Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
530–25K
725–50K
350–75K
075–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
64 reports with mileage · 127 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
191 reports
10 miles · Dec 23, 2019
Unknown Or Other
PURCHASED CAR IN JULY 2019 AND THE CARNET HAS NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AFTER CALLING CUSTOMER CARE AND CARNET I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER TWO SEPARATE VISITS AND LEAVING MY CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS I WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH CUSTOMER CARE SINCE AUGUS…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED CAR IN JULY 2019 AND THE CARNET HAS NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AFTER CALLING CUSTOMER CARE AND CARNET I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER TWO SEPARATE VISITS AND LEAVING MY CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS I WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH CUSTOMER CARE SINCE AUGUST 2019 AND FOLLOW UP EVERY FEW WEEKS, AS THEY TYPICALLY FORGET TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PROMISED UPDATE EVERY TWO WEEKS. EACH UPDATE IS THE EXACT SAME --- THERE ARE NO UPDATES AT THIS TIME AND NO TIMELINE FOR A FIX. THEY ALSO WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. THE CARNET APP HAS NOT WORKED CORRECTLY -- KICKS ME OUT REGULARLY, SAYS MY CAR IS UNLOCKED WHEN IT IS LOCKED, UNABLE TO SEND DESTINATIONS FROM THE APP TO MY CAR, ETC. THE BUTTONS IN THE CAR ALSO DO NOT WORK WHEN PRESSED, WHICH MEANS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IT WILL NOT WORK.
NHTSA ODI #11290941
6,000 miles · Dec 21, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS. #1 ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CARS EMERGENCY SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITH NO CARS OR ANYTHING IN PROXIMITY. VW JUST CLEANED SENSORS . IT HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THAT WHILE PARKING THE CAR. #2 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THE BRAKES PULSE WHEN APPLIED. WE WERE TOLD JUST WAIT FOR 1 YEAR SERVICE AND IT WILL BE LOOKED A…
Read full complaint
TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS. #1 ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CARS EMERGENCY SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITH NO CARS OR ANYTHING IN PROXIMITY. VW JUST CLEANED SENSORS . IT HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THAT WHILE PARKING THE CAR. #2 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THE BRAKES PULSE WHEN APPLIED. WE WERE TOLD JUST WAIT FOR 1 YEAR SERVICE AND IT WILL BE LOOKED AT. THE TIGUAN WENT IN FRIDAY MORNING AND WE WERE INFORMED THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. VW NORTH AMERICA RECOMMEND ROTORS AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TROUBLESOME ISSUE WITH ONLY 10000 MILES LES THAN I YEAR OLD.
NHTSA ODI #11290649
5 miles · Dec 12, 2019
Engine
THE PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE OF MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2.0T STARTED LEAKING WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, NEARLY STRANDING MY FAMILY. IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE ANY VEHICLE USING A FRAGILE, UNPROTECTED PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY THE TIGUAN, WHICH IS MARKETED AS A SPORT UTILI…
Read full complaint
THE PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE OF MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2.0T STARTED LEAKING WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, NEARLY STRANDING MY FAMILY. IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE ANY VEHICLE USING A FRAGILE, UNPROTECTED PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY THE TIGUAN, WHICH IS MARKETED AS A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11288668
25 miles · Dec 4, 2019
Unknown Or Other
I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND THE CAR-NET IN MY CAR HASN'T WORKED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VW MULTIPLE TIMES AND I JUST KEEP GETTING THE 'THEY'RE WORKING ON IT ' WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SITE.
