Volkswagen

Tiguan (5N)

2009-2017 · Compact SUV · 1 engine
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (3.2)
1,034 NHTSA Complaints
12 Recalls
16 Fire Reports
38 Crash Reports
View all 2 generations of the Volkswagen Tiguan → 📋 Inspection checklist

Engine Reliability Ratings

2.0 TSI

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo / 200 hp
⚠️ Caution (3.2)
23 complaints 23.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
14
engine
5
steering
4
electrical
4
body
2

Known Issues

Safety Systems Issues (14 complaints)
Engine Issues (5 complaints)
Steering Issues (4 complaints)

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Volkswagen Tiguan regardless of engine variant.

Safety Systems Issues (14 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Engine Issues (5 complaints)
engine critical

Recalls (12)

21V321000May 4, 2021serious
Unknown Or Other

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

19V535000Jul 16, 2019serious
Air Bags

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

18V329000May 15, 2018serious
Unknown Or Other

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI 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.

18V102000Sep 1, 2018serious
Air Bags

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."

16V955000Dec 28, 2016serious
Seat Belts

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

16V045000Jan 27, 2016critical
Air Bags

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.

16V464000Jun 23, 2016serious
Latches/Locks/Linkages

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.

15V311000May 25, 2015serious
Equipment

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 22, 2015, to March 20, 2015. These vehicles may be equipped with Certification labels that are missing the required tire pressure information and they may state incorrect weight and loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

15V483000Apr 7, 2015serious
Air Bags

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

14V441000Jul 20, 2014serious
Fuel System

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.

13V569000Nov 21, 2013serious
Electrical System

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.

08V235000May 27, 2008serious
Engine & Cooling

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 4,079 MY 2008 PASSAT AND 2,500 MY 2009 TIGUAN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0T FSI ULEV II ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CONTAINING SOFTWARE THAT MAY NOT PROPERLY CONTROL ENGINE IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON. IN RARE CASES, THE ECM MAY UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ENGINE RPM.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?

The 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan has accumulated 1,034 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Safety Systems, Engine, Steering. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Volkswagen Tiguan engine is most reliable?

The 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan a good used car?

The 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,034 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

The 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan has 1,034 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?

There are 12 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan?

Before buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Safety Systems, Engine, Steering, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Does the Tiguan have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,034 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.

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