Volkswagen Tiguan Complaints

584 consumer complaints on file.

#11676717July 28, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I purchased the Tiguan just shy of 2 years ago. Since 12/17/24 I have spent over $2,000.00 in that short of time because one incident the oil leaked out in a matter of a day. The second incident, while traveling from St. Louis to Tulsa, the oil light came on every 80 miles because the oil had spewed out. I had to replace the oil about 5 times that day. The third incident came 1,500 miles later. I came out of a restaurant in Claremore, OK and saw every drop of oil had spilled out into the parking lot. Each time I took the car to Autohaus. They only work on Volkswagens. He has been doing so since he was 14. If he can't fix it, no one can. I can't afford to keep dishing out $700 every 2,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676122July 25, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Excessive Oil Consumption: I purchased this Tiguan 2022 back on [XXX] in Florida and since I purchased it I have issues with this matter. I have reported my Tiguans consuming oil at a rate significantly higher than what's expected between oil changes and I was informed that is normal, yet I still did not get any resolution on this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676078July 25, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I am experiencing a serious safety issue with my 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan involving delayed acceleration. The problem occurs intermittently but frequently: when pressing the gas pedal from a complete stop or low-speed situation (such as turning or merging), there is often a 5–10 second delay before the vehicle responds and begins accelerating. During this lag, the engine does not rev, and the vehicle does not move, leaving me and my passengers vulnerable in intersections, while turning into traffic, or merging onto highways. This issue has occurred multiple times since purchase, and has created multiple near-miss situations, including once where I attempted to cross a two-lane road and the vehicle did not move for several seconds after pressing the accelerator. Other drivers had to brake abruptly to avoid collision. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Volkswagen dealer twice. They were unable to replicate the issue and returned the car without repair. The third visit is currently being scheduled. No warning lights or diagnostic codes were present, and the dealer stated they could not reproduce the problem. Volkswagen has not issued a fix to my knowledge. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. There were no warning lamps or messages at the time of the failures. The issue began within the first few months of ownership and has persisted intermittently for the past several months. I paid $30,000 cash for this vehicle in 2023 and it is still under warranty. This issue presents an ongoing safety hazard and significantly reduces my confidence in the vehicle’s ability to respond in traffic. Based on forums and consumer reports, I have reason to believe this is a known issue affecting multiple VW Tiguan vehicles of the same model year. I am available to provide additional documentation, including a written log of the issue and video evidence upon request. I respectfully urge NHTSA to investigate this matter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675987July 24, 2025
ENGINE
This vehicle has excessive oil consumption. I purchased it certified pre-owned under the manufacturer warranty still in effect. It had 36,847 mikes in the odometer. Having an issue with a prior 2022 Tiquan I checked the oil at 39,000 mikes, it was 2 quarts low and I added 2 quarts, I checked it at 41,000 again it was low 2 quarts. I took it to the dealer with 41,132 miles and had the perform an oil change at Hoover Volkswagen. Then, I checked the oil at 43,000 it was 2 quarts low and added it , due to the bad customer satisfaction I had with my sale of this vehicle and trade I had I took the vehicle to Jim Ellis Volkswagen of Kennesaw what said to do consumption test. I started the process with 45,111 miles on the odometer . The vehicle has an oil consumption issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675977July 24, 2025
ENGINE
I purchased this vehicle [XXX] and mileage was 78,921 at Hoover Volkswagen in Georgia. The carfax showed it had an oil change since the dealer had it in inventory. I drove the carfax showed about 2000 miles to 81,000 odometer miles and heard ticking noise so I checked the oil. It was 2 quarts low, I added 2 after calling the dealer and saying it’s my responsibility to top off the oil. I checked it again at appx 83,000 again it was 2 quarts low, I checked it at 85,000, 87,000, 89,000 and 90,000 each time it was 2 quarts low. I finally took it into the Hoover Volkswagen Dealership at appx 90,500 miles and traded it in for the oil consumption issue and lost $7000 because of tradein value of the oil consuming vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675851July 24, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My Tiguan has a feature called Auto Unlock. All four doors & the back lift gate are automatically unlocked when the car is put into park or the ignition is turned off. Anytime I pull into a parking lot, park on the street or even pull over to look at my phone the car unlocks. When I am concentrating on driving and parking safely I should not have to worry that all the doors are unlocked This option makes me feels unsafe driving my car - anybody can access any door & get in to the car &/or grab something from the car. How can this be considered a safety feature? It makes me feel so unsafe - I should not feel any trepidation when driving my car. In this era of car hijackings & theft - this is a feature that should be optional. I should be able to turn it off. I have researched how to disable this feature & it is not possible. Please let me know if the NHTSA can help me, & countless others who have this option on their cars, to feel safe when driving my car. I look forward to hearing a response. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675703July 23, 2025
