Volkswagen Tiguan Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,311 owner complaints and 39 safety recalls on file for the Volkswagen Tiguan, across 18 model years (2009–2026). The 2018 model year has the most complaints (286). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tiguan year: 2018, 2022. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2018 Tiguan: 286 complaints, 14 recalls
- 2022 Tiguan: 270 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2019 Tiguan: 193 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Tiguan: 34 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2025 Tiguan: 52 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2015 Tiguan: 62 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volkswagen Tiguan problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 698 | 18 | 7 |
| Electrical System problems | 547 | 18 | 8 |
| Air Bags problems | 317 | 17 | 25 |
| Power Train problems | 207 | 18 | 8 |
| Steering problems | 193 | 16 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 178 | 18 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 137 | 11 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 126 | 14 | 2 |
| Service Brakes problems | 126 | 18 | 16 |
| Structure problems | 114 | 17 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 94 | 16 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 69 | 16 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 60 | 5 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 46 | 15 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 41 | 10 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 11 | 0 |
| Suspension | 35 | 14 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 24 | 10 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 23 | 11 | 0 |
| Visibility | 23 | 12 | 0 |
| Seats | 21 | 12 | 0 |
| Wheels | 17 | 11 | 1 |
| Tires | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| I Suspect the Car Seat Is Counterfeit | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Volkswagen Tiguan problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Volkswagen Tiguan model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan | 34 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Tiguan | 52 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Tiguan | 74 | 2 | 4★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Tiguan | 69 | 1 | 4★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Tiguan | 270 | 5 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2021 Tiguan | 142 | 5 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2020 Tiguan | 141 | 3 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 Tiguan | 193 | 5 | 5★ | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 Tiguan | 286 | 14 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 Tiguan | 76 | 4 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Tiguan | 96 | 2 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 Tiguan | 62 | 4 | 4★ | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Tiguan | 84 | 3 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Tiguan | 139 | 3 | 4★ | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2012 Tiguan | 153 | 3 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 Tiguan | 162 | 3 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Tiguan | 110 | 2 | — | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Tiguan | 168 | 3 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
More from Volkswagen: all Volkswagen models · Volkswagen VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Tiguan years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2018 (286), 2022 (270) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tiguan year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Engine, with 698 complaints across 18 model years.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Tiguan have?
39 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.