Volkswagen

Tiguan (AD)

2018-2025 · Compact SUV ยท 1 engine
Best Engine โŒ Avoid (1.8)
1,266 NHTSA Complaints
25 Recalls
11 Fire Reports
27 Crash Reports
Includes data from: TIGUANTIGUAN LIMITEDTIGUAN LTD
View all 2 generations of the Volkswagen Tiguan → ๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (16.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (15.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (16.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (15.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (16.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Optional
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (15.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Optional
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (16.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (15.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (16.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (16.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (15.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
3/5
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (18.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
3/5
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (18.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

TSI

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo / 184 hp
โŒ Avoid (1.8)
62 complaints 20.7 per year Gasoline
4 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
18
safety systems
17
other
15
electrical
15
fuel system
7

Known Issues

Engine Issues (18 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (17 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (15 complaints)

2 additional engine variants with fewer than 10 complaints not shown.

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Volkswagen Tiguan regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (21 complaints)
engine critical
Safety Systems Issues (17 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Electrical System Issues (17 complaints)
electrical critical

Recalls (25)

25V526000Aug 12, 2025serious
Steering

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. A tie rod bolt on the rear axle assembly may be loose, which can lead to a loss of vehicle control.

25V082000Dec 1, 2025serious
Back Over Prevention

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

25V854000Oct 11, 2025serious
Air Bags

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.

22V815000Oct 30, 2022serious
Tires

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."

22V176000Mar 22, 2022serious
Suspension

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.

22V514000Jul 19, 2022serious
Back Over Prevention

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

22V226000Jun 3, 2022serious
Structure

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.

21V732000Sep 22, 2021serious
Structure

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.

21V853000Mar 10, 2021serious
Service Brakes

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan vehicles. The nut that secures the brake pipe near the right-front wheel well may be loose.

21V038000Jan 1, 2021serious
Seats

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.

20V505000Aug 25, 2020serious
Seats

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.

20V579000Sep 22, 2020serious
Seat Belts

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.

20V724000Nov 19, 2020serious
Seat Belts

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.

20V716000Nov 17, 2020serious
Back Over Prevention

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

19V241000Mar 26, 2019serious
Equipment

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."

19V679000Sep 24, 2019serious
Unknown Or Other

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.

19V188000Jun 2, 2019serious
Suspension

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.

18V824000Nov 25, 2018serious
Electrical System

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."

18V262000Apr 24, 2018serious
Suspension

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

18V324000May 15, 2018serious
Suspension

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.

18V467000Jul 12, 2018serious
Visibility

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.

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."

18V159000Aug 2, 2018serious
Engine

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.

18V375000Jun 5, 2018serious
Air Bags

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.

17V662000Oct 17, 2017serious
Exterior Lighting

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."

All Generations

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?

The 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan has accumulated 1,266 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Safety Systems, Electrical System. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Volkswagen Tiguan engine is most reliable?

The 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan was offered with 3 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.0L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan a good used car?

The 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,266 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 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

The 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan has 1,266 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 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan?

There are 25 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2018-2025 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” 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 Engine, Safety Systems, Electrical System, 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.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Tiguan?

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (17.9% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,266 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.

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