ENGINE
This vehicle has burned oil and needed regular additional oil fills between recommended oil change. We have taken the car to Volkswagen Northampton for regular oil changes who have never dealt with the oil leak or burning issue. As a result of this the car now at 64k miles needs a new engine. It has piston issues , timing belt issues, , communication modules between the eco and bmc issues, and cam shaft timing issues. Our mechanic is suggesting a new engine. VW of America will not assist us saying there is nothing they can do.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675621July 23, 2025
ENGINE
The contact's granddaughter owns a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence, where oil was added to the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where an oil change was performed. Additionally, the dealer replaced the oil separator and gasket. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty and the previous oil changes were not performed by the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674548July 18, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicle began burning oil with no visible leaks, severe engine hesitation when accelerating from stop at 42k miles. VW dealer tested and advised oil consumption was below the 1.2 quarts every one thousand miles (6 quarts for each five thousand miles, I am at 3 quarts every five thousand miles). that VW allows for this particular issue (piston rings are know to have issues) but mine are not bad enough to be fixed under warranty. Replacement of the piston rings is a significant out of pocket expense when your is within the warranty period. I have since miled out of warranty. And they also declined to cover it under my extended warranty. The acceleration issue is dangerous as when commuting daily to work on a 3 lane highway, when the stop and go traffic goes, and i don't, this poses a hazard to myself and the other drivers. the hesitation can last 10-20 seconds and the the car jerks to speed. This must also be causing increased emissions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674529July 18, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunroofs suddenly exploding
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673982July 16, 2025
ENGINE
I am experiencing a high oil consumption rate on my 2023 VW Tiguan. VW claims that the rate of consumption is within the 1 Quart every 1200 miles limit, but 3500 miles after an oil change, the check engine oil light came on and I had to add oil. 2000 miles later, it came on again and I had to add oil again. In a 10,000 mile oil change rated car, this would equate to adding 8-9 quarts of oil between changes. This is not normal oil consumption. The effects of increased emissions and premature fouling of the catalytic converter system alone is cause for concern, or the possible loss of engine power on the highway due to failure from lubrication loss, resulting in an accident. The car will emit blue/white smoke from tailpipe and rough idle randomly when the cylinders are overloaded with oil.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673746July 15, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I purchased Tiguan SE on July 2, 2025 and 6 days later with about 200 miles on vehicle, check engine light appeared with message ‘fuel system error.’ I was very disappointed that such a new vehicle reported an error on a critical system. Dealership had trouble identifying source of light and advice of VW technical advice was advised to replace entire fuel tank. This clearly sounds like a manufacture defect and I would like to know if other Tiguan owners have experienced similar issues. Given that VW has a history of defrauding consumers over diesel fuel systems, could this be another fuel problem. So far, upon contacting manufacturer they have brushed aside concerns stating it’s covered warranty and not acknowledging diminution of value that such an early defect could have on the resale/economic value of this car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673562July 15, 2025
ENGINE
At only 38,200 miles the dealership found shards of metal in my engine. The only solution is to replace the entire engine and my car just passed its warranty 5 months ago. I have kept up to date with services and driven the car responsibly. There is also another 2021 VW Tiguan owner in my town and her car did the same thing at only 29,000 miles! She was still under warranty so the engine was replaced but she now states that it burns through oil at a concerning rate. One day the engine like just turned on, then the car goes into a “limp” mode and doesn’t exceed 3000RPM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673423July 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My VW is leaking so much oil. I have been reading SO much about VW and lots of unhappy people in regards to the bills they have to pay to fix oil leaks, pct valves, upper and lower oil pans. One mechanic told me he'd never own a VW because of this leaking oil issue. Due to the extent of people affected, I was hoping there would be an extended warranty issued for people owning faulty 2018 - 2023 VW's. I was told this would be the next place to make a complaint. My car is only 3 years old! Of course I'm at 65k, just over the 50K warranty. Please consider urging VW to cover the costs associated with a well-known oil leak problem, PLEASE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672586July 10, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
