three oil changes I had were at 51, 256 mi, 54,404 mi, and lastly at 58,075 mi (The recommendation is every 10,000 mi). When I brought all this up to a Volkswagen of America representative via chat they mentioned that because I brought the car to an independent shop the warranty would not be applicable anyway. My independent mechanic told me that this is not the case and in fact illegal. I bought this car in good faith with my hard earned money expecting it to be a durable and reliable product for years to come. Now I am getting hit with serious repairs at just over 60,000 miles and I do not trust that there won't be more in the future. Attached are documents, receipts, transcripts, other customer complaints similar to mine and the answers to the general guideline questions above.
I had a coolant leak and needed to replace the water pump. My control arms were corroded out at 67k miles and needed to be replaced.
My 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan has only 49,000 and the water pumps went bad already never heard of this I brought many cars and never had any problems with water pumps especially so soon. I couldn’t drive for days because water pumps are so expensive and my is more than 30 mile away which causes my car to over heat and the antifreeze was leaking so much I didn’t want to get stranded out there so I didn’t drive much until I was able to replace the water pumps. It’s to my knowledge Volkswagens had water pumps defects issues and I feel Volkswagen needs to recall 2016 models because water pumps should last for over 100,000 miles or more. I brought this car used in good condition with only 34,000 on the car and now water pumps goes bad. I hope someone looks into this matter because this parts are very expensive on consumers and Volkswagen needs to pick up the bill not consumers..Thanks for your time.
2016 volkswagen tiguan 2.0 L combination timing chain and timing chain tensioner failure as diagnosed by the Volkswagen dealership. Caused the car to lose power immediately and misfire
My vehicle experienced an intake manifold failure and required replacement. This is a widely known and documented issue with older version vw intake manifolds. There is also an extended warranty applied to vw intake manifolds which i have added as a document below. Vw claims that my intake manifold is not covered by the extended warranty even though my car has the same ccta engine and same intake manifold as the ones described in the notice. The warranty extension should apply to any of the vw vehicles that have affected intake manifolds. The intake manifold was completely redesigned by vw in 2017 to address specific issues with the older version of the intake manifold as described in this video done by a vw expert and documented universally. As you can see in the date and records, this update was released after my 2016 vw tiguan was built, so my car has the old version of the intake manifold. The old version sku is 06j133201bd and the new version sku is 06j133201bh which i have linked below which additionally supports my claim. The warranty extension on the intake manifold by vw was too narrowly applied since there are more vehicles with the same engine and same intake manifold that are experiencing the same issue. Please advise vw to extend the warranty to all affected vehicles including the 2016 vw tiguan. Video of intake manifold update - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ivxpqrizkk&t video detailing issues of vw intake manifold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvfvukupy0k&t old version intake manifold - https://parts.vw.com/p/volkswagen__/manifold/54564237/06j133201bd.html new version intake manifold - https://parts.vw.com/p/volkswagen__/engine-intake-manifold/67801038/06j133201bh.html
Code p2015 problem in intake manifold. Requires replacement of the intake manifold. Volkswagen has extended the warranty for previous year models with this exact problem and are refusing to extend the warranty for the 2016 tiguan.
I bought my car july 6th, 2018, got the oil changed in august 2018, and everything was fine until october 1,2018 when the epc light came on and about 1minute later the engine light came on. I was turning onto my street in my neighborhood when it happened and immediately called the auto shop where i'd recently gotten my oil changed. They told me to bring it the next day but i looked in the users manual and it said to drive to my nearest dealership. So i called the dealership and they said to bring it at 8:15 on october 3rd. I took it and dropped it off. I called before they closed to get an update on the diagnosis and they told me they suggested a 100k maintenance service and new battery. They said the battery caused the slow start and they checked the codes and it said fault in timing correlation' which was caused by low oil pressure and they didn't see oil on the dipstick. So, i asked if the suggested maintenance would fix the issues and if that's why the service lights came on and she told me yes! I then went to the dealership to get final clarification of what was going on and she told me after the maintenance everything was fine and he just needed to test drive it and i could come back in an hour. So she called after an hour and said they finished and i could get my car. I paid them and she told me there were no problems and i would probably need rear tires and brakes and an oil change and the 110k mile service in a year or 10k miles- whichever comes first. I got in the car and before i left the dealership the epc light came on. I got out, went back inside and told her and she told me they needed to pull it back around and i left with my mom and she called hours later and said i needed a timing chain and tensioner. I asked why they didn't see that before and she said they hadn't looked at it closely enough. Then said she'll call back tomorrow
Check engine light went on for no apparent reason. Had taken my car for a battery recall issue and was told by vw service provider that they would not cover the problem. Next day check engine sign popped up. I have never driven a worse car in my entire 20 years.