NHTSA ODI #11286851
1,600 miles · Nov 17, 2019
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NO ONE IN BACK OF ME. SUDDENLY THE CAR BRAKED AND THREW ME FORWARD. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY HAD NO ANSWER AND TOLD …
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NO ONE IN BACK OF ME. SUDDENLY THE CAR BRAKED AND THREW ME FORWARD. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY HAD NO ANSWER AND TOLD ME TO DISABLE THE BRAKING SENSOR WHICH I DID. I FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE SINCE I FELT THIS WAS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SENSOR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. AGAIN THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE SUDDEN BRAKING. THIS IS A LEASED CAR AND WHEN I TURN IT IN I JUST WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SENSOR IS TURNED OFF FOR THE NEXT PERSON WHO LEASES IT AND HAS NO IDEA IT IS TURNED OFF. IN SUMMARY, I WAS GOING AROUND 35-40 MPH WHEN THIS BRAKING OCCURRED WITH NO REASON WHATSOVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA ODI #11280610
2 miles · Oct 29, 2019
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK SWIFTLY. DEFINITELY A LAG GOING ON THAT IS FELT IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. EVERYTHING ELSE IS GREAT WITH THE CAR
NHTSA ODI #11276937
60 miles · Oct 15, 2019
Engine
OUR 2019 VW TIGUAN WITH 2 LITER TURBO MOTOR HAS A RANDOM AND REPEATED ENGINE "STALL" ISSUE. THE ENGINE DOES NOT DIE BUT REMAINS AT IDLE (1000 RPM), IN EITHER D OR S AUTO TRANS MODE, BUT THERE IS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL IS AGAINST FLOOR BOARD AND THEN THERE IS A RUSH OF POWER, THIS DELAY LASTS FROM 1 TO 5 …
Read full complaint
OUR 2019 VW TIGUAN WITH 2 LITER TURBO MOTOR HAS A RANDOM AND REPEATED ENGINE "STALL" ISSUE. THE ENGINE DOES NOT DIE BUT REMAINS AT IDLE (1000 RPM), IN EITHER D OR S AUTO TRANS MODE, BUT THERE IS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL IS AGAINST FLOOR BOARD AND THEN THERE IS A RUSH OF POWER, THIS DELAY LASTS FROM 1 TO 5 SECONDS, JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE TRAFFIC MERGING ISSUES. THIS PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS FROM STANDING START WHEN DRIVEN STRAIGHT AHEAD OR TURNING. SO FAR HAS NOT OCCURRED ABOVE 50MPH WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS DELIVERED NEW WITH 40 MILES ON ODOMETER AND CONTINUES NOW AT 1200 MILES AND USUALLY AT SPEEDS FROM 0 - 25 MPH AND UNDER 2000 RPM. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL VW SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SUGGESTED IT WAS JUST TURBO LAG. I HAVE OWNED TURBO CARS IN PAST AND THIS IS NOT TURBO LAG, IT IS A LOSS OF "SIGNAL" DUE TO DRIVE BY WIRE TECHNOLOGY WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED ON A VEHICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OTHERWISE THE MOTOR OPERATES FINE, PROVIDING DECENT GAS MILEAGE AND POWER WHEN ON-BOOST ABOVE 2000 RPM. OUR LAST NEW CAR A 2016 GMC TERRAIN WAS ALSO DRIVE BY WIRE BUT NEVER EXHIBITED THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE DUPLICATING THIS PROBLEM WHICH I HAD HOPED WAS CLEARED UP IN OLDER VERSIONS, EVIDENTLY NOT.
NHTSA ODI #11268473
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2019
Unknown Or Other
TERRIBLE WIND VIBRATION NOISE / THUMBING THAT CAUSES PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT IN EARS THE MOMENT ONLY 1 WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN IN THE CAR. FRONT WINDOW DOWN REQUIRES TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS TO BALANCE; CANNOT LOWER A REAR WINDOW WITHOUT AT LEAST OPENING 1 FRONT WINDOW / USUALLY REQUIRES OPENING BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. IF ONLY ONE REAR …
Read full complaint
TERRIBLE WIND VIBRATION NOISE / THUMBING THAT CAUSES PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT IN EARS THE MOMENT ONLY 1 WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN IN THE CAR. FRONT WINDOW DOWN REQUIRES TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS TO BALANCE; CANNOT LOWER A REAR WINDOW WITHOUT AT LEAST OPENING 1 FRONT WINDOW / USUALLY REQUIRES OPENING BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. IF ONLY ONE REAR WINDOW IS OPEN PLUS FRONT WINDOW(S) THE WIND MOVEMENT RESULTS IN ITEMS IN THE LOADING AREA IN THE TRUNK BEING LIFTED UP AND IF LIGHTS EVEN SUCKED TO THE BACK SEAT. APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW ON VEHICLE. WHEN CLOSING WINDOWS HAVE TO CLOSE REAR WINDOWS FIRST BEFORE CLOSING FRONT WINDOWS, OTHERWISE THE AIR PRESSURE ON THE EAR CANAL IS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSES EAR DISCOMFORT.
