NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
43 reportsClear category filter17,000 miles · May 7, 2019
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V467000 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK SPOT ON THE SUN ROOF AND SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND BROKE TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V467000 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK SPOT ON THE SUN ROOF AND SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND BROKE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AS FLAMES APPEARED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. *TR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND RELEASED TO MANUFACTURER.*JB*JB
NHTSA ODI #11206099
60 miles · May 2, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR FLASHED AND A CHIME WAS HEARD EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS SECURED. FLOW VOLKSWAGEN OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (1313 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 296-4147) WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR FLASHED AND A CHIME WAS HEARD EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS SECURED. FLOW VOLKSWAGEN OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (1313 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 296-4147) WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A DELAY IN PROVIDING THE PART CONCERNING AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE AMBIENT LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: EA18005 (SEAT BELTS) AND PE18001 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS RELATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60. ..*BF*JB
NHTSA ODI #11205195
8,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
MY WIFE CALLED ME PANICKED BECAUSE HER 2018 VW TIGUAN SEL, WITH 8000 MILES, CUT OUT ON HER WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. SHE DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS IF THE CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS, EVEN THOUGH SHE DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE BREAK AT THE TIME, AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. MY WIFE Q…
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MY WIFE CALLED ME PANICKED BECAUSE HER 2018 VW TIGUAN SEL, WITH 8000 MILES, CUT OUT ON HER WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. SHE DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS IF THE CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS, EVEN THOUGH SHE DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE BREAK AT THE TIME, AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. MY WIFE QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, WHERE IT RESPONDED WELL MOVING BACKWARDS, AND THREW ON HER HAZARDS. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD AND SHE IS DEATHLY SCARED OF DRIVING IT NOW. THE VEHICLE IS A HAZARD! WHEN LOOKING ONLINE FOR SIMILAR POWER TRAIN ISSUES, MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE REPORTING A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.
NHTSA ODI #11196445
16,500 miles · Mar 29, 2019
Electrical SystemService Brakes
FRONTAL BRAKE ASSIST IS ENGAGING WITHOUT NECESSITY. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED SLOWING DRIVING THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING GARAGE WHILE SLOWLY FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR ABOUT A CAR LENGTH AHEAD. MY DASH WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS APPROACHING A CAR THAT HAD BEEN STOPPED IN MY…
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FRONTAL BRAKE ASSIST IS ENGAGING WITHOUT NECESSITY. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED SLOWING DRIVING THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING GARAGE WHILE SLOWLY FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR ABOUT A CAR LENGTH AHEAD. MY DASH WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS APPROACHING A CAR THAT HAD BEEN STOPPED IN MY LANE ON A CITY STREET, GOING SAME DIRECTION AND IN PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT TURN. THOUGH THE CAR AHEAD WAS ALREADY TURNING AND 2 LENGTHS AWAY, MY CAR'S DASH WARNING LIGHTS LIT AND THE CAR BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP.
NHTSA ODI #11192506
17,900 miles · Mar 29, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHEN PRESSING PEDAL FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE THERE IS EITHER A LAG IN RESPONSE OR NO RESPONSE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE WHEN GOING FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO MOVING ACTION INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN NOTED AT RANDOM MOMENTS, MORE NOTICEABLY WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST TURNED ON. HOWEVER, IT HAS HAPPENE…
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WHEN PRESSING PEDAL FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE THERE IS EITHER A LAG IN RESPONSE OR NO RESPONSE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE WHEN GOING FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO MOVING ACTION INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN NOTED AT RANDOM MOMENTS, MORE NOTICEABLY WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST TURNED ON. HOWEVER, IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES. THIS LACK OF ACCELERATOR RESPONSE PUTS MY FAMILY AND I INTO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #11192453
4,100 miles · Jan 4, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MOMENTUM VOLKSWAGEN OF CLEAR LAKE AT (844) 894-5461 (LOCATED AT 15100 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77034) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE IGNITION LINE AND THERE WAS A SIGNAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE OCCURRED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,100.
NHTSA ODI #11165200
4,995 miles · Dec 12, 2018
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING, NO OBJECT OR ANYTHING IN THE FRONT, THE CAR EMITS A BEEP, RED FLASHING COLLISION SIGNAL, AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKE. THE DAY IS CLEAR, SUNNY, AND DAYTIME. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. TWO TIMES, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE WE HIT A WALL. IT CAUSED WHIPLASH AND MY NECK WAS STIFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIX…
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WHILE DRIVING, NO OBJECT OR ANYTHING IN THE FRONT, THE CAR EMITS A BEEP, RED FLASHING COLLISION SIGNAL, AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKE. THE DAY IS CLEAR, SUNNY, AND DAYTIME. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. TWO TIMES, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE WE HIT A WALL. IT CAUSED WHIPLASH AND MY NECK WAS STIFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP.