Electrical System 67 Read
I own a 2009 vw tiguan. The car burst into flames this morning after the check engine light went on while my pregnant wife was driving the car this morning. The car has been maintained by vw and had roughly 22,000 miles on it. I bought the car from evanston autobarn vw in 2010 and serviced it at fletcher jones vw of chicago. I filed an insurance claim this morning and contacted both vw dealerships and your 24 hour help line. Vw has been zero help to us. Everyone said to call my insurance company. This is not an insurance issue. There was no collision. This car simply burst into flames while being driven. Chicago police department and fire department was involved and the report # is ht535806. *kb
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the entertainment, cruise control, and TPMS turned on and off without application. The horn was inoperable. The seat belt, air bag, and tire warning lights were illuminated. A tree fell on the vehicle, and the sunroof was leaking. The contact stated that there was an abnormal amount of fuel outside of the vehicle. The contact and her dog were exposed to fuel, and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the spring clock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, Royal Volkswagen, 3010 Columbiana Rd B, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216, where it was diagnosed that the water pump and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The car was shut down by keyless ignition and the fob was removed when i entered a building. After 15 minutes it rolled away and hit a sculpture and rolled over. I as the driver failed to place the transmission in park or someone tampered with the car as someone was spotted in the car after it flipped over. My complaint is that when the car is shut down i believe it should have immobilized regardless of the shifter as i shut off the engine exited the vehicle. Keyless ignition safety in relation to rollaways in this model is not sufficient.
Smelled something burning. Passenger noticed their seat was hot. Discovered burn spots in the passenger seat. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen tiguan. While traveling 5 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle would not properly accelerate and begun to surge forward. The vehicle was shut off by the contact and would not restart. Prior to the surging, the contact noticed that the check engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the engine was replaced, however the contact was not informed what caused the engine failure. Two months after the repair, the contact was examining the vehicle and noticed that the main fuse box was melted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the fuse box was repaired. The current mileage was 50,000 and the failure mileage was 30,000. The vin was not available. K
Electronic Power Steering fails and there is a loss of control with turning the wheel (left/right). This is a hazard especially on the road as it not only puts myself at risk but other drivers lives at risk. There is a red steering wheel that lights up on the dash which indicates loss of power steering. There have been multiple reports already of Electronic Power Steering Failure with Volkswagen vehicles. They have yet to issue a massive recall on anything which can turn potentially hazardous to peoples lives. The electronic power steering failure always seems to persist no matter if it’s too cold or too hot.
My check engine light keeps turning on and off. I took it to the dealership and they gave me a list of things to fix in the future but nothing too serious. They fixed the intake manifold, which I was not aware or informed that it had a recall on it, and they cleaned the valves. They turned off the check engine light and when I picked up the car, it came back on. I informed them about it and they turned it off again. Then again it turned back on as soon as I left the dealership. They told me I had to change the oil and so I did but it turned on again. I tested it at auto zone and the reader said to change the camshaft position sensor and I did. The check engine light turned off and on again quickly. Then recently the steering wheel light turned on and locked the steering wheel.
The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan has a problem with the sunroof leaking and floors being filled with puddles of water in entire car. This have caused the water to cause electrical problems with the vehicle as well as meadow and mold.
Leaking panoramic sunroof only when it rains. I have taken it for the 5th time and you can’t drive it in the morning or when any condensation comes inside because u can’t see out of the windows at all. It smells awful and it’s a lot of water! It has ruined the touchscreen . I have been paying out of pocket trying to get this fixed. There should be a recall!
Airbag error light on dashboard, passenger seat shorted out water pooled under passenger seats front and rear soaking wet coming up through carpets with moldy smell. You tube says it may be the panoramic roof drains.
Air Bags 47 Read
My car has never been in an accident. One day while turning into my driveway, I heard a large clicking sound. Since then, my airbag malfunction light is on and my car horn does not sound/work. All steering wheel controls are broken. This has been an issue for about 6 months. I've been waiting on a recall impacting my specific VIN/year/make/model, however I am being informed that I will need to pay out of pocket to have this major safety concern taken care of. I will be taking this car to the dealership this week in hopes to have a repair quote that I will have to save a significant amount of money over an extended period of time to complete.
Airbag error light on dashboard, passenger seat shorted out water pooled under passenger seats front and rear soaking wet coming up through carpets with moldy smell. You tube says it may be the panoramic roof drains.
The electric connection for the air bag has malfunctioned . The same vehicle with different VIN numbers have already been recalled for the exact same reason. Not sure why my car was not included. Many people on the VW forums are having the same issues. Please recall.
Steering Wheel Clock Spring has gone out on my VW Tiguan, driver air bag is on which means the airbag wont come if we get in a accident. Pressure light is on as well. This will be the 3rd Steering Wheel Clock Spring installed.
The clock spring part of the steering wheel has failed rendering all steering wheel controls and most importantly the air bag inoperable. This is a major safety hazard for the driver and ultimately passengers as well. This part has been a well known problem with this vehicle and has been covered under an extended warranty, yet Volkswagen refuses to make the part readily available to their customers who are under extended warranty coverage for said part. This is a major safety risk in that they are showing months long delays in getting parts forcing people to choose ability to get to work over safety. Volkswagen is wilfully exposing customers to undue safety compromises. Recall the car and make them fix this. And compensate owners.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing, the vehicle emitted abnormal clicking sounds with the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the replacement part was on backorder. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
The clockspring has failed, and all electronics in the steering column do not work, including the horn (as well as cruise control, radio volume, channel, etc). It is also believed the air bag(s) will not deploy in a crash. The clockspring failure has been verified by the local VW dealership. The part has not been available from VW for over 2 months(!), and now my vehicle's safety inspection has expired and the car is not legally drivable on public roads (in Virginia) (and VW will not provide or pay for alternative transportation). VW can not provide and ETA for when this critical safety part will be available.
