2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2024· ENGINE

  The engine could not be started after 13 years and 103,000+ miles. I had to get the car towed to my garage at night, after several prior trips same day. There were no check engine lights or any other indicators. The engine had newer spark plugs, ignition coils and pcv valve installed as well as chain checked a year prior to this. Had a mobile mechanic come by and inspect the car. He determined that the engine has lost compression and that the oil was low. The spark plugs were soaked in gas because engine could not properly compress and ignite the fuel. After adding oil the problem did not go away. He performed the compression test and confirmed his suspicion about engine not being able to compress the fuel. The most likely cause was the timing chain issue but he could not inspect the chain to confirm due to difficulty of doing it. The engine valves were not moving as expected as well. He could not read any meaningful codes from the car computer. There were no electrical or starter issues, just that engine has lost compression. The car had regular oil changes, break fluid changes and tire rotations. Just two weeks prior to car breaking down it passed emissions test. As far as I know, these vehicles have had issues with timing chains stretching out and VW has sent out a recall about these issues a while back. I don't believe my vehicle was under this recall. This vehicle has had all recalls addressed. At this point I will have to get rid of the car because the cost to fix this issue will be the same or more than the car is worth.

• 12/31/2019· ENGINE

  THE WATER PUMP HAS BEEN CRACKED, LEAKING THE COOLANT. THE CAR ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED BUT DIDN'T LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IN MY CASE. VW GROUP IS PRODUCING THE WATER PUMP OUT OF PLASTIC, WHICH EVENTUALLY CRACKS FOR MANY OF VW AND AUDI CAR OWNERS, AND COULD LEAD TO THE ROAD ACCIDENT INDIRECTLY.

• 12/29/2014· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  WE RECENTLY (12-23-2014) BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE AUGUST 11TH 2014 RECALL OF THE TIGUAN ECM/AIR BUBBLE ISSUE RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP IN THE CARS. OUR CAR WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES RELATING TO THE RECALL AND DESCRIBED, BUT DUE TO POTENTIAL ISSUES DECIDED TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE IT APPLIED ANYWAYS. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING FUNNY, AND WE NOTICED GAS MILEAGE HAD GONE DOWN. DUE TO ECM BEING REFLASHED AS A PART OF THE RECALL, WE CHALKED IT UP AS THE COMPUTER NEEDING TO RE-"LEARN" DRIVING HABITS, SHIFT POINTS, ETC.. ABOUT 25 MILES LATER WE WERE ON THE WAY HOME FROM AN EVENT ABOUT A FEW MILES FROM HOME. WE WERE ON A VERY BUSY 6 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. IT PUT US IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION, 4 ADULTS IN A CAR ON A BUSY 6 LANE HIGHWAY. WE MANAGED TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TO AN OFFRAMP. THE CAR RESTARTED AND THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN, BUT ONLY IN LIMP MODE, ENOUGH TO GET US THE FINAL COUPLE MILES HOME. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. ISSUE WAS A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT APPARENTLY IS A VERY COMMON PART TO FAIL, AND AT LOW MILEAGE ON CARS, IN ANY CONDITION. IT FAILED AFTER THE "NEW CAR WARRANTY" BUT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDED BY VW. DUE TO IT'S HIGH FAILURE RATE AT LOW VEHICLE MILEAGE, AND THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON SAFETY, THE FUEL PUMP RECALL FROM AUGUST 11TH SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT AND EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF THE PART. *TR

• 12/28/2012· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE EPC AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE SENOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,870. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/22/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ

• 12/12/2018· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. REEVES VOLKSWAGEN (11337 N FLORIDA AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612, (813) 935-3354) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS NOT A KNOWN FAILURE AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,846. *DT CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WAS MADE BY THE DEALER. *JB

• 12/07/2021· STEERING

  unexpectedly power steering stop working, second it happened

• 12/04/2015· AIR BAGSCrash

  DAUGHTER DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 50MPH WHEN INVOLVED IN 8 CAR CHAIN REACTION COLLISION. SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. DAUGHTER INJURED WHEN SHE STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. DESPITE SPEED AND DEGREE OF DECELERATION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS OR SIDE CURTAINS.

