Volkswagen Tiguan problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 1,181 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls for the Volkswagen Tiguan. That averages 28.2 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.67 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 12 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 62.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Over eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Volkswagen Tiguan has recorded 1,181 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls, averaging 28.2 complaints per year which is fewer than typical at an index of 0.67. While the 2023 model year shows the lowest rate at 16.3 complaints per year, the 2022 model year has the highest rate at 55.8 complaints per year and runs at least 50% above the model's own average. The most common problem area is Engine accounting for 31.0% of complaints, followed by Electrical at 17.3%, with recurring terms including "oil", "overhead", "console", "travel assist" and "consumption". Owners report 32 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, though the complaint pace is rising with 323 filed in the last 12 months versus 167 previously.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 64% below the 2018 and 2019 models (32 early complaints per model year versus 103).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (55.8 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (16.3). The 2022 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2023 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (31.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (17.3%) and Interior & equipment (12.4%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “overhead”, “console”, “travel assist” and “consumption”. 33 complaints (2.8%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 32 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 323 complaints versus 167 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2022 model year generated the most recent reports (88). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 29 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 26 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2018 (7), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Seat Belt Webbing Failure” (opened 2018-07-03, closed 2023-02-27).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda CX-5; Kia Sportage, Jeep Compass, Subaru Forester and Jeep Cherokee have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 288 | 33.2 | 0.79 | 153 | 1.72 | 25 | 13 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 189 | 24.6 | 0.58 | 54 | 0.67 | 29 | 5 | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 | 139 | 20.8 | 0.49 | 20 | 0.35 | 30 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 136 | 24.0 | 0.57 | 23 | 0.38 | 44 | 5 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Years to research carefully | 261 | 55.8 | 1.33 | 106 | 1.43 | 88 | 5 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 60 | 16.3 | 0.39 | 32 | 0.39 | 20 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 62 | 23.2 | 0.55 | 33 | 0.47 | 46 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 | 46 | 27.5 | 0.65 | — | — | 41 | 2 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 323 · Previous 12 months: 167 Rising
Problem areas
Electrical ›
204 · 17.3% · 1.1 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- check starter15
- starter system14
- infotainment27
- travel assist12
Interior & equipment ›
147 · 12.4% · 1.39 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- sunroof35
- console25
- overhead19
- panoramic17
Body & structure ›
95 · 8.0% · 0.88 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- overhead console14
- b-pillar10
- console detached8
- sunroof20
Driver-assist systems ›
72 · 6.1% · 1.06 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- travel assist13
- front assist7
- braking22
- warning38
Transmission / powertrain ›
71 · 6.0% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- acceleration19
- transmission24
- traffic23
- hesitates9
Brakes ›
52 · 4.4% · 0.73 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- pads9
- brake22
- front assist5
- braking17
Airbags & seat belts ›
43 · 3.6% · 0.95 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seat18
- belt11
- air13
- passenger14
Fuel system
38 · 3.2% · 0.75 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- fuel20
- tank8
- gas10
- hesitates5
Steering
29 · 2.5% · 0.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- travel assist8
- steering24
- distracting10
- wheel16
Lighting
25 · 2.1% · 1.35 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlights11
- low beams5
- night7
- overhead3
Wheels, tires & suspension
25 · 2.1% · 0.85 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- suspension12
- coil spring5
- axle coil3
- springs5
Other
14 · 1.2% · 0.66 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- acceleration5
- accelerate5
- left turn3
- gas pedal3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- oil188
- overhead49
- console65
- travel assist36
- consumption76
- epc34
- check starter26
- pcv30
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 29 months
What owners report
I was driving and a vehicle was making a left hand turn, in the middle lane and they were in their lane and I was in mine, but the vehicle decided to use the automatic breaking which then cause me to have whiplash and it took a few seconds for the car to move…
Vehicle was just turned on and put into reverse. Dash and infotainment center lights flashed and shut off. Vehicle rolled backwards uncontrollably down a sloped driveway. Steering and brakes were not properly functioning.
The car went into limp mode on an Interstate Highway. It was taken to a VW dealer in Mooresville, NC after two other private garages could not diagnose the problem. Their is a current Factory Warranty Extension for 2017, 2018, 2019 VW Tiguan's.
Description of Defect: The central MIB3 infotainment touchscreen on my 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan has suffered a complete blackout and is entirely unresponsive.
On unusually hot days, my VW Tiguan 2019, pops up a Check Start system and shuts down the dash and all electrical components (speedometer, A/C, infotainment system, blindside monitors, brake lights etc.) Car still runs but everything does not work.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | 826 | 18.9 | 0.45 | Worsening | Steady | 3 | Engine |
| 2 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,181 | 28.2 | 0.67 | Improving | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 3 | Kia Sportage | 949 | 28.5 | 0.68 | Worsening | Rising | 11 | Engine |
| 4 | Jeep Compass | 1,819 | 34.7 | 0.83 | Improving | Steady | 11 | Engine |
| 5 | Subaru Forester | 2,417 | 49.5 | 1.18 | Improving | Steady | 12 | Body & structure |
| 6 | Jeep Cherokee | 2,798 | 61.9 | 1.47 | Improving | Steady | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Chevrolet Equinox | 1,917 | 62.9 | 1.49 | Stable | Steady | 23 | Engine |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | 3,075 | 71.4 | 1.7 | Improving | Steady | 23 | Engine |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,247 | 73.5 | 1.75 | Worsening | Rising | 14 | Engine |
| 10 | Nissan Rogue | 2,991 | 81.0 | 1.92 | Improving | Rising | 24 | Engine |
| 11 | Ford Escape | 5,144 | 97.3 | 2.31 | Stable | Steady | 49 | Engine |
| 12 | Honda CR-V | 5,760 | 137.9 | 3.28 | Stable | Steady | 24 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 26
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (13) · 2019 (5) · 2020 (3) · 2021 (5) · 2022 (5) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (2)
Investigations
- Seat Belt Webbing Failure Closed
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA R…
- Seat Belt Webbing Failure Closed
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the 2018 MY Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35 mph, full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front-passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017 at MGA Research Corp. in…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Tiguan model year has the most complaints?
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (55.8 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (16.3).
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 64% below the 2018 and 2019 models (32 early complaints per model year versus 103). In the last 12 months owners filed 323 complaints versus 167 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (31.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (17.3%) and Interior & equipment (12.4%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “overhead”, “console”, “travel assist” and “consumption”.
How does the Volkswagen Tiguan compare with other Compact SUVs?
Within the Compact SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 12 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 62.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda CX-5; Kia Sportage, Jeep Compass, Subaru Forester and Jeep Cherokee have more.
Does the Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 26 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2018 (7), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Seat Belt Webbing Failure” (opened 2018-07-03, closed 2023-02-27).