The clockspring failed at under 62,000 miles. Air bag light came on, steering controls stopped working, and horn stopped working. Lots of other VWs have had clockspring issues--wondering why this is not included yet?
Unknown. Airbag sign went on, Clock does not work, seems like electrical problem.
Clock spring in steering wheel failed and the airbag, horn and steering wheel controls no longer work on my daughter's Tiguan which is still under warranty. ( a very expensive extended warranty) Volkswagon is no longer manufacturing the part, so the only way to repair the car is to replace the whole steering wheel column which costs 5 times as much.(So they don't want to fix it that way) I was told they have multiple cars sitting on their lot since last year waiting for that part, but from what I heard from a mechanic/parts guy is VW is just simply no longer making that part and stringing their customers along saying it is "backordered". The warranty is not being honored. The car is sitting at the dealership collecting dust. They will not provide me with a loaner, or reimburse me for a rental car.
Steering 26 Read
First, this exact same scenario also happened in october 2010. The first incident occurred when i was driving the vehicle, and now this time, when my husband was driving the vehicle. Both of us, each have 30+ years of driving experience and neither of us have ever been involved in a crash or experienced this type of loss of control in a vehicle, ever. Both incidents occurred while turning a corner at approximately 5 to 15 mph in approximately 1- 3 inches of new snow. The car slid with total loss of steering and brakes, smashing into the curb, breaking the axle, control arm, steering knuckle, etc... There was no control whatsover. This was not ice. This has never ever happened before with any other vehicle we have ever driven. The car did not correct itself even when the steering wheel was released. We believe there is a deficiency in the esp monitoring system. The esp system totally failed while turning. The esp sensors did not detect the situation and did not react at all independent of the driver. The esp system did not use the vehicle's braking system to "steer" the vehicle back on track. The esp did not initiate any braking intervention at all. It was like all systems just totally malfunctioned. Horrible. Someone is going to be seriously hurt. I am thankful another vehicle or person was in the area. *tr
The contact's friend owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test showed that the vehicle and determined that the steering rack, wheel speed sensors, and engine cooling fans needed to be replaced. The contact's friend declined the repair, and the warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that coolant was leaking into the engine and discovered various engine leaks. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. The VIN was invalid.
I’ll be driving for 2-10 minutes and power steering cuts out. Wheel will jerk a little and alarm will sound with the alert light remaining red through remainder of drive. Sometimes it will not work at all while driving, but I’ve found the it usually works for the first few minutes until I speed up a little more.
My car has never been in an accident. One day while turning into my driveway, I heard a large clicking sound. Since then, my airbag malfunction light is on and my car horn does not sound/work. All steering wheel controls are broken. This has been an issue for about 6 months. I've been waiting on a recall impacting my specific VIN/year/make/model, however I am being informed that I will need to pay out of pocket to have this major safety concern taken care of. I will be taking this car to the dealership this week in hopes to have a repair quote that I will have to save a significant amount of money over an extended period of time to complete.
During cold winter months in below freezing temperatures, a red warning light will turn on when the electronic steering fails and the electronic steering will randomly lock up while driving. Making it extremely difficult to steer and nearly impossible to use at a stop or slow speeds. When inspected, the entire steering rack with the steering electronic module needs replacing.
Electronic Power Steering fails and there is a loss of control with turning the wheel (left/right). This is a hazard especially on the road as it not only puts myself at risk but other drivers lives at risk. There is a red steering wheel that lights up on the dash which indicates loss of power steering. There have been multiple reports already of Electronic Power Steering Failure with Volkswagen vehicles. They have yet to issue a massive recall on anything which can turn potentially hazardous to peoples lives. The electronic power steering failure always seems to persist no matter if it’s too cold or too hot.
My check engine light keeps turning on and off. I took it to the dealership and they gave me a list of things to fix in the future but nothing too serious. They fixed the intake manifold, which I was not aware or informed that it had a recall on it, and they cleaned the valves. They turned off the check engine light and when I picked up the car, it came back on. I informed them about it and they turned it off again. Then again it turned back on as soon as I left the dealership. They told me I had to change the oil and so I did but it turned on again. I tested it at auto zone and the reader said to change the camshaft position sensor and I did. The check engine light turned off and on again quickly. Then recently the steering wheel light turned on and locked the steering wheel.
The clock spring in my vehicle broke back in December of 2021. This was diagnosed by a Volkswagen dealership service department. It is now 5 1/2 months after the part was ordered and still no part. This makes the car undriveable. The air bag and horn do not work and the entire dash is unusable. It is a safety issue that has rendered my car undriveable for the past 5 months. We can’t get dealership to answer calls. We have found many others complaining of same thing being wrong with their Tiguan and have all been told the part is indefinitely delayed with thousands of people needing the part but none are being made. Volkswagen needs to do something to help people who purchased their product and can’t even use them. My daughter was driving the vehicle when she heard a crunch and her air bag light came on and the steering was affected. Thankfully she pulled over until someone could help her. We are still paying monthly for a car that is not driveable.
Volkswagen dealer diagnosed my car with a failed clockspring in October of 2021, which results in a failed driver's airbag, no horn, and failed steering wheel control buttons. Volkswagen currently has this part on backorder with no ETA and there are 3000 customers without this part. I have no way of obtaining this part, and therefore have no airbag or horn which is extremely unsafe. Volkswagen refuses to provide alternative transportation or a rental vehicle for me saying that it is not covered under the warranty. In addition, the car would not pass inspection in several states, and I can't sell it because it is not safe. So I'm paying for a useless car.
