Volkswagen Tiguan Complaints

584 consumer complaints on file.

#11715560February 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE
Shortly after purchase, the vehicle began experiencing ongoing mechanical and electrical issues that required multiple repair attempts. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for service on the following dates: •November 29, 2024 •December 2, 2024 •December 16, 2024 •December 23, 2024 •January 6, 2025 In total, the vehicle was out of service for 21 days in December and 28 days in January. Despite repeated repair attempts, the issues were not resolved. Due to the excessive time out of service and repeated unsuccessful repairs, I submitted a request for Volkswagen to repurchase the vehicle. This request was denied. The vehicle was returned to me on February 1, 2025. On February 9, 2025, while parked in my driveway and not in operation, the vehicle caught fire. I was later informed that the fire originated in the dashboard and was electrical in nature. This incident presented a significant safety risk. Had the fire occurred while the vehicle was in operation or spread to my residence, it could have resulted in serious injury, loss of life, or significant property damage. I am reporting this incident due to concerns that the electrical failure and resulting fire may indicate a broader safety defect affecting this vehicle model. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this matter to determine whether further investigation or corrective action is warranted in the interest of public safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715442February 4, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The wipers of this car go on and off automatically and you are not able to turn off the feature. They go on without rain or any debris on the windshield. I already took it to a Volkswagen dealer and they accepted the error and replaced the steering wheel, saying this was the cause. With the new steering wheel, the problem is still going on and they don’t offer any solutions because they don’t understand what is happening to the car. This is very distracting and I’ve been close to crashing due to the wipers going on and off consistently. I researched on the internet and there are several VW cars with this issue and no solutions found.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715313February 3, 2026
ENGINE
This car and many others like it have excessive oil consumption, smoking. I'm told it's a cylinder head which may or may not be covered under warranty if they can ever get a replacement. There are currently 4 waiting on heads or engines at my dealer with no eta on the backordered part. In the mean time I'm stuck with a partially functional car I can't get rid of because of the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714738January 31, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Carnet system has been replaced once on the vehicle due to non-function…not even a year later not working again
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714680January 31, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN
Our vehicle became unable to shift out of neutral after a traction event (wheel slip & loss of traction) when trying back into our driveway from a snow packed access alleyway then multiple system warnings occurred including transmission, traction control, ABS, engine ECU, stability systems and anti-roll errors. I turned off the car and tried again with vehicle still unable to shift out of neutral with the multiple system warnings again occurring. I turned the vehicle off for a longer duration (10 minutes) while calling the service department at the dealership asking if our car should be towed. I turned the vehicle on again and it did go into drive and reverse but the check engine light displayed. Remote start no longer functions. Failsafe modes are NOT supposed to leave the car unable to shift out of neutral without warning! The fact that it threw multiple system errors at once, refused to shift, then later shifted after a longer power-down, and now has a check engine light strongly suggests a stored hard fault, not just a transient glitch. From a safety and regulatory standpoint, loss of motive control without driver input amounts to a reportable safety defect. If this didn’t happen while trying to park in my driveway, it could’ve been much worse. If this had happened in traffic, while pulling into an intersection, on a hill, during a snowstorm, or while backing into traffic, the inability to shift could have caused a collision. I did report this to VW customer care and they immediately escalated this to a case manager. The vehicle was dropped off to the dealership this morning and will be discussing the event with the service manager on Monday and that I want all stored fault codes printed, confirmation whether this triggered limp/failsafe logic, and what prevents it from happening again. The VW case manager will also be contacting the dealership directly. The bottom line is that I do not feel safe operating this vehicle until the root cause is identified.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714478January 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Within 2 minutes into my drive, accelerating from stopped to merging onto a road moving up to about 50mph, the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel (speedometer, fuel gauge, etc) completely turned off and went black for 20 seconds before turning back on. It was only the instrument cluster - the infotainment screen did not turn off. Over the past year or so though, the infotainment center has turned off/reset itself a few times. This is a 3 year old car, nothing like that should be happening and is a serious safety hazard. Researching this online, this appears to be a common issue with 2023 Tiguans, and other years/models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714251January 29, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Snow sticks between the rim and brake when I am driving causing vehicle to majorly shake. I can not manually reach in this area to remove the snow This is a hazard when I am driving on a thruway or country roads. The dealer does not know why this is sticking so badly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713909January 28, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The driver-side seat belt buckle is getting stuck and does not release the seat belt when the release button is pressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713645January 27, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I own a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line purchased new in August 2025. Since shortly after purchase, the vehicle has exhibited a recurring safety defect where the electronic parking brake engages without driver input and the vehicle shifts itself into Park. This happens suddenly and without warning. This defect occurs multiple times per week, on average (upwards of 50+ times total since purchase) under varied low-speed conditions, including at stoplights, while slowly moving through traffic, and during parking maneuvers, etc. When it occurs, the vehicle stops abruptly as Park is engaged. This creates a significant risk of being rear-ended or losing control in an intersection or traffic lane. There are no warning lights, chimes, or alerts beforehand. The behavior is intermittent and unpredictable, so there is no way to anticipate or prevent it during normal driving. This has not yet caused a collision, but there have been near-miss situations in traffic due to the sudden stop. I notified the dealership when the vehicle was new, but because the model had only recently been released and the defect could not be reproduced on demand, there was no formal inspection or repair, and no guidance was provided. The issue has continued multiple times per week since then. I have now found other 2025 Tiguan owners reporting the same behavior, which suggests this may be a broader safety defect rather than an isolated case. I am requesting an investigation due to the frequency of occurrence and the clear collision risk associated with unintended braking and shifting into Park.