Volkswagen Tiguan Complaints (2020)

141 consumer complaints on file.

#11769339October 6, 2026
ENGINE
While driving my 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan (equipped with approximately 39,000 miles), the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic total engine failure without prior warning, resulting in an immediate loss of power and propulsion while in motion. This sudden stall on an active roadway created a severe, immediate safety hazard and a high risk of a collision. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained with a complete and documented history of annual professional servicing. Prior to the failure, the engine repair light would frequently illuminate. Upon subsequent teardown and investigation of the failed engine, the authorized manufacturer dealership discovered heavy metal shavings in the engine oil, indicating severe and premature internal mechanical destruction of critical engine components. The vehicle has been diagnosed as requiring a complete engine replacement costing $9,000. A catastrophic mechanical failure of this nature at exceptionally low mileage, despite regular annual maintenance, points to a significant manufacturing or material defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764516September 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle threw SOS emergency call feature error two years ago. I replaced the module at the dealership. Today, the same SOS emergency call feature again showed up and I am unable to make an emergency call. This is a known and common issue with VW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760463August 28, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving the car it died while driving. The dealership can’t figure out what’s going on. And it will die WHILE driving and then say check starter ignition system. I open the door it says the engine is on but it is not. This vechicle had a physical key and you have the press the breaks to start the car
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757871August 19, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while the outside temperature was cool, the vehicle operated normally. However, when the heat index was high, the message that the starter was hot was displayed. Shortly afterwards, the instrument cluster went black, and the vehicle stalled. The driver was able to coast the vehicle to the roadside. The contact waited approximately five minutes and restarted the vehicle. While driving in a subdivision, the vehicle stalled again. The local dealer was contacted, but there was no response despite the contact leaving a voicemail. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756171August 11, 2026
INTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, upon entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the dome light had detached and fallen. The contact stated that the electrical wiring was hanging down. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with similar vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the mileage was 2,000 miles over the extended warranty limitation. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756052August 10, 2026
STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CEILING
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 vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a recall associated with the failure but had expired. No assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact about an extended warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 110,738.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754352August 3, 2026
Carry Handle, Shell, Base, Other/I am not sure
This appears to be a design defect in the interaction between the lock-off bar and the seat belt during removal. Beyond the property damage, this creates a safety risk: a caregiver who cannot remove or reinstall the seat may drive with an improperly secured car seat, and a damaged or cut vehicle belt in that seating position is unusable until repaired. I reported this to Evenflo’s ParentLink support on 7/19/2026 (ref:!00Df402dTF0.!500Uy0uvwTd:ref). Evenflo responded that the tangling meant I “incorrectly followed” a step, without asking any diagnostic questions, and denied reimbursement. My requests for escalation on 7/21 and 7/23 have gone unanswered. Photos of the seat, the belt path, and the cut belt are available on request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754422August 3, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER
The overhead console by the rear view mirror suddenly detached - only hanging by cords. It will not go back on. Duct tape will not even hold it. It is a safety hazard to drive it, and it impairs visibility. The dealership I took it to says this is a problem with 2020 tiguans, but I will have to pay for the repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752979July 27, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light on an extremely hot day, the message that the starter was hot was displayed and the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. On another occasion, while making a turn, the vehicle stalled and lost power. The contact was able to safely coast over to the emergency lane. After waiting for the engine to cool down, the vehicle was restarted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748627July 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
-After turning the car on and driving a short distance, the driver dashboard made a warning sound and flashed a warning about my 'ignition system' turning itself off. After that, the entire dash (the speedometer, gas gauge, the infotainment system, the internal climate controls, etc.) went blank. The warning told me to immediately pull the car over and turn it off. Because of this, the car's external brake lights and turn signal indicators also do not work. -Because this error is happening while the vehicle is moving and is on the roadway, I am driving blind in traffic without a way to signal lane changes or when I am coming to a stop. -The car has been worked on three separate times (the alternator was replaced twice and the battery once) for this issue, but the issue is still happening. It only happens when the weather gets to be above 80 degrees. -The vehicle was taken to AutoNation Volkswagen on July 6, 2026, and the service worker who I talked to said he's seen similar issues with Volkswagens in his two and a half years that he's worked in the service department (which lines up with the VW recall for other vehicles) after I described the issue to him. He confirmed those cases also happened when the outside temperatures were high. -No, no warning messages were displayed prior to the issue spontaneously happening back in May 2026. The first warning message I got was accompanied by the dashboard going completely black. -There is a VW Safety Recall (VW Campaign 28H7) and a NHTSA Recall (23V604) for the following VW models produced between 2019 - 2020: Golf, Golf AllTrack, Golf GTI, Golf Sportswagen, and the Jetta in the United States. -VW Customer care (called on July 6, 2026) declined to take down my complaint and said they could not enter my VIN to track the error for future recalls because I quote "didn't have a VW Customer Account." They provided me with a case number (#07599604) but I'm not sure anything was logged, and I didn't qualify for 'goodwill'.