Steering wheel began making a clicking noise every time i would turn the wheel either right or left. Then the volume and skip buttons stopped working on the steering wheel, left side only, the right side control buttons are working just fine. A couple of days later, the airbag light came on the dashboard and my steering wheel is still clicking when i turn the wheel. Doesn't matter if i'm on the freeway or in a residential area, it clicks no matter what and the airbag light has not gone off since.
Power Train 23 Read
On june 13, 2008 i was traveling west bound on a typical south florida day, very hot and humid clear day. Just then a pick-up truck put out very fast in front of me. I slammed on my brakes with plenty of time to stop, but just before i came to a complete stop, the engine roared and i hit the truck very hard. At first i thought my foot slipped off the brake to the gas, but no way, i broke my foot because i hit the brake so hard. My question is this,is there a known problem with this newcar? *tr
Subject: Known Carbon Buildup Issue in 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI – Request for Recall and Accountability To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern and request action regarding a well-documented and dangerous issue affecting Volkswagen TSI engines—specifically, severe carbon buildup. I am the current owner of a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI, which I purchased in April 2025 with approximately 84,000 miles on it. In June 2025, I had to have the intake manifold replaced due to carbon buildup—a repair that was still covered under warranty. However, shortly after, I was informed that the vehicle now requires a full engine decarb and replacement of all four fuel injectors, at a total cost of $3,296. This raises several serious concerns: •Carbon buildup this severe at such low mileage is not typical wear and tear. It indicates a design flaw in the TSI direct-injection engine. •My extended warranty provider refuses to cover the repair, citing that it is a maintenance issue—conveniently shifting the responsibility away from the manufacturer. •This type of engine failure can result in dangerous performance issues, including: •Sudden engine misfires •Loss of power while accelerating •Poor fuel economy •Stalling or hesitation while merging or turning •Catalytic converter damage •Potential long-term engine failure I am stunned that this is not considered a safety issue worthy of recall, especially given the number of reports online and in service centers regarding this exact problem. The symptoms of carbon buildup can easily result in on-road danger to the driver and others. What’s most disheartening is that Volkswagen has long been aware of this flaw, yet no recall or extended warranty has been offered for affected consumers. I previously owned a 2015 Passat and was a loyal VW owner—but now, as a single mother, I am expected to pay nearly $3,300 for a repair tied to poor engineering and design, not misuse or neglect.
I bought a 2016 VW Tiguan in 2019 from the Audi Rockville dealership. Recently I had an oil leak issue that requires a substantial repair. I first took it to a certified VW mechanic, Ourisman VW of Rockville, and they diagnosed the issue to be a 4,109.19 dollar repair. Following this, I took it to get a second look at an independent mechanic shop, Wilniq Auto Body & Mechanical Repairs, and the mechanic came to the conclusion that the engine head gasket needs to be replaced and that it should be covered under the manufacturers power train warranty. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty by just 241 miles (Warranty is up until 60,000 miles and my car is at 60,241). Based on what the mechanic saw while diagnosing the issue (The color and consistency of the leaked oil and where it was located), he alluded to this oil leak issue definitely starting prior to my car hitting 60,000 miles and that the other mechanics who worked on my car prior should have noticed this issue. They also mentioned that from what they can tell this issue has nothing to do with how I maintained the car but an issue with the car itself. I regularly maintained the car with all scheduled oil changes on time. The last three oil changes I had were at 51, 256 mi, 54,404 mi, and lastly at 58,075 mi (The recommendation is every 10,000 mi). When I brought all this up to a Volkswagen of America representative via chat they mentioned that because I brought the car to an independent shop the warranty would not be applicable anyway. My independent mechanic told me that this is not the case and in fact illegal. I bought this car in good faith with my hard earned money expecting it to be a durable and reliable product for years to come. Now I am getting hit with serious repairs at just over 60,000 miles and I do not trust that there won't be more in the future. Attached are documents, receipts, transcripts, other customer complaints similar to mine and the answers to the general guideline questions above.
Oil consumption issue. “Normal” oil consumption is 1 quart per 1200 miles according to VW. My Tiguan with 70k miles is burning 3 quarts every 2,000 miles. No obvious oil leak or burning of oil. I’m told I need a new engine and this is a known issue for VW. Car no longer under warranty after 60k miles.
The engine reached 100k miles in the second week of April 2022. After that, I tried to turn on the vehicle, and the engine did not respond. I took my car to the mechanic, and he told me that the car needed an engine replacement. This is very strange since the vehicle had an excellent maintenance schedule, and I usually, this type of car last longer. That engine issue could have caused a severe accident on the road, and fortunately, it never happened. The timing belt might have an issue there, but I had very little information from the engine codes since I did not have an indicator earlier. It just appeared like that. I feel that this type of issue is unfair. After having more than four cars with way more miles, this has never happened, and on average, a Tiguan engine should last at least 150k miles according to the statistics of the vehicle model and year. I feel upset and disappointed with this vehicle model since the cost of replacing the engine cost around 6000$, and I am an international student with no money to do that repair. I feel helpless, and VW told me the only way to get a recall of this car is through a report from the NHTSA, which would be fair given the circumstances I have been through. The only thing I request is to generate a recall for this vehicle if possible. I hope some reads this, and I appreciate the work you do. Thanks
Vehicles timing chain tensioner failed causing the engine to stop running. Timing gain tensioner failed causing severe engine damage. While merging onto freeway engine lost all propulsion causing vehicle to lose acceleration due to issue. Almost caused an accident with a semi truck as vehicle was only moving at 20 mph onto a freeway where speed limit is seventy. Was able to move vehicle to the shoulder but would not restart due to engine damage. Volkswagen has acknowledged the issue but has offered zero assistance
The rear main seal on my 09 tiguan 2.0 tsi blew at 709k miles from pcv valve defect. I have heard of several cases of the pcv clogging on the tsi engine cars sending boost pressure into crankcase and blowing the seal.
