2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

Catastrophic loss of throttle response and severe acceleration lag from a standstill under high ambient temperatures, presenting an immediate collision hazard. On more than ten (10) separate occasions, the acceleration on this vehicle from a complete standstill has unexpectedly dropped to a dangerous level, performing at or below the speed and power of an un-indicated "limp mode."This hazardous condition is explicitly triggered by ambient heat: it frequently occurs in temperatures above 90°F and consistently occurs when temperatures exceed 95°F. The defect manifests unannounced from a stop while sitting in traffic, idling at a light, or attempting to pull out or merge onto a roadway.Once the vehicle is in motion, the engine runs fine and all auxiliary systems—including the air conditioning, infotainment, and advanced driving assistance systems—operate normally. Crucially, the vehicle displays absolutely no dashboard warning lights, check engine lights, or stored diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), making the malfunction impossible for standard onboard diagnostics to register. Over time, I have learned to detect a subtle, tell-tale change in the cadence of the engine idle that foreshadows when this dangerous throttle failure is about to occur.Based on the symptoms, the failure appears to reside within the electronic accelerator pedal assembly, throttle body, Engine Control Module (ECM/ECU), transmission control system, or a thermal management software conflict between these components. I have presented this vehicle to an authorized dealership, Lokey Volkswagen, on two (2) separate occasions for this exact issue. On both visits, the service department failed to provide any remedy, diagnostic resolution, or repair suggestions to the lack of stored fault codes.Because this severe lag occurs when trying to accelerate into live traffic, it leaves the vehicle dangerously exposed and creeping along at walking speeds. I firmly believe this defect will result in a severe injury

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. We reside in Florida so it is common to enter the vehicle during the summer months and the cabin temperatue is in excess of 200 degrees which requires putting the AC system on MAX. This problem occurs periodically and was address in the summer of 2025 at the VW dealership locally

The vehicle experiences sudden loss of motive power during acceleration. Between 30–60 mph, the transmission fails to upshift correctly, causing the engine RPMs to spike to 5000 while the vehicle fails to gain speed. This creates a severe safety hazard when merging into high-speed traffic. Additionally, the infotainment system frequently blackouts and reboots while driving, and there are intermittent malfunctions with the power windows and door locks. Authorized dealerships have been unable to resolve these persistent safety defects after multiple repair attempts.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding a serious transmission defect in my vehicle. The drive and reverse gears are not functioning properly. After driving for a few minutes and parking, when I attempt to reverse on an inclined surface, the vehicle unexpectedly moves forward instead of backward. Similarly, when the vehicle is parked facing downhill and I shift into drive to move forward, it rolls backward. There are no warning lights or dashboard indicators alerting me to any malfunction. Due to this defect, I have nearly collided with objects multiple times within just 15 days of ownership. Most concerning, I almost hit another vehicle behind me while attempting to drive forward, as my vehicle suddenly rolled backward unexpectedly. This creates a serious safety hazard for me, my passengers, and other drivers. I purchased this used vehicle with less than 10,000 miles from EchoPark dealership. Unfortunately, I am unable to return the vehicle because their return policy is limited to 7 days. However, this issue appears to be a significant mechanical or transmission defect that poses an immediate safety risk.

My 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan (purchased used) has a recurring and unsafe issue related to acceleration and the automatic start/stop feature. When accelerating from a stop or while maintaining slight pressure on the gas pedal, the vehicle lurches forward as if aggressively accelerating, even though my foot pressure has not changed. Additionally, when the start/stop feature re-engages after idling, the vehicle sometimes lunges forward despite my foot being firmly on the brake pedal. This behavior has occurred multiple times, creating near-miss situations that could have resulted in accidents. Service History: The issue was replicated by one Volkswagen technician during an overnight test drive but was not accurately reflected in the official service notes. A different technician (shop foreman) later claimed the concern could not be replicated and dismissed it as a “normal vehicle characteristic,” despite my report. The dealership performed a factory reset but the problem persists. Safety Concern: This is a serious safety risk that poses a danger to myself, my passengers, and others on the road. I am especially concerned because my teenage daughter is about to begin driving this vehicle, and I do not feel it is safe for her. Manufacturer Response: Volkswagen of America has declined my buyback request, stating that the situation “does not merit an offer.” I strongly disagree, as the vehicle’s behavior is not normal or acceptable, and could result in unintended acceleration accidents. Request: I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this issue is a defect in the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan and whether other vehicles may be experiencing the same unsafe condition.