2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 48% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 88,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (39% of reports).
- 80engine complaints
- 88,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $7,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 31 of 80 complaints (39%)
- Rear main seal: mentioned in 12 of 80 complaints (15%)
- Tensioner failed: mentioned in 8 of 80 complaints (10%)
- Wouldn start: mentioned in 6 of 80 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan at $7,950, and half of them between $2,550 and $9,450.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 71 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 80 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Volkswagen Tiguan engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan | 14 | 40% | 2,809 |
| 2025 Tiguan | 10 | 19% | 7,500 |
| 2024 Tiguan | 18 | 24% | — |
| 2023 Tiguan | 24 | 35% | 66,000 |
| 2022 Tiguan | 113 | 42% | 47,000 |
| 2021 Tiguan | 54 | 38% | 50,000 |
| 2020 Tiguan | 26 | 18% | 31,070 |
| 2019 Tiguan | 41 | 21% | 1,200 |
| 2018 Tiguan | 82 | 29% | 8,198 |
| 2017 Tiguan | 15 | 20% | 33,500 |
| 2016 Tiguan | 10 | 10% | 80,800 |
| 2015 Tiguan | 9 | 15% | 63,000 |
| 2014 Tiguan | 11 | 13% | 11,000 |
| 2013 Tiguan | 29 | 21% | 32,550 |
| 2012 Tiguan | 50 | 33% | 50,000 |
| 2011 Tiguan | 63 | 39% | 76,159 |
| 2010 Tiguan | 50 | 45% | 86,000 |
| 2009 Tiguan | 80 | 48% | 88,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine rpm may surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and update the ecm software free of charge. The recall began on may 30, 2008. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The car keeps throwing sensors (camshaft, crank sensors, throttle body etc) and the ECM needs to be updated. It keeps turning over. I checked the recall list of VINs and mine is within the range, however there aren't any recalls listed.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it…
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and a message to stop the vehicle immediately was displayed. AAA arrived on the scene and diagnosed the vehicle with oil sensor failure…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2009 Volkswagen Tiguans have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 80 owner complaints about engine for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (48% of the 168 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 88,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,950 (half paid between $2,550 and $9,450), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 31 of 80 complaints, followed by “rear main seal” (12).
See all 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan problems or engine problems across all Tiguan years.