On monday evening 02/13/2017 in downtown denver, co, i started my car and pulled into traffic when the car began to jump violently and all warning lights went on. I shut the engine off and it wouldn't start again. I had it towed to the garage where it had been serviced the preceding week.the mechanic called later to say that the engine was damaged because the timing mechanism had slipped but that he would have to pull the engine to evaluate the extent of the damage. Later on the next week, he reported that the engine was damaged beyond repair and that i would need a replacement engine. There was a wait of several days and time to do the work. I got my car back in running condition on 2/24/2017 after paying $6776.94 for the repairs.
I was in downtown denver, colorado on 2/14/2017. I started the car, pulled into traffic and the car started jumping, all warning lights went on and i turned off the engine. It wouldn't start, was towed to a garage where the mechanic reported that the timing mechanism had slipped and damaged the engine. When he examined it further he realized it was beyond repair and that i needed a new engine.
67,000 miles on an 8 year old tiguan major failure of the rear main oil seal, followed 3 days later by the failure of the timing chain and tensioner. Both the seal and the tensioner are noted points of failure and vwoa is not standing behind the known issue and or quality issues regarding these parts. Rear main seal broke during a highway drive, no check engineer light appeared, oil was almost completely drained from the car and no low oil pressure light came on. The only indication of the failure was the pool of oil under the car when the car was parked. After repair of the rear main seal, car ran fine for 3 day and then the timing chain slipped causing sever engine shake. Car was station are when this occurred and car was immediately towed to the deal for diagnostic. Failure of the tensioner on the timing chain was the contributing factor and low oil pressure can cause the failure according to research of this particular issue. The failure of the rear main seal could have caused engine failure at a high rate of speed and with no waring lights or check engine lights the drive is unaware of the condition. In discussion with vwoa they are not interested in standing behind the quality of the engine and offer not assistance to help cover the cost of the defective, internal parts, that a consumer would have no understanding of how to check or confirm condition without either the manufacturer or the dealer making a point to check during normal service intervals. The tensioner has an existing tsb noting the propensity of the timing chain to slip and the tensioner to fail.
Exterior Lighting 17 Read
The emergency flashers or hazard lights are inoperative. Also wipers turn on by itself ocassionaly.
Safety issue! Leased the vehicle in january. Two incidents when all vehicle lights turn off while driving in the dark. Happens when in motion and when it is dark or foggy out. Have brought in to volkswagen dealer 2 times for repair and happened again for the third time while driving in the dark. When this occurs the wipers also go off automatically yet it is not raining. Then when the vehicle is parked, the headlights stay on and will not turn off and kills the battery.
The head lights do not shine bright at all almost non existtent very dangerous to drive at night
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen tiguan. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed a loud noise, no compression, and a metallic metal to metal noise coming from the engine. The engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was serviced per nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v441000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 13v569000 (electrical system, exterior lighting). The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 08v235000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 125,310.
The wiring inside the headlight assembly has insulation that degrades with the head generated by the low beam/daylight running lights. It becomes brittle and falls off creating bear wire shorting hazard. The light assemblies are such that the wiring cannot be accessed to replace with high temp insulation. Vw only replaces w/ the same entire assembly which does not correct the hazard & costs $800 to replace both assemblies. I caught the defect when replacing a light bulb. This affects more than the tiguan model.
While driving my car, the right low beam headlight went out and the dashboard warning light came on - i stopped the car and looked to see what headlight was out and noticed the right side low beam was out. I went back into the car to head home (only about three miles away 0 but at night), and the other light went out as well - both headlights (low beam) stopped working - i made an appointment with the dealership monday morning. I had previously received a recall letter and made an appointment two weeks ago to have this looked at - was told it was taken cared of but experienced issues there after. I just wanted this information recorded and make sure the lights do not fail because of a recall issue and safety concerns while driving with the family. *tr
Exterior lights went out completely on the right side of the car. Driving down the highway this could have been a dangerous situation. My fuse under the hood was melted and panel also shows signs of melting. *tr
Hello - i started my 2009 vw tiguan on nov. 9, 2013. After placing the car in drive, all of my dashboard lights for "lighting failures" came on, a total of 8 different error messages - license plate lights, driver and passenger taillights, backup lights, front headlights, turn signals. At this point i was on the road, and quickly pulled over to the closest parking lot i could find. I was about to head on the highway. I immediately turned around and drove home and did some research. I opened the interior fuse panel, but that was ok. I went in under the hood and saw the 30 amp fuse was completely melted. (i took a picture, and have it for reference.) this could have been a very dangerous scenario, and there were no warning signs. I can't help but wonder how that fuse has impact the lighting system overall in my tiguan.