• 12/03/2015· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND GOING OVER DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

• 12/02/2020· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WATER IS LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOM ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WHEN IT RAINS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS SOAKING THE AREA AROUND THE ELECTRONICS, AND HAS FLOODED THE FOOTWELLS OF THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, NOW THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HVAC SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND I CANNOT DE-FOG THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT MOLD BUILD UP FROM THE DAMP AREAS, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO BREATHE THAT IN. WATER DRIPS AND SOAKS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION IN THE RAIN. LEAK HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

• 11/30/2020· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE THE RACK AND PINION, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, CLOCKSPRING, AND THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WERE ALL REPLACED. THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO UPDATE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED SHORTLY AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

• 11/20/2019· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

  AFTER RAIN DRIVERS SIDE FRONT & REAR CARPET IS SOAKED

• 11/18/2018· ENGINE

  I WAS DRIVING MY TIGUAN WHEN IT STALLED OUT AT THE END OF THE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT STARTED JUST FINE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR UP THE STREET WHEN IT STARTED JERKING, SPUTTERING, AND LURCHING, LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THIS TIME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 1000 FEET TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THIS MORNING, AND IT DID THE SAME THING: LURCHING, JERKING, AND SPUTTERING. IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 500 FEET. AGAIN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.

• 11/16/2016· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR REMEDY FROM THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V441000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). SHORTLY AFTER THE DEALER'S REPAIR, THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG HESITATION AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND PROVIDED FURTHER TESTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER AND INTAKE FUEL PUMP WERE PUTTING OUT LOW FUEL PRESSURE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER CLEARED THE CODE FOR THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY MODULE AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE DEALER'S REPAIR AND THE RECALL REPAIR PROVIDED A SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

• 11/14/2013· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. CARS WERE SPEEDING BY AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. EPC LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. CAR HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. EPC LIGHT RESETS AFTER CAR SITS OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND PROBLEM GOES AWAY. DEALER SAYS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE LIGHT GOES OFF BEFORE IT GETS TO THE DEALER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU CANT ACCELERATE AND MOVE TO A SAFE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

• 11/13/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The front headlight does not work on one side but the high beam and running lights still work on both sides. Might be an issue with the ballast or electrical system. A few days later my car would not start in the morning. The engine would crank but never start. There were no warning lights or signs of anything not working correctly. Seems like it might be because of the timing system either the belt/chain or the tensioner. Have to get cared towed to shop to have inspected and prices for repairs are very high. I've owned this vehicle for only 3 months.

• 11/12/2017· AIR BAGSCrash

  IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING REAR HIT, WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH APPROX. 8 FEET DEEP, WITH AN IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO HOSPITALIZE THE FRONT SEAT PASENGER WITH FRACTURED STERNUM AN INTERNAL BLEEDING CAUSED BY A SEAT BELT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . PER THE DOTOR, INJURY COULD BE AVOIDED IF FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

• 11/07/2017· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  FUEL DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THEREFORE, I CANNOT REFUEL THE VEHICLE.

• 11/06/2017· AIR BAGS

  2012 TIGUAN WAS RECALLED FOR THE AIR BAG DUE TO THE CLOCK SPRINGS BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER OCT 2014 APRIL 2017 AND AGAIN TODAY NOV 17 I HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN DUE TO THE AIR BAG ( CLOCK SPRINGS) I HAD TO PAY IN 14 AND APRIL 17 TODAY I DID NOT SINCE IT HAPPENED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE LAST REPAIR I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW . I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR 2014 AND APRIL 2017. ALL 3X WHERE DONE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP

• 11/04/2014· AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, INJURIES ON THE LEFT LEG, AND NECK PAIN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 11/02/2025· STEERING

  Steering wheel gets locked up while driving; power steering fails. The red steering light turns on. This is a problem that happens to several Tiguans. There were no prior symptoms prior to failure. This is extremely dangerous and difficult to deal with while driving, especially on the freeway. please help.

• 11/01/2019· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, CERTAIN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE AFFECTED, SUCH AS THE GEAR LIGHTS AND VANITY LIGHTS. ALSO, THE PUSH START ENGINE BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUSH THE BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 50,000. *DT *TR CONSUMER STATED CAR IS DEVELOPING MOLD INSIDE WHERE IT IS LEAKING.*DT CONSUMER ALSO STATED AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF, BUT FOR NOW DUE TO CONDENSATION IT IS STAYING ON.*DT ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB*JB THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WOULDNT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

• 10/30/2015· STEERING

  MECHANIC REPORT: AFTER REPLACEMENT OF SPIRAL SPRING YELLOW STEERING GEAR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. CHECKED WORK PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. NO PROBLEM FOUND. PERFORMED CAPASITOR DISCHARGE. DTS STILL WILL NOT ERASE. CONTACTED TECH LINE(VTA# 1505839). UPDATED SOFTWARE OF STEERING ASSIST MODULE. STILL WILL NOT ERASE. PERFORMED VOLTAGE DROP TEST ON WIRES. ALL OK. PER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM VW ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. POWER STEERING PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL REPAIRS DONE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA RECALL: 15V483

• 10/28/2015· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THREE PASSENGERSAND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING AIRBAG DYSFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE INFORMATION THAT VW PROVIDED ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL SEEMS INCOMPLETE AND TO UNDERSTATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE.