NHTSA ODI #11160944
517 miles · Nov 15, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineStructure
THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! I HAD VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 411 MILES CAR HAS STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT SHUTS OFF FOR A SOLID 4 SECONDS BEFORE IT DECIDES TO ACCELERATE. GAS MILEAGE READS 100MPG, WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE... LOUD WIND NOISES AT 50 MPH AND A POP NOI…
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THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! I HAD VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 411 MILES CAR HAS STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT SHUTS OFF FOR A SOLID 4 SECONDS BEFORE IT DECIDES TO ACCELERATE. GAS MILEAGE READS 100MPG, WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE... LOUD WIND NOISES AT 50 MPH AND A POP NOISE COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD AT 50 MPH . THE START STOP OPTION TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN THE ROAD IS ROUGH OR SLIGHTLY BUMPY!
NHTSA ODI #11151863
3,000 miles · Aug 25, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
2018 TIGUAN WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL - MID MAY CAR WOULD NOT START, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. CAR EVENTUALLY TURNED ON. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING (ON THE ROAD), CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. HAD TO BE TOWED TO CLOSEST VW WHERE IT WOULD REMAIN FOR OVER A MONTH. FIRST DIAGNOSED AS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL …
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2018 TIGUAN WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL - MID MAY CAR WOULD NOT START, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. CAR EVENTUALLY TURNED ON. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING (ON THE ROAD), CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. HAD TO BE TOWED TO CLOSEST VW WHERE IT WOULD REMAIN FOR OVER A MONTH. FIRST DIAGNOSED AS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL PROB - NEEDED TO BE ANALYZED BY VW ENGINEER WHO BELIEVED IT TO BE THE BATTERY. NEW BATTERY DID NOT REMEDY ISSUE - NEW ALTERNATOR WAS ORDERED, AGAIN DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. FINALLY WAS IDENTIFIED AS A ISSUING WITH THE WIRING BEING STRIPPED. FEEL COMPLETELY UNSAFE IN MY NEW CAR - HAS ALSO BEEN EFFECTED BY TWO RECALLS SINCE (IN ADDITION TO THE ONE MONTH IN THE VW DEALERSHIP FROM NON RECALL ISSUE) - CURRENT SUNROOF RECALL HAS NO FIX ONLY A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO DISCONNECT THE WIRING - I FEEL COMPLETELY UNSAFE IN THE CAR AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. CAR SHOULD BE BOUGHT BACK BY VW - OPEN RECALLS WITH NO FIX LEAVE THE CAR WORTHLESS. WHAT ELSE WILL GO WRONG WITH THE 2018 TIGUAN - WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER VW IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA ODI #11122313
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
THE VW-EQUIPPED ENTERTAINMENT CENTER DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER PROCESSING POWER TO EFFECTIVELY USE APPLE CARPLAY. SINCE NEW, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE APPLE CARPLAY, THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WILL FREEZE, MALFUNCTION, OR OTHERWISE FAIL AFTER THE IPHONE IS PLUGGED IN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME, AND REQUIRES THE ENT…
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THE VW-EQUIPPED ENTERTAINMENT CENTER DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER PROCESSING POWER TO EFFECTIVELY USE APPLE CARPLAY. SINCE NEW, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE APPLE CARPLAY, THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WILL FREEZE, MALFUNCTION, OR OTHERWISE FAIL AFTER THE IPHONE IS PLUGGED IN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME, AND REQUIRES THE ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM TO UNDERGO A 'HARD' RESET IN ORDER TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS ISSUE OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS AND IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA ODI #11120356
Official recalls
14Sep 11, 2026
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.
Apr 6, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
Sep 23, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The incorrect roof reinforcement may decrease the roof's structural integrity or impact deployment of the side curtain air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will be replace the roof reinforcement, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51H5.
Nov 20, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A torn seat belt may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belts and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BH.
Sep 25, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Mar 6, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
Nov 26, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
Jul 13, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the power supply for the panoramic sunroof LED module, free of charge, until a future service action can safely reactivate the feature. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall 60D1.
Jun 6, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
May 16, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Apr 25, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the lower loop of the rear shock absorber detaches, there may be a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear shock absorbers, replacing them as necessary, 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 42i7.
Mar 8, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the engine support bolts were not properly tightened, an unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power may occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace engine support bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F7.
Feb 9, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, 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 69V2.
Oct 18, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA18005 · Seat Belt Webbing Failure
Opened Jul 3, 2018 · Closed Feb 27, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front; Seat Belts:front:webbing
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 Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Seat Belts:front
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 Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Seat Belts:front:webbing
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 Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Seat Belts
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 Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
PE18001 · Seat Belt Webbing Failure
Opened Jan 10, 2018 · Closed Jul 3, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing
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 Wisconsin (MGA) and December 13, 2017 at the Transportation Research Center of Ohio (TRC).During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated in tension where it looped through the seat belt latch tongue (see attached photos). Based on its analysis of the NCAP test results, VW asserted that the test dummy umbilical cord exerted additional forces on the seat belt system causing the separation. To support this theory, VW conducted several sled tests.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-001) on 01/10/2018 to evaluate the two (2) incidents of seat belt separation. ODI and NCAP reviewed the sled test data submitted by VW in support of their theory. Micro analysis, conducted by the Materials Laboratory at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), verified the seat belts failed in tension and not due to cuts or abrasion.PE18-001 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA18-005) to further examine seat belt behavior in the subject vehicles and to determine, among other things, a root cause for the seat belt separation. ODI will perform a thorough review of any vehicle and seat belt design changes for the new 2018 MY Tiguan platform and their effects on the performance of the seat belt system.
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