Drivers side head light went out took car to dealer for replacement and was told that the engine compartment fuse box was melting and it needed to be replaced which we did so that the car would not catch on fire at a cost of over $500.00. *tr
While driving down the highway in dark, snowy, and icy conditions with medium traffic, some of the vehicle lights went out and vw warning indicator came on saying multiple lights were out. After pulling over in a safe location, found right high beam, right low beam, right front blinker, right fog lamp, right rear blinker, and taillight out. Upon further research and troubleshooting, found 30 amp lighting fuse in under-hood fuse box severely melted. Additional research revealed that this is a common vw problem and should be recalled. *tr
Fuel/propulsion System 15 Read
Subject: Known Carbon Buildup Issue in 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI – Request for Recall and Accountability To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern and request action regarding a well-documented and dangerous issue affecting Volkswagen TSI engines—specifically, severe carbon buildup. I am the current owner of a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI, which I purchased in April 2025 with approximately 84,000 miles on it. In June 2025, I had to have the intake manifold replaced due to carbon buildup—a repair that was still covered under warranty. However, shortly after, I was informed that the vehicle now requires a full engine decarb and replacement of all four fuel injectors, at a total cost of $3,296. This raises several serious concerns: •Carbon buildup this severe at such low mileage is not typical wear and tear. It indicates a design flaw in the TSI direct-injection engine. •My extended warranty provider refuses to cover the repair, citing that it is a maintenance issue—conveniently shifting the responsibility away from the manufacturer. •This type of engine failure can result in dangerous performance issues, including: •Sudden engine misfires •Loss of power while accelerating •Poor fuel economy •Stalling or hesitation while merging or turning •Catalytic converter damage •Potential long-term engine failure I am stunned that this is not considered a safety issue worthy of recall, especially given the number of reports online and in service centers regarding this exact problem. The symptoms of carbon buildup can easily result in on-road danger to the driver and others. What’s most disheartening is that Volkswagen has long been aware of this flaw, yet no recall or extended warranty has been offered for affected consumers. I previously owned a 2015 Passat and was a loyal VW owner—but now, as a single mother, I am expected to pay nearly $3,300 for a repair tied to poor engineering and design, not misuse or neglect.
I previously filed a complaint on nhtsa (id 11310178). Since then the vehicle has not started twice and left me stranded having to tow to vw dealership an additional two times. After the vehicle broke down in march, i opened a claim with vw corporation of america, inc. The claim was denied with a generic response and vw blatantly ignored my concerns of saftey while operating this vehicle. April 24th the vehicle failed to start again and is currently being looked at, at the vw dealership. I contacted the vw corporation of america, inc. Case manager again and agreed to open a claim of retribution on the vehicle after they confirm the failure to start for this instance. This vehicle display several concerns with safety for the owner and cannot be used as reliable transportation but vw continues to turn a blind eye to the potential danger of the situation that can arise from this.
I bought this cpo vehicle july 2018 with approx. 32,000 miles. Drove perfectly without any maintenance outside of typical oil change, tire swaps, rotations, alignments, etc. Mid-november 2019 i leave home around lunch time, back out of garage and pull up to turn on to the road, the battery light comes on and i can't accelerate the vehicle. Try jumping it, still won't start. Tow it to a local mechanic who works on vw/audis turns out it is a fuel pump module failure. Gets replaced and everything seems to be in order. End of january 2020, try to leave for work, battery and epc light come on. Try to jump the battery,nothing. Get the battery tested and it tested good. Towed it to vw dealership, again, fuel pump module. This tiguan is a cpo but the fuel pump module was not covered under warranty due to maintenance outside of vw dealership. Get the tiguan back, everything seems to again be in order but took extra precautions driving and the locations i drive to due to living in alaska (aka a very remote place) because i did not want to be stranded somewhere without cell service, which occurs frequently. Not even two weeks later, leaving work to go home and as i back out, the vehicle battery light again comes on and i can't move the vehicle. Try jumping the battery, nothing. Towed it to vw dealership yet again (closest vw dealership is approx. 50 miles, so towing becomes pricey third time around) and is currently being fixed for the fuel pump within the fuel tank which is apparently separate from the fuel pump module. I am nearing a potential $2,000 in maintenance (two fuel pumps and labor + potential maintenance and labor for fuel pump in fuel tank if not covered under cpo warranty). This vehicle quickly became unreliable and have had to alter my lifestyle for my own peace of mind/safety driving this vehicle.
'takata recall' gas fuel gage was on e when i had just fuel my car that same day. No red light poped up. Every time i turn on the car gas fuel gage would be on a different position. Couple days after it was back to normal
The car keeps throwing sensors (camshaft, crank sensors, throttle body etc) and the ECM needs to be updated. It keeps turning over. I checked the recall list of VINs and mine is within the range, however there aren't any recalls listed.
