2014 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 84 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Tiguan years
Fewer complaints than other years 12th of 18 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
4 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. That ranks 12th out of 18 Tiguan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (46 complaints, 55%), typically at around 50,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen Tiguan III in Stuttgart. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags46 · ~50,500 mi
Electrical System22 · ~46,000 mi
Steering20 · ~47,000 mi
Engine11 · ~11,000 mi
Unknown or Other9 · ~60,000 mi
Service Brakes4 · ~45,240 mi
Fuel/propulsion System3 · ~7,000 mi
Suspension3 · ~46,770 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)2 · ~45,240 mi
Seat Belts2 · ~55,500 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags4655%50,500——
Electrical System2226%46,000——
Steering2024%47,000——
Engine1113%11,000——
Unknown or Other911%60,000——
Service Brakes45%45,240——
Fuel/propulsion System34%7,000——
Suspension34%46,770——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)22%45,240——
Seat Belts22%55,500——
Back Over Prevention11%20,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline11%160,000——
Latches/locks/linkages11%80,000——
Power Train11%———
Structure11%25,000——
Vehicle Speed Control11%10,200——
Visibility11%50,000——
Visibility/wiper11%30,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2018, with 23 complaints
2014: 4201442015: 2201522016: 2201622017: 7201772018: 232018232019: 4201942020: 1202012021: 4202142022: 202022202023: 7202372024: 2202422025: 3202532026: 520265

n = 84 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2014 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Unknown or otherMay 16, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V329000 · 252 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Air bags:frontalAug 4, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V483000 · 415,825 vehicles

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, gasolineJul 21, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V441000 · 151,389 vehicles

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.

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.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

My vehicle stalls and completely stops at red lights, stop signs, and low speeds. Currently my vehicle is stalling and stopping at accelerated speeds at 20 mph.

Engine · received Sep 1, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11761342

My 2014 Tiguan, VIN [XXX], has been serviced at an authorized VW dealer since I purchased it. From 2014 to December 2025, the vehicle was serviced at a VW dealer and March 2026 to present at a service facility that only works on VWs and is owned and operated by a prior VW certified technician who…

Engine · received Aug 5, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11755013

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while reversing, the steering wheel became locked and failed to steer in the left or right direction. No warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact managed to temporarily unlock the steering wheel; however, after driving…

Steering · received Jun 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11742689

Check engine light came on, related to the thermostat and faulty water pump. My car’s make and model was part of a settlement for this issue but VW corporate will not cover costs to repair.

Engine · received Mar 24, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11726729

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving and while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle unexpectedly vibrated with the EPC warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was idling roughly, with the check…

Fuel System, Gasoline · received Feb 12, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11717540

Other Volkswagen Tiguan years

← 2013 Tiguan · 2015 Tiguan →

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 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, steering problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 46 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2014 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 2014 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.