NHTSA ODI #11257315
1,500 miles · Sep 4, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control
I LEASED MY 2019 TIGUAN IN MARCH 2019. SHORTLY AFTER (~1,500 MILES), I EXPERIENCE MY 1ST ACCELERATION FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC (WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT), MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER MULTIPLE SECONDS AND MULTIPLE ATTEM…
Read full complaint
I LEASED MY 2019 TIGUAN IN MARCH 2019. SHORTLY AFTER (~1,500 MILES), I EXPERIENCE MY 1ST ACCELERATION FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC (WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT), MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER MULTIPLE SECONDS AND MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON, PUT IN DRIVE, AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLES COMING TOWARDS ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION AND HALTED, OR IT WOULD'VE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES SHORTLY AFTER, 1 OF THE THEM OCCURRING WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. WHILE GETTING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, 1 OF THE VW EMPLOYEES MENTIONED THEY RECEIVE CALLS REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES EVERY DAY. A 2ND VW EMPLOYEE MENTIONED THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL ON THIS FAILURE FOR MY VEHICLE. ????. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A 26M1 SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT 'SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.' CONCERNED FOR NOT ONLY THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, BUT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AROUND ME, I FILED A CLAIM WITH VW CORPORATE AND ASKED TO BE REMOVED FROM MY LEASE DUE TO THE FAILURES ALMOST RESULTING IN MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS. THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE AS MY EXPERIENCED FAILURES 'DO NOT WARRANT THE ABILITY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.' SHORTLY AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE 3 MORE TIMES (1 OF THEM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE). HERE WE ARE AGAIN' I HAVE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR 09/10 AND OPENED MY VW CORPORATE CLAIM BACK UP.
NHTSA ODI #11253151
300 miles · Aug 30, 2019
Suspension
VEHICLE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS BOTTOMING OUT WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES OR SMALL DIPS AT ANY SPEED. NOISE IS MOSTLY IN THE FRONT WITH HEAVY CONCENTRATION ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. PARTICULARLY AROUND 30-40 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN (AFTER 3 DAYS OF OWNING IT 03/09/2019 FOR A REAR SHOCK REPLACEMENT ON T…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS BOTTOMING OUT WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES OR SMALL DIPS AT ANY SPEED. NOISE IS MOSTLY IN THE FRONT WITH HEAVY CONCENTRATION ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. PARTICULARLY AROUND 30-40 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN (AFTER 3 DAYS OF OWNING IT 03/09/2019 FOR A REAR SHOCK REPLACEMENT ON THE DRIVERS REAR). AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN 08/17/2019 AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. I TOOK THE TECH ON A LONG TEST DRIVE ON THE ROADS (PARKWAY) I TRAVEL DAILY MAX SPEED IS 45. HE HEARD THE NOISE AND STATED I WAS MAXING OUT MY SUSPENSION (THIS WAS AT 30MPH) AND THE NOISE I WAS HEARING WAS THE SUSPENSION HITTING THE BUMPERS UNDERNEATH AND NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE, THIS WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL.NOISE CAN ALSO BE HEARD GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS AND DRIVEWAY CURBS AT EVEN LOWER SPEEDS). I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER TIGUANS AND VOLKSWAGON MODELS ON THE SAME ROADS AND THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAPPEN. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY DOES NOT SHOW UNDER THE ANY CURRENT COIL RECALLS. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO PLEASE REVISIT THIS VIN TO SEE IF THIS VEHICLE COULD ALSO BE PART OF THE RECALL.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The tire information label contains inaccurate tire dimension and inflation pressure specifications. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The incorrect specifications can result in improper tire inflations or to installing a tire of the wrong size on the vehicle. Either of these situations can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D2.
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.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