I noticed a huge oil puddle where my car was parked. I drove straight to the vw service dept in my area...the car has less than 75k miles & was last serviced by a vw dealership due to fuel pump recall. Upon my discovery of the massive oil leak, i now know was spawned from the pcv valve going bad which has resulted in blowing out 3 seals and requiring a new pan. I have recieved an estimate from a vw dealership service dept and a well know auto repair shop- both have quoted the cost no less than $2000 with potential of reaching $3000. Essentially the pcv part is about $20.00 in cost, but because it just "went bad" and its purpose is to allow the engine to breathe...blowing out these additional seals means that the engine will need to be removed to be repaired. The car is valued around $7000 to resale in good condition. Now, a consumer has to spend 30% to 40% of the cars value to repair the faulty valve that caused additional issues in order to stop the bleeding. I bought this car from carmax at 30k miles in nov 2014- at the time of purchase there was no disclosure of a recall issued in august of 2014 & did not even receive a letter regarding the recalled until 2 years later from either carmax or vw. In all actuality the entire section in the owner's manual regarding the engine was completely removed & is missing. No indicator lights came on or were displayed from the leak or seals. I would have never known if i wasn't park in a paver driveway at someone's home & asked if that large oil mark was there prior to me parking there in the past 24 hrs. If i continued driving mu vehicle, it could have resulted in a sequence catastrophic events, in a vehicle that has been maintained according to all service standards & requirements on behalf of it's owner.
Rear main seal failure causes oil to leak
Vehicles timing chain tensioner failed causing the engine to stop running. Timing gain tensioner failed causing severe engine damage. While merging onto freeway engine lost all propulsion causing vehicle to lose acceleration due to issue. Almost caused an accident with a semi truck as vehicle was only moving at 20 mph onto a freeway where speed limit is seventy. Was able to move vehicle to the shoulder but would not restart due to engine damage. Volkswagen has acknowledged the issue but has offered zero assistance
After driving for about 17 miles and cutting the car off and then getting back into it after about 20 to 30 minutes to start up , the car started and cut off. I started it back up and it cut off. So i waited a few minutes and started it and it stayed on long enough for me to get home safely. After that it will continue to do this often. More frequent to the point of me be scared to go anywhere far. The vehicle was stationary during the first time it stalled. If i get into the vehicle and travel a short distant and turn the engine off. Then come back to it and turn it on sometimes it will stay on and sometimes it will stall and i try to give it gas thinking that will keep it on. But it doesn't . I have learned to let it sit and try it again. I have taken it in to find out what was wrong and no one seems to know and wants to keep it for days. Until i found this recall which sounds like what i'm experiencing i was wondering if it had something to do with the fuel system.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v441000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 07/01/16*lj updated 11/21/2017*js
Engine And Engine Cooling 12 Read
I own a 2009 vw tiguan. The car burst into flames this morning after the check engine light went on while my pregnant wife was driving the car this morning. The car has been maintained by vw and had roughly 22,000 miles on it. I bought the car from evanston autobarn vw in 2010 and serviced it at fletcher jones vw of chicago. I filed an insurance claim this morning and contacted both vw dealerships and your 24 hour help line. Vw has been zero help to us. Everyone said to call my insurance company. This is not an insurance issue. There was no collision. This car simply burst into flames while being driven. Chicago police department and fire department was involved and the report # is ht535806. *kb
I was driving on rolling road (north) toward old keen mill road in springfield, virginia around 4:05 pm on november 4, 2014 (tuesday). I saw the smoke coming out near the hood in the front while waiting for traffic light, so i pulled over to the parking lot near a gas station. I saw people waved to me, and yelled at me to stop, i got off my car and they told me my car was on fire at the bottom, we bend down and looked the bottom of the vehicle, and saw the fire burning on the material hanging down. Fortunately, a driver ran over carrying a fire extinguisher from his car, and a person from the gas station also brought another fire extinguisher, they spread the fire extinguisher to put out the fire. I could not wait for the tow truck, so i carefully drove the car to the vw dealership in fairfax, virginia. The mechanic lifted up the car and took down the burned lower engine cover, and figured that it was because many dried leaves stuck near the engine and the high heat near the engine causing the leaves to fire up and burn the lower engine cover. I've saved this lower engine cover in my trunk, and have reported this safety incident to the vw customer service. The case was documented and a case # [xxx] was assigned. I report this incident to nhtsa for the safety concern because this non-fire-resistant material can cause the life of the drivers and passengers. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
I went to take my child to gymnastics in the morning. When i turned on to the street that the gym is off of, my check engine light came on. Less then 10th of a mile later i parked. We were early so i called the local vw dealer to schedule an appointment to have this checked out and get in a little early for my scheduled maintenance. We then got out of the car and entered the gym. Within 10 minutes of being inside the gym, a man came in the building and started asking who's suv was outside because it smoking. I ran out side to see my vehicle engulfed in flames. The fire department had to come to put out the fire. Its completely destroyed. *tr
The contact's friend owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test showed that the vehicle and determined that the steering rack, wheel speed sensors, and engine cooling fans needed to be replaced. The contact's friend declined the repair, and the warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that coolant was leaking into the engine and discovered various engine leaks. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. The VIN was invalid.
