Tiguan (CD)
Verdict Confirm the 25V526 tie-rod bolt and 25V854 occupant-detection airbag recalls are closed on the VIN. Buy from a seller with the full service history, and expect a software update or two on these first-year cars.
Data covers 2 NHTSA model names
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
TSI
2.0L 4-cyl Turbo / 201 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
Volkswagen Tiguan Unidentified Engine
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Complaint Breakdown
Reliability Overview
The redesigned third-generation Tiguan arrived for 2025 on Volkswagen's updated MQB platform, and it is too new to carry a deep reliability record. Thirty NHTSA complaints across the 2025 and 2026 model years is a thin sample, enough to note early patterns but not to draw firm conclusions. What complaints exist skew toward minor issues, with the safety-systems, engine, and electrical buckets each in single or low-double digits at cosmetic severity.
The powertrain is again a single turbocharged 2.0-liter four, now rated at 201 horsepower. Two early recalls stand out, and both are worth taking seriously despite the light complaint count. One covers a rear-axle tie-rod bolt that may be loose and could lead to loss of vehicle control (25V526). The other addresses a passenger occupant-detection fault that can deactivate the front airbag when the seat is occupied (25V854). Neither is a wear item. Both are the kind of assembly or component fault a first model year tends to surface, and both have remedies.
Anyone looking at a 2025 or 2026 Tiguan is shopping a first-year redesign, which carries the usual early-production uncertainty. The reliability picture will sharpen as the fleet ages and more owners report in.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Tiguan, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
Buyer's Guide
The most important step on a 2025 or 2026 Tiguan is confirming the two open recalls are closed on the specific VIN. The tie-rod bolt recall (25V526) is a control-related safety item, and the occupant-detection airbag recall (25V854) affects front-passenger protection. Both are completed by the dealer at no cost.
Beyond recall status, treat this like any first-year vehicle. Buy from a seller who can show the full service history, and expect that early-production cars sometimes need a software update or two as Volkswagen refines the new platform. The thin complaint record is a reason for measured caution, not confidence, until the data matures.
What to check on a used 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
On a used 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the airbags and driver-assist systems (30), the engine (24) and the electrical system (24). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 30 owner complaints on the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 24 owner complaints on the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan about the engine.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 24 owner complaints on the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan about the electrical system.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 12 owner complaints on the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan about the transmission and drivetrain.
- On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 11 owner complaints on the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan about the brakes.
Recalls (3)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. A software error may cause the body control module (BCM) system to reset. This may result in the ignition switching off, resulting in an engine stall. It can also lead to a loss of certain controls, warning lights, exterior lighting, or failure of the rearview camera system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays," and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect," as well as FMVSS numbers 111 and 108.
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.
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints?
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan. The systems they name most often are the safety systems, the engine and the electrical system.
Is the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA has 83 owner complaints on file for the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls covering some 2025-2026 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the safety systems, the engine and the electrical system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and 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. 83 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: moderate. Last updated: 2026-10-12.