Volkswagen Tiguan Complaints (2009)

168 consumer complaints on file.

#11766042September 22, 2026
STEERING
Steering column keeps locking up. I’ve replaced a fuse and it fixed it initially but problem returned. Upon my research apparently this is a common problem in these vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11613596September 9, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car keeps throwing sensors (camshaft, crank sensors, throttle body etc) and the ECM needs to be updated. It keeps turning over. I checked the recall list of VINs and mine is within the range, however there aren't any recalls listed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11610892August 26, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Intermittent AC working issues, air conditioning does not cool or the cooling is weak
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11507267February 14, 2023
STEERING
Power steering goes out randomly after cold weather, even while driving. There is no warning before the power steering goes out. I have almost crashed into another car several times because of this. Many people have had this exact problem with this make and model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478989August 12, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V235000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478431August 9, 2022
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PRESSURE/TEMPERATURE SENSOR
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and a message to stop the vehicle immediately was displayed. AAA arrived on the scene and diagnosed the vehicle with oil sensor failure. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was vibrating while driving back to the residence. The vehicle stalled upon arrival at the residence in the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and diagnosed with timing chain and timing sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,092. The contact stated that VW of America was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for a second opinion and all of the issues were confirmed. It was strongly recommended that the engine be replaced as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11461842April 22, 2022
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
The engine reached 100k miles in the second week of April 2022. After that, I tried to turn on the vehicle, and the engine did not respond. I took my car to the mechanic, and he told me that the car needed an engine replacement. This is very strange since the vehicle had an excellent maintenance schedule, and I usually, this type of car last longer. That engine issue could have caused a severe accident on the road, and fortunately, it never happened. The timing belt might have an issue there, but I had very little information from the engine codes since I did not have an indicator earlier. It just appeared like that. I feel that this type of issue is unfair. After having more than four cars with way more miles, this has never happened, and on average, a Tiguan engine should last at least 150k miles according to the statistics of the vehicle model and year. I feel upset and disappointed with this vehicle model since the cost of replacing the engine cost around 6000$, and I am an international student with no money to do that repair. I feel helpless, and VW told me the only way to get a recall of this car is through a report from the NHTSA, which would be fair given the circumstances I have been through. The only thing I request is to generate a recall for this vehicle if possible. I hope some reads this, and I appreciate the work you do. Thanks
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11438506October 28, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Problems start with ABS and Steering warning lights with EPIC warning on dash, flickering of lights and radio shut off by loosing power steering and rough acceleration and idling. Has been in to VW dealership 5 times now with repairs "fixing" problem for a few days - a week before returning again. This is a safety issue because this happens very quickly and without warning. Once I was on a highway and had to carefully move to side of the road and limp to a safe area (luckily I was in the right lane already).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11359994September 19, 2020
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING GETS HARD AND IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING WHILE MY WIFE DRIVES IT. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE HAPPENING OR IF U GUYS CAN LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. I KNOW YOUR BUSY BUT PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11331329June 28, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, STEERING
AIR BAG LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN CAME WITHOUT BUMPING - THE ENGINE IDLE WERE NOT NORMAL HIGH AND LOW - ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM THE STEERING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11329581June 18, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER BROTHER WHOM OWNED A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER BROTHER WAS DRIVING HE WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHEMICAL POWDER FROM THE AIR BAG WENT INTO THE DRIVER'S MOUTH AND INTO HIS LUNGS. THE POWDER HAS CORRODED HIS TEETH, CAUSING ALL HIS TEETH TO BE EXTRACTED. HIS LUNGS WERE COMPROMISED AND HE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS FINGERS AND WRISTS, INCLUDING CHRONIC INFECTIONS ON HIS BODY AND UPPER LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. THE DRIVER HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT HER BROTHER'S CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES WERE DUE TO THE AIR BAGS CHEMICAL COMPONENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11324200May 11, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE COOLANT HOSE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED MY RADIO GOES BLANK TO WHERE I CAN'T SEE MY BACK UP CAMERA ! THIS VEHICLE HAS TO MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11321360April 17, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