I have taken my 2016 VW Tiguan to a VW service center, and they have notified me of a faulty water pump in my car that is leaking coolant. This is endangering the engine of the car and its safety. There has been a class action lawsuit regarding this exact issue with VW in the case Zhao, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:21-cv-11251. I have contacted the manufacturer VW several times regarding this issue, but they refuse to cover the costs of my repair as the mileage on my car is above their current warranty period. However, if this is a known issue with a faulty part, the manufacturer VW should be responsible for the costs of repairing the issue and maintaining the drivability of my car.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V235000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
I am the owner of a 2009 vw tiguan. On several occasions as i am coasting downhill the car begins to accelerates even though i am continuously pressing the brakes. As i am, pressing the brake that car begins to idle up instead of down and the engine grinds. *ln
I have a 2009 tiguan i bought in april 2009. I also first noticed a really bad smell coming out of the vents during the summer months when it's very humid. I didn't take it until the fall of 2009 to the dealer for an unrelated matter. They fixed the problem by performing a filter change and apparently sanitizing the chamber. It seemed to have solved the problem. It's been warm this summer in the northeast and i've had the a/c on most of the time since june. I've noticed the smell returning slightly, though not as bad as last year. I guess i'll have to wait and see if the problem develops full blown when i will need to return it for another sanitizing treatment. *tr
Car just turned a year old with 10,477 going down the highway 65miles per hour when i thought my tire was going flat because i felt a jerk in the acceleration i pulled over to check the tires i saw all blue smoke coming from exhaust. It was not until i go to the side of the road to noticed a problem.no sign of engine light or codes came on until i was in park checking my tires. The problem was rectified,broken fuel lines...after discussing this with other they informed me i was pretty darn lucky due to the fact the engine could have ignited... *tr
Ecm failure which causes vehicle to travel a maximum of 15mph. Engine runs rough and will not restart for a minute after you turn off ignition. Dash board lights come on, and information center indicates "engine fault - workshop". *tr
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Volkswagen Tiguan specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan measures 189″ long on a 110″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,708 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Wheelbase | 110″ (279 cm) |
| Rear track | 62″ |
| Body / trim | Tiguan |
| Curb weight | 3,708 lb (1682 kg) |
| Front track | 63″ |
| Overall width | 73″ (185 cm) |
| Overall height | 66″ (167 cm) |
| Overall length | 189″ (479 cm) |
| Weight distribution (front/rear) | 56/44% |
How the Tiguan's size changed by generation:
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 189″ | 73″ | 66″ | 110″ | 3,708 lb |
| 2020–2023 | 186″ | 72″ | 67″ | 110″ | 3,856 lb |
| 2014–2017 | 174″ | 71″ | 66″ | 102″ | 3,591 lb |
| 2009–2011 | 176″ | 71″ | 67″ | 102″ | 3,400 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Volkswagen Tiguan cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Tiguan 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.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Volkswagen Tiguan 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 get?
The Volkswagen Tiguan returns up to 29 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine. Pick an engine to see its city / highway / combined rating by year:
| Year | City | Highway | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Tiguan | 18 | 24 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2010 Tiguan | 18 | 24 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2011 Tiguan | 20 | 25 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2012 Tiguan | 22 | 26 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2013 Tiguan | 21 | 26 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2014 Tiguan | 21 | 26 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2015 Tiguan | 21 | 26 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2016 Tiguan | 21 | 26 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2017 Tiguan | 20 | 24 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2018 Tiguan | 22 | 27 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2019 Tiguan | 22 | 29 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2020 Tiguan | 22 | 29 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2021 Tiguan | 23 | 29 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 Tiguan | 23 | 30 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2023 Tiguan | 24 | 31 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2024 Tiguan | 24 | 31 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2025 Tiguan | 26 | 34 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2026 Tiguan | 26 | 34 | 2L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov — best combined rating per engine & year. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
What engines does the Volkswagen Tiguan have? Power & range
The Volkswagen Tiguan 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 (S8) | FWD | Regular |
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 tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Volkswagen Tiguan 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, on a curb weight near 3,708 lb.
What sets your Tiguan'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 cost to own?
A Volkswagen Tiguan depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. 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 loses about 54% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — ≈ $10,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Tiguan 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.
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan safe?
The Volkswagen Tiguan earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall safety — real government crash-test data. Ratings by year:
| Year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2025 Tiguan | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2024 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2023 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2022 Tiguan | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2021 Tiguan | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2020 Tiguan | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2019 Tiguan | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2018 Tiguan | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2017 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2016 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2015 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2014 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2013 Tiguan | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2012 Tiguan | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2011 Tiguan | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested model years.
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How many miles does a Volkswagen Tiguan last?
A well-maintained Volkswagen Tiguan 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 5.0/5.
Decode your Volkswagen Tiguan’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Volkswagen Tiguan model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Volkswagen Tiguan — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★★ | |
| 2025 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★★ | |
| 2024 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2023 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2022 Tiguan | 0 | — | |
| 2021 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★★ | |
| 2020 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★★ | |
| 2019 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★★ | |
| 2018 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★★ | |
| 2017 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2016 Tiguan | 2 recalls | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2015 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2014 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2013 Tiguan | 0 | ★★★★☆ | |
| 2012 Tiguan | 0 | — | |
| 2011 Tiguan | 0 | — | |
| 2010 Tiguan | 0 | — | |
| 2009 Tiguan | 0 | — |
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?
By owner-complaint volume, 2009, 2016, 2026 drew the most reports. 2010, 2011, 2012 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Tiguan have?
2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2009–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
What MPG does the Tiguan get?
Up to 29 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
Is the Tiguan safe?
The Tiguan earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall crash-test safety; ratings vary by model year.
How many miles does a Tiguan last?
A well-maintained Tiguan typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Tiguan reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Tiguan is 5.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Volkswagen Tiguan 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 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Tiguan'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 does a Tiguan weigh?
The Tiguan's curb weight is around 3,708 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the Tiguan 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.