2010 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tiguan years
- Fewer complaints than other years 10th of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. That ranks 10th out of 18 Tiguan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (50 complaints, 45%), typically at around 86,000 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 110owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 50 | 45% | 86,000 | “timing chain” (50%) | $8,950 |
| Electrical System | 31 | 28% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 | 17% | 42,746 | — | — |
| Steering | 13 | 12% | 93,176 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 5% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 5% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 5% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 4% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 3% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3% | 32,078 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3% | 1,163 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 3% | 70,684 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% | 63,367 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 5,682 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2010 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: 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.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers; exterior lighting
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Air Bag Clockspring Failure (EA18003) — opened Apr 18, 2018, still open.
- Partial Loss of Exterior Lights (PE13036) — opened Nov 4, 2013, closed Feb 28, 2014, led to recall 13V569000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Right seat heater has burned through the synthetic leather and burned my pants. No fuse went off, no warning issued by vehicle nor heater stopped itself.
We own a 2010 VW Tiguan and it has many problems, but the biggest one is that the Steering Wheel just randomly will turn off and loose all power steering, I believe these models use electric power steering (EPS) system, which don't use like a traditional power steering hydraulic pump but uses…
Vehicle sometimes displays red check engine light on dash with alarm sounding. Check engine light goes away after the vehicle is stopped briefly and restarted. Oil level is normal. Mechanic found no diagnostic codes when scanned with OBD scanner. Mechanic changed oil pressure sensor, replaced oil…
Reversing out drive way and coil rear suspension spring snaped
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the forward momentum allowed her to pull off the roadway. The contact stated that the steering wheel started shaking violently…
Other Volkswagen Tiguan years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan | 35 | 0 |
| 2025 Tiguan | 52 | 3 |
| 2024 Tiguan | 74 | 2 |
| 2023 Tiguan | 69 | 1 |
| 2022 Tiguan | 272 | 5 |
| 2021 Tiguan | 143 | 5 |
| 2020 Tiguan | 141 | 3 |
| 2019 Tiguan | 193 | 5 |
| 2018 Tiguan | 286 | 14 |
| 2017 Tiguan | 76 | 4 |
| 2016 Tiguan | 96 | 2 |
| 2015 Tiguan | 62 | 4 |
| 2014 Tiguan | 84 | 3 |
| 2013 Tiguan | 139 | 3 |
| 2012 Tiguan | 153 | 3 |
| 2011 Tiguan | 162 | 3 |
| 2010 | 110 | 2 |
| 2009 Tiguan | 168 | 3 |
See all Volkswagen Tiguan problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 50 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tiguan model years, the 2010 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.