I CRASHED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE ON 10.31.2019. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM A LIGHT. TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. I PUSHED THE BREAK AND IT DID NOT HOLD. IT FELT BUMPY. BREAKS DID NOT HOLD EVEN WHEN I PUSHED IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE CAR INFRONT OF ME GOING 15MPH. WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT ASAP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11311335February 25, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I WAS APPROACHING MY DRIVEWAY IN MY 09 VW TIGUAN WHEN THE RED POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST OR I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AND ACCIDENT OR WORSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE YELLOW LIGHT, THE RED CAME ON AND THAT WAS IT. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE FEATURE ON THE VOLKSWAGEN THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE. I HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, WAITING TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11309491February 16, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, SEAT BELTS
THE TURBO BLEW CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE BLOWN TURBO CAUSED METAL TO GO INTO MY FUEL SYSTEM AND OIL. THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THEY CANNOT SENSE SOMEONE IN THE SEATS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A AUTO SHOP. DUE TO THE BLOWN TURBO, IT WILL COST $5,500 TO FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11298083January 9, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT SHINE BRIGHT AT ALL ALMOST NON EXISTTENT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11287592December 6, 2019
ENGINE
VW TIGUAN 09 PURCHASED AS NEW. ONLY 50K MILES ON IT WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ENCOUNTERED. SOON AFTER (LAST WEEK, NOV 25 2019), ENGINE STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING OUT OF SECOND GEAR AND WAS SEIZED. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST 5,800 TO REBUILD ENGINE. WHILE DOING MY OWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, DISCOVERED THE COMPLAINTS HERE DETAILING PRECISELY THE SAME ISSUE (TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE) THAT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME BY MY MECHANIC. THEN DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REIMBURSEMENT (HTTPS://TIMINGCHAINLITIGATION.COM/) FOR THIS ISSUE THAT I AM NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR BECAUSE JAN 25 2019 FILING DEADLINE WAS NOT MET - KEEP IN MIND THAT MY ENGINE FAILED ONE WEEK AGO (11/25/2019) WITH ONLY 50K MILES ON IT. I TOO, NEVER RECEIVED A CLASS ACTION NOTICE IN THE MAIL. AFTER CALLING THE CLASS ACTION HOTLINE, I WAS TOLD TO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR REQUESTING A FILING DEADLINE EXCEPTION. UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF THIS WILL WORK IN MY FAVOR. BUT I TOO, LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN UNNECESSARILY BURDENED BY VOLKSWAGEN'S NEGLIGENT HANDLING OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF ARE NOW SADDLED WITH THIS COMPLETE LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265657October 2, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START DUE TO TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FUALT WITH CODE P0016. CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND THE NEED TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE TOP END OF THE ENGINE. THIS WAS VERIFIED AFTER A COMPLETE LOSS OF COMPRESSION DUE TO THE VALVES BEING DESTROYED ON THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246422August 26, 2019
ENGINE
MY 2009 VW TIGUAN ENGINE FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK 35 MPH, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OUT OF NOWHERE MY CAR ENGINE MADE SCARY CRUMBLY NOISE AND SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC; COMPLETELY DEAD. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND IF I DIDN'T REACT FAST TO PUT EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, I COULD HAVE BEEN PLOWED BY A BIG TRUCK BEHIND ME. THERE WERE CARS PARKED ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET, AND NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. I WAS CLOSE TO WORK BUT WAS STRANDED ON THE STREET WITH HIGH TRAFFIC BECAUSE I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR. I TRIED TO TURN IT ON BUT AGAIN SAME RUMBLING SOUND AND DEAD AGAIN. I CALLED A FRIEND TO HELP ME PUSH THE CAR TO MY EMPLOYER'S PARKING LOT SO I COULD BE SAFE. AFTER WORK I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY COULDN'T START THE CAR SO IT WAS THEN TOWED TO THE PLACE I LIVE. THEY ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE IS THE PROBLEM. THAT IS WHEN I STARTED RESEARCHING ABOUT IT AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT FOR TIMING CHAIN THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT AND MY VIN GOT MATCHED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 07/31/2018, IT WAS WELL MAINTAINED SINCE THEN AND NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE I HAD NO PRIOR WARNING AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE KILLED ME IN THE ACCIDENT. I AM ASKING YOU TO HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT AND HELP FIX THE ENGINE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW SCARED AND CONCERNED I AM SINCE THEN ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE IN THIS SAME CAR AND I THOUGHT THIS CAR IS SAFE FOR THEM AND MYSELF AND EVERYONE AROUND ME WHEN I'M IN TRAFFIC. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT NOW NEITHER I CAN DRIVE IT NOR I FEEL SAFE ANY LONGER IN IT. THIS CAR IS EVERYTHING TO ME AND WITHOUT IT I CAN'T GO TO WORK AND MAKE MONEY OR GO TO PICK UP GROCERIES. I'M A SINGLE MOM AND NO FAMILY AROUND AND I ENTIRELY DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO MAKE THE LIFE FOR MY CHILDREN AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11235073July 26, 2019
ENGINE
ON ENGINE START UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DRIVING IT A SHORT WHILE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO A QUALIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND THE ENGINE JUMPED TIME, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND PISTONS. MECHANIC ESTIMATED A REPAIR COST OF APPROXIMATELY $6000.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100K MILES BUT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE COST MORE THAN IT WAS WORTH. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN THROUGH A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED AGAINST THEM FOR THIS ISSUE, SINCE THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING WAS 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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