Volkswagen Tiguan
Registered from 2009 to 2027.
About this model
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a sport utility vehicle produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen since 2007, sitting between the smaller T-Roc and the larger Touareg in the company's crossover SUV range. The first generation was based on the PQ46 platform, while the second generation, released in 2016, utilizes the Volkswagen Group MQB A2 platform. It is generally considered to be a medium-sized SUV in Europe, while in North America it is considered to be a compact crossover SUV.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Tiguan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The manufacturer has told owners of one of these to stop driving until the repair is done.
- A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Structure: more complaints than 93% of 2018 cars — 14% of its 278 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- ENGINE — 25 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
- STRUCTURE — 21 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN — 13 owners reported this
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 11 owners reported this
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 11 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 9 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 9 owners reported this
- SERVICE BRAKES — 9 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE — 8 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 7 owners reported this
- SUSPENSION — 7 owners reported this
- ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 5 owners reported this
- SEAT BELTS — 5 owners reported this
- AIR BAGS — 4 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
- STEERING — 4 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — 3 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 3 owners reported this
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 3 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 3 owners reported this
- SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE — 3 owners reported this
- STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 3 owners reported this
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 3 owners reported this
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 3 owners reported this
- VISIBILITY — 3 owners reported this
- AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — 2 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
- LANE DEPARTURE — 2 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 2 owners reported this
- SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
- SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 2 owners reported this
- VISIBILITY/WIPER — 2 owners reported this
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard |
| Lane departure warning | Standard |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 1728 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.0 L/100km (EPA) · 10.2 L/100km city · 7.6 motorway |
| 2026 | 201 hp · 1728 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 7.8 motorway |
| 2025 | 201 hp · 1728 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway |
| 2024 | 164 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2023 | 164 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2022 | 164 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2021 | 184 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.8 L/100km (EPA) · 11.2 L/100km city · 8.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2020 | 186 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 10.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 8.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2019 | 184 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 9.8 L/100km (EPA) · 11.2 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2018 | 186 hp · 1749 kg · 2790 mm wheelbase · 10.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.2 L/100km city · 8.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2017 | 200 hp · 1629 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 10.2 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2016 | 200 hp · 1629 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
27% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
- Do not drive
18V324000
A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and, as necessary, clean the thread in the ball joint, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40N4. Note: owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair has been performed.
14V441000
A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
15V311000
If the labels have incorrect weight and loading information, the operator may overload the vehicle which could cause vehicle instability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will correct the information on the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01A5.
15V483000
A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
16V045000
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).
16V464000
If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
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.
16V955000
In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
17V662000
If the back-up lights are not bright enough, other drivers may not see the vehicle reversing, or the driver may back into an obstacle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected inner taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94J9.
24 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Seat Belt Webbing Failure
Engineering analysis, opened July 2018, closed February 2023.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Engineering analysis, opened April 2018, still open.
Seat Belt Webbing Failure
Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2018, closed July 2018.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Recall query, opened November 2017, closed May 2018.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2015, closed September 2015.
Became recall 15V483000.
Partial Loss of Exterior Lights
Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2013, closed February 2014.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Volkswagen filed 68 bulletins about the 2026 Tiguan.
- Engine: 19
- Electrical system: 12
- Service brakes: 4
- Air bags: 2
- Exterior lighting: 2
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2
- Power train: 2
- Forward collision avoidance: 1
- Seat belts: 1
- Steering: 1
- Other: 22
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 -… · August 2026
- Disconnect the control console for 10 seconds to reset. · August 2026
- Disconnect the control console for 10 seconds to reset. · August 2026
- The sporadic event entries “U112200 data bus, implausible message (with symptom 1842, 1884 and 1885) ” under diagnostic address (0013_ indicates that the view of the front camera for driver assist… · August 2026
- MIB3 Recovery Solution · August 2026
- Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement · August 2026
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided. · August 2026
- Inquiries · July 2026
60 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.