2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tiguan years
- More complaints than other years 5th of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. That ranks 5th out of 18 Tiguan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (63 complaints, 39%), typically at around 76,159 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 162owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 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 | 63 | 39% | 76,159 | “timing chain” (32%) | $8,550 |
| Electrical System | 47 | 29% | 45,034 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 39 | 24% | 43,800 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 30 | 19% | 82,300 | — | — |
| Steering | 14 | 9% | 78,650 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 7% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 5% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 5% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 3% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 25,035 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
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.
- Air Bag Clockspring Failure (RQ17009) — opened Nov 13, 2017, closed May 4, 2018.
- Air Bag Clockspring Failure (PE15010) — opened Mar 24, 2015, closed Sep 28, 2015, led to recall 15V483000.
- 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.
The brakes will completely fail. The peddle goes just about all the way to the floor when pressed. There still is a small amount of braking and the vehicle slows down but nothing like when the brakes work right. Now this happens at the most random times. It wonât do it for months then start doing…
Car only starts when it wants to. Rpms dont go over 4,000. Low idle.
My 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan was included in the Volkswagen clock spring safety recall. According to Volkswagenâs records, the recall repair was completed in 2016. The same defect has now reoccurred: the steering wheel controls, horn, and driver airbag are disabled again due to a failed clock…
â The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the engine stalled. After several attempts, the vehicle started however the vehicle drove slowly. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and…
My Tiguan randomly shuts down or stalls while driving. I have come very close to accidents because It is in the middle of the road where I can't pull over, people coming around a curve behind me that may not have time to brake, specifically RV's and Semi-trucks. It is terrifying. I have maintained…
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 | 162 | 3 |
| 2010 Tiguan | 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 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 63 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 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 2011 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.