• 10/27/2012· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

  FOR NO APPARENT REASON MANY INDICATOR LIGHTS SIGNAL AT THE SAME TIME INDICATING TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM NOT AVAILABLE, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NOT WORKING, LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING, BRAKES LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP, ESC NOT FUNCTIONING. TRUNK ALSO WILL NOT UNLOCK. IT CAN BE RESET (I THINK, IT WORKED ON ONE EPISODE) BY MULTIPLE (10-15 TIMES STARTING AND RESTARTING CAR) AS THIS DEFAULT HAS ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM HOME I AM UNSURE EXACTLY WHAT RESETS IT. STARTING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THIS MANY TIMES CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR THE VEHICLE ENGINE ETC. THE VEHICLE SYSTEM DID THIS ERROR A FEW TIMES OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS, STOPPED THEN STARTING DOING IT AGAIN. VEHICLE DRIVES DIFFERENTLY WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS. IT STARTS OUT FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE VEHICLE FEELS MORE LIKE IT IS DRIVING WITH THE REAR TIRES AND FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING. THESE DEFAULTS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, HAD TO DRIVE HOME POST SNOW STORM WITH ALL OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND NO LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND NO ESC. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 28,700 MILES ON IT. *TR

• 10/26/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN A MERGING LANE, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. CARS WERE SPEEDING BY AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. EPC LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO GET OFF HIGHWAY AND HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

• 10/25/2018· SUSPENSION

  2012 VW TIGUAN WAS SENT INTO THE DEALER FOR BRAKES. DEALER STATED THE SPRING WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED AT AROUND 70K MILES ONLY. UPON QUESTIONING REGARDING THE PREMATURE DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION THE DEALER STATED "IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM." THE DEALER CHARGED AROUND $700 FOR THE REPAIR. SOUNDS LIKE A NECESSARY SAFETY RECALL TO ME.

• 10/22/2019· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOISE VOLKSWAGEN (8400 W FRANKLIN RD, BOISE, ID 83709) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURBO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRENCE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190720353. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

• 10/19/2021· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Our daughter's veh. has mold in the rt front & rt rear seat flooring. The inside of the windshield has water to the point that it is very hard to see out of it at night and the pano. glass roof also has water inside of the suv as well. We have taken the veh. to (2) glass shops & a body shop & they are saying this is a safety & defect issue with this model. We researched on this & there are thousand of consumers who have the same complaints & concerns about the mold that this has caused & also many cases electrical issues inside this model suv. no matter what year same issues. We also know of a relative same thing same model & leakage as well and luckily hers so far no mold as of yet. Our daughter cannot use this suv due to the mold & is forced to use another veh. to get to college. We have video and photos showing the water in the veh & inside the rt windows during the night & day time. We have tried getting this resolved & have done all we could in so far as also going to the dealership but they did not want to hear it nor their VW "Care" dept. as well they just stated to contact NHTSA as our veh. could be included as again there are numerous complaints on this issue. Please let us know what is needed from us to investigate this. I can be reached at [XXX] or email us at [XXX]. ***Thank you so very much for any assistance you can provide us on this.*** Sincerely concerned parent INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

• 10/19/2018· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXCEEDING 45 MPH OR HARD ACCELERATION THE BODY PITCHES AND ROLLS IN A JERKING MOTION. AS THE SPEED INCREASES OR THE DRIVING SURFACE BECOME ROUGH, THE BODY FEELS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. AS A A RESULT, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS MARGINAL UNTIL THE SPEED IS REDUCED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY VISIBLE PHYSICAL DEFECTS BY THE LOCAL VW DEALER. VW TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT CV AXLES, WHICH WAS DONE. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE HANDLING. BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND 81000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, VW OF AMERICA HAS SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO A DEALER OCT. OF 2012. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

• 10/14/2019· STEERING

  CAR WAS PARKED IN AN OUTSIDE PARKING LOT AFTER RETURNING FROM A 160 MILE TRIP. AFTER MY LUGGAGE WAS UNLOADED INTO MY APARTMENT, I WENT BACK TO THE CAR TO GO PARK IT IN THE DETACHED GARAGE. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. THE SHAKING STOPPED AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN POSITION AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. AT THAT POINT THE STEERING POWER FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A LOUD WARNING SOUND (I HAVE A VIDEO OF THIS EVENT THAT I CAN PROVIDE VIA EMAIL. I AM NOT ABLE TO UPLOAD IT HERE, THOUGH). I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE THE CAR AS IT WAS. I CHECKED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AN IT TURNED ON WITHOUT ISSUE. LATER THAT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER. I SHOWED THEM THE VIDEO OF WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED, BUT WHERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER ME AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE NEXT WEEK (TODAY), I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I RECEIVED A CALL LATER INFORMING ME THAT THE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATED THAT IT IS A MAJOR HAZARD AND THAT THE DO NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING THE CAR. IF I DID WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER OF LIABILITY.