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748037July 2, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Component(s) Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL Summary: When the interior cabin or ambient temperature becomes hot, a critical ignition/electrical failure occurs. The dashboard displays error: "Ignition has switched, please safely stop the vehicle." Immediately following, a total electrical shutdown occurs: the instrument cluster goes black, and all external signaling—including the brake lights and turn signals—stops operating. While mechanical engine propulsion is maintained, the driver is left with zero visibility of vehicle metrics and zero exterior signaling to warn trailing traffic. When restarting, the vehicle fails to crank on the first attempt and displays: "Check the starter system." The vehicle functions normally once the cabin cools down or during cold weather. Safety Risk & Consequences: This defect poses an immediate and severe crash hazard. Operating a moving vehicle without functioning brake lights or turn signals deprives surrounding motorists of critical indicators, drastically increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. Additionally, a complete loss of the instrument cluster impairs the driver’s awareness of vehicle speed and critical safety alerts. Diagnostic & Context: An independent certified mechanic diagnosed the issue as a failure of the ignition switch electrical component (not the mechanical tumbler). Thermal expansion causes the electrical contacts to fail, triggering the systemic shutdown. The mechanic noted this part is on a severe nationwide backorder, indicating widespread failure. A known safety recall exists for the VW Jetta for an identical thermal ignition switch failure; however, the VW Tiguan—which utilizes the exact same turn-key ignition switch part—is not included. Multiple online automotive forums document identical hot-weather electrical failures among other Tiguan owners, proving this is a systemic hazard that warrants a safety recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747175June 29, 2026
STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CENTER CONSOLE
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 was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745003June 18, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Started to smell a musty odor in my 2020 Tiguan. Had no idea where it was coming from. Repeatedly wiped down and vacuumed the car; but the smell would not leave. Eventually my husband realized that the carpet in the back seat area under the floor mats was wet and smelled very bad. We used a wet/dry vac to pull the water out. But it only returned. Mold has now started to develop and grow on the carpet on both sides of the car in the back. This is very bad as I don't want me and my family breathing in mold. Also, I purchased the car in late March of 2024 and have only had it for just a little over two years. Since I've had the car we have gotten all routine maintenances completed including the 80K mile service. After reading online I see that this is a COMMON problem with VW Tiguan's where either the Sunroof leaks into the car or the A/C drain causes issue; in both cases it causes water leaks and mold. Tried calling VW and Audi of America to explain and see if they would buy the car back, but was advised due to the year and mileage they could not. This is sad to me because this is dealing with MOLD. VW is aware of these issues and seems to not care if people are left finishing out financing on a loan with a car that leaks and causes mold. I'm even seeing that on the NHTSA website complaints section for Tiguans, that multiple people have registered complaints about the same issue. Attaching picture of mold that is growing in back area.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744148June 15, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving and a vehicle was making a left hand turn, in the middle lane and they were in their lane and I was in mine, but the vehicle decided to use the automatic breaking which then cause me to have whiplash and it took a few seconds for the car to move and I had other cars behind me. Also, because this happened so quickly with no warning I first had to think did I hit the car, because I would have had no knowledge because the automatic stoping made noise and jolted me. So this is dangerous is all sorts of levels. If the other vehicle didn’t move and appeared to be fine and I had no damage to my car I would have not known.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11743149June 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunglass holder latch is broken on the 2020 Tiguan, it obstructs the rear view mirror completely. Volkswagen is charging to have it repaired although there are multiple complaints online about this issue. We have to use tape to keep it shut but the heat melts the adhesive and it falls constantly while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742947June 9, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
center roof console fell out while driving VW states it out of extended warranty charging $200 for repair I find this very dangerous
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741540June 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving on freeway, the overhead console in my 2020 VW Tiguan suddenly fell down. At highway speeds , I thought I had been hit or something. It immediately obstructed the view through my wind shield and rear view. I had to rapidly pull over, narrowly averting a collision. Very dangerous. I see that this is a common problem in this model of car supposedly caused by the factory over torquing the screws that secure it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731300April 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I am driving my vehicle, I get an alert that the "Ignition switched off, please safely stop the video". All electrical power to the vehicle subsequently drops off. This is the same issue that the 2018-2019 VW Jetta's were recalled for in 2023.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730216April 9, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When the weather is warm or hot the car will drive less than a mile then cuts off but still drives. No air conditioning no radio or camera works how car shuts off but can still drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728703April 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
upper center console has completely come down,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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