At 49,000 miles, all four spark plugs and ignition coils failed and had to be replaced due to engine stuttering and hesitation during acceleration. The check engine light first appeared as I approached a red light to make a timed left turn at a high-traffic intersection during rush hour. The malfunction caused my vehicle to struggle accelerating through the intersection, putting myself and others at risk. A certified mechanic confirmed the error code indicating faulty spark plugs and coils and replaced all components under warranty. However, the check engine light continued to reappear intermittently—sometimes turning off for a week after restarting the engine, other times staying on for extended periods. Despite the initial replacement, the same code concern persisted, and the mechanic replaced the components again under the parts and labor warranty. When the issue continued, I took my vehicle to my regular trusted mechanic, who performed a more in-depth diagnostic. They discovered an excessive and unusual amount of carbon buildup in the fuel injectors, which was likely triggering the engine code and causing drivability issues. This diagnosis resulted in an additional repair expense of nearly $700. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, but the failed components are available for inspection upon request. These issues are unexpected given the vehicle's low mileage, age, and regular maintenance. Total repairs reached nearly $1,300. The hesitation posed a safety risk in traffic and suggests a possible premature system failure. My regular mechanic noted Volkswagen may claim this is “regular maintenance,” though this is not common in similar makes and models like the Tiguan.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672386July 9, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
My Volkswagen Tiguan suddenly and without warning blew a large amount of smoke out of the exhaust along with oil while driving at highway speeds - causing the cars behind me to lose visibility and possibly be covered with oil further reducing their visibility due to the VW manufacturers faulty crankcase breather/pcv valve. After this happened the car dash lit up with warnings and went into "limp mode" where I was not able to exceed 2500 rpm which is very dangerous when on the highway - luckily for my safety at this point I was on a side road. When I checked the engine I found no oil was left in it, it had been sprayed all underneath and up the back, which reduced visibility in the window. I was responsible for towing it to the dealer and was given no loaner despite being under warranty. Leaving myself and children without a vehicle. The dealer confirmed that my VW Tiguan had a faulty crankcase breather which caused over pressurization and pushed up the valve seals and cracked the oil pan. They only replaced those things and not the fouled spark plugs or oil filter from the crankcase breather failure which can cause more engine damage and dirty emissions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671996July 8, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oil leak from PVC malfunction Causing stalling, over heating and a huge amount of oil consumption of vehicle. This poses a safety hazards for consumers who commute more than 25 miles to work , drs appts in rural areas etc. I have purchased well over $300USD in the last month on oil alone, taking away from house hold budgets and maintenance of said vehicle. The operant e of making home to our Family's as consumer priority and this is A MAJOR RISK. Made a used car purchase of a 22 Tig for my family and I( 2kids and an [XXX] elderly Grandmother). 3mnths with less than 60k miles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670996July 3, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The upper control panel housing failed. My safety was put at risk because while driving the panel randomly dropped from my ceiling, blocking my rear view mirror and surprising me. The vehicle has not been looked at by the anyone else other than myself. There are many documented cases online from people experiencing the same kind of situation. There were no warning lights or symptoms that this was going to happen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670973July 3, 2025
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY
To whom it may concern: I wish to report what a believe is a defect in the new Tiguan which is causing the engine to overheat. The check engine light came on the day after we purchased the vehicle. This was due to a part of the lower shutter in the front of the car breaking off, which prohibited the shutter from opening and shutting. It could not cool the engine and thus the engine started to overheat. We are not entirely sure what caused the piece to break, the mechanic said it was likely a rock. We did not get into an accident and in fact had only driven the car once. So I wanted to make this report in case someone else had a similar issue as if this piece is prone to breaking, it could potentially cause other more serious issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670607July 1, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
At about 60,000 miles a VW dealer told me it was normal for VWs to use oil. Now at 80,000 I have a $2,000+ bill b/c the PCV is faulty and the timing cover has failed. I did NOT get a low dngine oil warning, but mechanic says panic wait it was low ( oil change 4,000 miles ago). This could have led to a seized engine on the interstate. I am upset to learn this is a common problem with this vehicle. It is an expensive repair. From other posters I fear this is not the end of the problem. VW should recall this part .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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