• 10/10/2018· AIR BAGS

  IN DECEMBER 2015, AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS CEASED TO WORK. THIS WAS NOT A VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. JUST THIS WEEK, THE PART AGAIN FAILED, WITH A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AGAIN, AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITH NO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL WORKING. THE CAR NOR PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

• 09/28/2013· SERVICE BRAKES

  THE REAR BRAKES SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN, THEY GRIND AND SCREECH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CRAWLING ALONG, WE HAVE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THEM AND THEY STILL DO IT AND VW SAYS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT AND WE ARE WORRIED THAT AS IT GETS WORSE IT WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS BUT VW HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT. *TR

• 09/27/2023· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  I made a report on 11/1/19 about issues with my vehicle due to a manufactures defect that the panoramic roof drains did not drain properly and water leaked throughout the vehicle. Please refer to ODI# 41277589 and Ref.# 238025. This is a known issue with these vehicles and should have been recalled by volkswagon. On September 18, 2023 my daughter got into an accident because the vehicle shut off and couldn't stop. Air bags never went off either. It has officially been determined that there was in fact an electrical short.

• 09/26/2019· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  WHILE RIDING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH MY WIFE DRIVING, EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS THE RADIO STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF THEN WE LOST POWER STEERING. JUST ABOUT EVERY CODE LITE UP FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND GOT A MESSAGE SAYING EPC & ABS FAILURE.

• 09/25/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

  WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE AND IT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE CAME TO FULL STOP. IT TOOK A WHILE TO RE-START THE ENGINE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPAIRED BY A VW DEALER, BUT I NEVER GOT A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST SUNDAY ON A HIGH TRAFFIC LOCAL ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND AGAIN CAME TO A FULL STOP. IT WILL NOT RE-START.

• 09/24/2019· VISIBILITY

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING WATER ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION DUE TO WIRE RUST. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE SUN ROOF'S HOSE DRAINAGE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

• 09/20/2018· ENGINE

  MY VEHICLE LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAS "BROKEN TIME" AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

• 09/14/2017· ENGINE

  CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRIGGERED CODE REFLECTING MISFIRES. DEALERSHIP CHECKED OUT AND IT IS A CARBON BUILDUP ON INTAKE VALVES. I AM TOLD THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DIRECT INJECTION SYTEMS ESPECIALLY ON VOLKSWAGENS, BMWS, AUDIS. THE SUGGESTED FIX IS TO HAVE A SHOP OR DEALER REMOVE MANIFOLD AND USE A MEDIA BLAST OF WALNUT SHELLS TO REMOVE THE CARBON. THIS WILL ONLY LAST UNTIL THE BUILDUP COMES BACK. THIS SUV HAS APPROX 62,000 MILES ON IT. THE COST OF GETTING THE VALVES CLEANED RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $400 TO 1200. THIS PROBLEM IS AN INHERENT ISSUE WITH DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING A CONSUMEER CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. AS ONE REPAIR SHOP SAID, IT IS INEVITABLE AND ALL DIRECT INJECTION ENGINES WILL SUFFER THIS PROBLEM. I AM APPALLED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND WHEN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A MAINTENANCE TYPE ITEM IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. PROPER MAINTENANCE SHOULD NEVER INCLUDE WALNUT BLASTING OF CARBON DEPOSITS ON VALVES!!! MANUFACTURERS NEED TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD WHEN PURCHASING THE CAR THAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE MEDIA BLASTING AT 60K, I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE PURCHASE.