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713327January 26, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The vehicle's sunroof glass failed catastrophically and shattered spontaneously without any external impact or contributing factor. The glass was not safety glass and shattered into sharp shards, dispersing throughout the vehicle interior, including the rear seating area. This failure posed a serious safety risk, as glass shards caused minor injuries to my skin, and could have resulted in significant injury had a child or pet been seated in the back. The incident has not been reproduced; however, the damage was confirmed and repaired by the authorized dealership, which replaced the sunroof glass, frame, and sunshade due to extensive damage. The vehicle was inspected by the dealership, and a comprehensive insurance claim was filed. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms were present prior to the failure, and the event occurred without warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712731January 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 36,274; however, while attempting to trade in the vehicle, it was discovered that the vehicle had a branded title due to a mileage discrepancy.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712553January 21, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I purchased a new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan (VIN [XXX] ) on December 9, 2025. On January 18, 2026, with 1,243 miles, the closed sunroof suddenly shattered as I slowly backed out of my indoor garage. There was no debris, no storm, and no outside impact. I took photos immediately, including wide and close‑up shots; none show any impact point. I reported the incident to Brookdale Volkswagen the same day and sent my photos. The dealership submitted a warranty request, but Volkswagen denied it as “outside influence,” without identifying an impact point or providing written inspection notes. I requested evidence supporting that conclusion, the VW case details, and a physical inspection with written findings. After the car was towed to the dealer, the service manager sent a new photo labeled a “rock chip.” This mark does not appear in any of my original photos taken immediately after the shattering, before towing. The dealer referenced VW Tracking [XXX] and repeated the denial. Volkswagen Customer CARE later issued a formal denial and directed me to BBB AUTO LINE for dispute resolution. No external cause was present; the vehicle was indoors and stationary. No impact point appears in my original photos, and the later “chip” only appeared after the vehicle left my possession, so it is not reliable evidence of pre‑existing damage. Tempered roof glass can fail spontaneously due to manufacturing or installation stress, making this a warranty‑covered defect absent proof of impact. I am requesting warranty coverage for replacement of the panoramic sunroof assembly and related interior cleanup or repairs, written inspection findings and all photos used to support any continued impact claim, and reimbursement or coverage of reasonable costs tied to the failure. I am filing this claim through BBB AUTO LINE, and a related NHTSA complaint is being filed to document the safety concern. 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
#11712400January 21, 2026
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Lane keep assist will activate randomly and try to steer the car and vibrate the steering wheel like lane departure warning going off. Also the Lane keep assist and emergency sos fault lights will randomly come on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712038January 20, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Spontaneous Panoramic Sunroof Shattering on 2025 VW Tiguan
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710785January 13, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
An error, "Travel Assist Not Working" intermittently pops up and then disappears. This has been happening for several months. Sometimes many times per minute. In one instance, up to 10x in one minute. It is a safety issue as it has a loud ding every time it happens and sometimes it surprises me and distracts me from driving. Because there is no common thing that causes the error to pop up, it has been difficult to reproduce. When it is doing it, videos have been taken to show the error. Dealer states there this no error code when they look over the vehicle. There is a warning that pops up on the display and sometimes a small yellow error exclamation point stays on for about one minute, other times it disappears right away.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710480January 12, 2026
ENGINE
Problem Description: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) diagnosed with excessive oil consumption and coolant loss requiring cylinder head replacement. Vehicle at dealer since December 6, 2025, part on national backorder, estimated 6-7 more months wait (total downtime already ~1.5 months). Dealer advised retrieving car tomorrow and driving it while monitoring/adding oil and coolant as needed. This is unsafe: low oil risks engine seizure, low coolant risks overheating—either can cause sudden failure, stalling, or power loss while driving, creating crash risk (especially with my child as frequent passenger). Symptoms: frequent low oil warnings, coolant loss, check engine light, white smoke from tailpipe. Appears linked to known EA888 engine issues in recent Tiguans (ongoing class action on oil consumption). Request NHTSA review as potential safety defect, including repair delays amplifying risk. 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
#11709830January 9, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Car randomly brakes by itself with no obstacle in front, no cars in front, sometimes emergency brake activates when standing on red light. On attached photos you can see messages after incident occures
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709259January 6, 2026
I suspect the car seat is counterfeit, Other/I am not sure, Carry Handle, Shell, Base
The car seat was put in the rear seat of the vehicle. The seat belt was used first and then switched to the lower anchors to secure it in the seat. First noticed there was more then an inch of play in the seat after tightening it down with the seat belt and then the lower anchors. Next the seat would not level up either in the rear seat of the vehicle. After moving the height adjustment to the different levels it had the seat would still not get level and be in the indicator on the bubble. We tried several times to get it level and tighten it down and it still would not level up and still had a lot of play in it side to side. Based on this we did not feel comfortable putting the baby in this seat. The car seat was not inspected by anyone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709017January 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Travel assist constantly beeping for no reason. Ok reversing some times the car engages emergency break for no reason. Multiple engine cut outs at various times. Key issues - car not identifying key, delays in starting vehicle and some situations where I am locked in the car
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707991December 31, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Four cracks of varying lengths ranging from roughly one inch to four inches have spontaneously appeared on the drivers side of the windshield. These were first noticed when entering the car, not while driving. Cracks can be felt from the inside of the vehicle only. One crack appears to be jagged and looks black when looking through the windshield from the inside.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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