Volkswagen Tiguan Structure Problems
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Volkswagen Tiguan across 17 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (39). The words owners use most often: “overhead console” (11% of reports).
- 114structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 49%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.
- Overhead console: mentioned in 12 of 114 complaints (11%)
- Side pillar: mentioned in 9 of 114 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 65 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 114 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury.
Volkswagen Tiguan structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2025 Tiguan | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2024 Tiguan | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2022 Tiguan | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Tiguan | 11 | 8% | 20,000 |
| 2020 Tiguan | 16 | 11% | 40,000 |
| 2019 Tiguan | 9 | 5% | 9,000 |
| 2018 Tiguan | 39 | 14% | 1,233 |
| 2017 Tiguan | 4 | 5% | 54,530 |
| 2016 Tiguan | 6 | 6% | 37,500 |
| 2015 Tiguan | 4 | 6% | 8,500 |
| 2014 Tiguan | 1 | 1% | 25,000 |
| 2013 Tiguan | 5 | 4% | 34,000 |
| 2012 Tiguan | 3 | 2% | 64,818 |
| 2011 Tiguan | 1 | 1% | 87,000 |
| 2010 Tiguan | 3 | 3% | 70,684 |
| 2009 Tiguan | 4 | 2% | 41,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Structure:body
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Risk: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Model years: 2018
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed.
Risk: The incorrect roof reinforcement may decrease the roof's structural integrity or impact deployment of the side curtain air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will be replace the roof reinforcement, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51H5.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
See attached document for complaint.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with two toddlers inside the vehicle, the ceiling of the vehicle detached and caused a bump on the head. A dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that it was a known issue with similar vehicles. The…
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the overhead console detached, nearly striking the contact on the head. The contact stated that the console wiring was hanging loose with the mount cracked and the screw casing disintegrating…
The vehicle will randomly shut off while driving. A message will appear stating "Check the Starting System" Attempts to restart the engine are unsuccessful. The engine will start, stall after about 2 seconds and the message "Check Starting System" will display. The first time it happened, I was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volkswagen Tiguans have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 114 owner complaints about structure for the Volkswagen Tiguan. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volkswagen Tiguan structure?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most frequent phrase is “overhead console”, in 12 of 114 complaints, followed by “side pillar” (9).
Other Volkswagen Tiguan problems
- Engine problems (698)
- Electrical System problems (547)
- Air Bags problems (317)
- Power Train problems (207)
- Steering problems (193)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (178)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (137)
- Exterior Lighting problems (126)
See all Volkswagen Tiguan problems.