• 09/12/2014· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  CAR COMPLETELY STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT HAPPENED ONCE WHILE PULLING OUT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. I WAS TOLD BY THE VW DEALER THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP MODULE. BEING SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, I HAD THESE PARTS FIXED FOR AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $889.95. IN AUGUST OF 2014, I RECEIVED A LETTER DISCUSSING A SAFETY RECALL (SAFETY RECALL 24AV--FUEL PUMP 2009-2014 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN) THAT MATCHED THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAD ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED WHEN FIXING MY CAR BACK IN JANUARY OF 2014. AFTER SUBMITTING ALL OF THE INVOICES TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT TO THE COSTS INCURRED TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE HAS DENIED MY CLAIM AND HAS YET TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

• 09/10/2019· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES

  INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. TURNED THE CAR OFF AFTER GETTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK.. LATER NOTICED THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AND WOULD THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD OSCILLATE RAPIDLY. PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TWO WEEKS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED AS STEERING MODULE NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. PROBLEM RETURNED THE NEXT DAY AFTER BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED FOR ~$500. REPAIR NOW DIAGNOSED AS REPLACE STEERING RACK AND WIRING MODULE. CAR HAS 112K MILES MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. NO OFF ROAD DRIVING. VW SAYS BEYOND WARRANTY NOT THEIR PROBLEM. $2200 TO REPAIR. SORRY BUT STEERING IS A FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF DRIVING A CAR. WILL MY CAR STILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE?

• 09/09/2020· VISIBILITY/WIPER

  FAULTY AND FAILING DRAINS IN ALL 4 CORNERS OF PANORAMIC SUN ROOF HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE ON PILLARS, HEADLINER, CARPET, PAD AND SEATS IN FRONT AND BACK SEAT, PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF CAR. MOISTURE INSIDE OF CABIN CREATES FOGGED WINDSHIELD AND UNKNOWN POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL DAMAGE.

• 08/31/2017· ENGINE

  MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING CODE P0341. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF. TWO DRIVES LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON, AND WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT WHEN A NASTY RATTLE BECAME AUDIBLE. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENED UPON ACCELERATION, NEAR 2K RPM. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT OVER 30 MPH SINCE THIS ISSUE STARTED, ONLY ACCELERATING VERY GINGERLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE MECHANIC, AT WHICH POINT THEY INFORMED ME THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDES HAD FAILED OR WERE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT REPAIRING THE TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS WOULD COST $4000, BUT THAT THE ENGINE IS ALSO BURNING OIL. THEY RECOMMENDED A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $5400. I PURCHASED THE TIGUAN USED FROM LARSON VW IN TACOMA, WA NOVEMBER 2015 (JUST UNDER 2 YEARS AGO) WITH 59000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS ~89000 MILES.

• 08/31/2016· SERVICE BRAKES

  THE ELECTRONIC E-BRAKE APPEARS TO HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ENGAGED FROM MOISTURE AND I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKE FOR NEARLY AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, HOWEVER WITH THE LOCATION OF THE EMERGENCY E-BRAKE BUTTON IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND THE POTENTIAL IT CAN SHORT OUT OR BE ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED WHILE DRIVING THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE.

• 08/30/2017· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE HORN FROM WORKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH IS LIT .

• 08/29/2015· ENGINE

  THE COILS KEEP GOING BAD. REPLACED ALL FOUR COILS TWICE WITH IN A ONE YEAR TIME FRAME. TWO COILS WENT BAD, REPLACED THEM AND THEN THE OTHER TWO WOULD GO BAD. WENT APPROX. THREE MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY WENT BAD.

• 08/28/2025· STEERING

  I was driving the car and the steering wheel locked out of nowhere A red steering light came on the dashboard. I’ve never seen before

• 08/25/2025· ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. Additionally, while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine, EPC, and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

• 08/25/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ON THIS JULY 4TH HOLIDAY, THE ENGINE OF OUR 2012 TIGUAN (LESS THAN 52K MILES, FIRST OWNER) BEGAN TO STUTTER ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. THIS OCCURRED AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF A 6-LANE FREEWAY AT A MERGE (I-85 AT THE MERGE WITH GA-400 SOUTHBOUND). EVEN AS THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY LOST SPEED, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO THE SLOWER LANES SAFELY. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND FAST THAT AFTERNOON. I PROMPTLY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE VW DEALERSHIP (NALLEY VW OF ROSWELL) FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING, ANXIOUS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. I WAS INFORMED THAT CYLINDER 2 WAS MISFIRING. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT COILS WOULD FAIL AT AS LOW A MILEAGE AND HAD CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR US. IT APPEARS THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF COIL FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED AND INFORMED VW OF THE ISSUE. THEY DECLINED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO COMPENSATE ME FOR SUCH PREMATURE COMPONENT FAILURE, LET ALONE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FAILURE MADE FOR AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON THE ROAD. THE VW SERVICE CENTER REPLACED ALL FOUR COILS AND SPARK PLUGS THE FOLLOWING DAY, CORRECTING THE PROBLEM.

• 08/21/2019· VISIBILITY

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOMENTUM VOLKSWAGEN (2405 RICHMOND AVE, HOUSTON, TX 77098, (844) 894-5462) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAIN WAS CLOSED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FILL WITH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.