Volkswagen Tiguan Transmission / powertrain problems
71 of the 1,181 complaints about the Volkswagen Tiguan (6.0%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
Analysis
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2018 model (20, 7% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2020 model (3). 12 Transmission / powertrain complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
Owners most often describe: “acceleration”, “transmission”, “traffic”, “hesitates” and “lag”. 1 of these reports (1.4%) describe a crash or fire, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
No recall campaign addresses Transmission / powertrain for the tracked model years.
By model year
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 12 · Previous 12 months: 4
Common terms in reports
- acceleration19
- transmission24
- traffic23
- hesitates9
- lag8
- hesitation9
What owners report
On 4/6/24 the steering wheel locked while driving the car . Causing the car to go off the road into a 40 ft ditch and hit a tree
Vehicle frequently shakes/shudders violently under light/normal acceleration in stop-and-go traffic, creating a safety hazard and extremely uncomfortable driving situation.
Catastrophic loss of throttle response and severe acceleration lag from a standstill under high ambient temperatures, presenting an immediate collision hazard.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving downhill at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was coasted into a driveway and restarted.
Since purchasing this new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, I have experienced repeated electrical and drivability defects despite multiple repair attempts by an authorized Volkswagen dealership.
Our vehicle does not respond to the throttle pedal being depressed when the AC has been turned on at full and the car has been in direct sunlight for a period of time.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
No recall campaign addresses Transmission / powertrain for the tracked model years.
Problem areas · Volkswagen Tiguan
- Engine366
- Electrical204
- Interior & equipment147
- Body & structure95
- Driver-assist systems72
- Transmission / powertrain71
- Brakes52
- Airbags & seat belts43
Volkswagen Tiguan problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›
Related reading
- Transmission problems explained: shudder, harsh shifts, CVTs and what to test on a driveHow the main automatic transmission types fail, why some designs generate far more owner complaints than others, and a practical test-drive checklist built from what owners report.
Frequently asked questions
How common are Transmission / powertrain problems on the Volkswagen Tiguan?
71 of the 1,181 complaints about the Volkswagen Tiguan (6.0%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Volkswagen Tiguan model years have the most Transmission / powertrain complaints?
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2018 model (20, 7% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2020 model (3).
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Tiguan Transmission / powertrain problems?
No recall campaign addresses Transmission / powertrain for the tracked model years.