Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1300–25K
1825–50K
250–75K
375–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
154 reports with mileage · 128 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
282 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2021
EnginePower Train
WE HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH OUR 2018 TIGUAN AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE. AFTER OUR FIRST OIL CHANGE WE HAD ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. DID NOT REPORTED TO DEALER TILL AFTER SECOND OIL CHANGE. THEY CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE LEAKS AND PUT US ON OIL CONSUMPTION TEST FOR LITTLE OVER 600 MILES. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD US TO KEE…
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WE HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH OUR 2018 TIGUAN AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE. AFTER OUR FIRST OIL CHANGE WE HAD ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. DID NOT REPORTED TO DEALER TILL AFTER SECOND OIL CHANGE. THEY CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE LEAKS AND PUT US ON OIL CONSUMPTION TEST FOR LITTLE OVER 600 MILES. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD US TO KEEP EYE ON IT. WE ARE ON 3RD OIL LIGHT SO, THEY NOW PUT US ON SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I OWNED MANY VW INCLUDING 2019 JETTA WE BOUGHT FOR MY SON AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH BURNING OIL. I READ MANY COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES ABOUT BURNING OIL ON VW ENGINES, SO I REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE THAT I KNOW AND SPECIALIZED IN EUROPEAN CARS. I ASKED MY FRIEND AND MULTIPLE MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND THAT IT WILL GET WORSE WERE IT WILL BURN MORE OIL. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT VW KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THESE ENGINES,SOMETHING WITH BAD CYLINDER SEALS AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT FOR LAST 12 YEARS HOW TO FIX IT AND WOULD NOT ADMIT IT. I GUESS THIS DOESN'T HAPPENS WITH EVERY CAR, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS THEY TELL CUSTOMERS THAT IS NORMAL. THIS IS BS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. NO ONE FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT TOLD ME ANYTHING SO FAR AND I HOPE AFTER SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST THAT THEY DO NOT COME TO ME A SAY IT. THAT WOULD BE BAD. WE HAVE SERVICE REPORT WHEN WE BROUGHT A CAR FOR FIRST TIME WE REPORTED THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING STATING THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR ENGINE TO CONSUME( BURN) OIL. IF THIS IS A NORMAL WITH THEIR ENGINES THEY SHOULD INFORM AND EDUCATE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY ARE BUYING THIS CAR TO KEEP EYE ON OIL AND KEEP ADDING AFTER CERTAIN MILES. NOT EVERY CAR HAS THIS ISSUE, IT IS CASE BY CASE AND THAT IS WHAT TELLS ME THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WE WERE THINKING TO KEEP THIS CAR BUT NOW AFTER WHAT I LEARNED WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER VW. PLEASE HELP..
NHTSA ODI #11400272
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2021
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V724000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V724000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11394623
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2021
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I WAS A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 A VEHICLE HIT ME. I WAS IN MOTION HEADING STRAIGHT AND THE OTHER CAR FAILED THE RIGHT AWAY AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I'M WONDERING IF THERE WAS RECALL OR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT …
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MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I WAS A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 A VEHICLE HIT ME. I WAS IN MOTION HEADING STRAIGHT AND THE OTHER CAR FAILED THE RIGHT AWAY AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I'M WONDERING IF THERE WAS RECALL OR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11389966
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2021
Back Over PreventionUnknown Or Other
I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REVERSE CAMERA AND THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE SCREEN WILL GO BLACK WITH A POP UP SAYING "THE PARKPILOT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE". THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES WHEN I LEAVE HOME THE REVERSE CAMERA WORKS FINE, BUT WHEN I TRY…
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I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REVERSE CAMERA AND THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE SCREEN WILL GO BLACK WITH A POP UP SAYING "THE PARKPILOT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE". THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES WHEN I LEAVE HOME THE REVERSE CAMERA WORKS FINE, BUT WHEN I TRY TO PARK SOMEWHERE AT MY DESTINATION THE ISSUE APPEARS. SOMETIMES AN IMAGE FROM THE RVC WILL APPEAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN CUT OUT TO BLACK WITH THE POPUP OF THE PARK PILOT NOT BEING AVAILABLE. I DON'T THE HAVE PARK ASSIST FEATURE AVAILABLE ON THE MODEL I'VE PURCHASED, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CAR EVEN THINKS I HAVE "PARK PILOT". THE ISSUE "FIXES" ITSELF WHEN I'VE LEFT THE CAR ON OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BUT THE ISSUE WILL REAPPEAR AGAIN SOONER OR LATER. IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I'VE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT SAFETY FEATURE AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN USE IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA ODI #11389911
46,000 miles · Dec 30, 2020
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes
MY FRONT ASSIST FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ALMOST CHOKED ME, AND THE SUDDEN STOP JARRED ME. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN TERRIFIED EVERY SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS THIRD…
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MY FRONT ASSIST FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ALMOST CHOKED ME, AND THE SUDDEN STOP JARRED ME. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN TERRIFIED EVERY SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS THIRD TIME WAS THE WORST. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTACTED VW, AND TOOK MY CAR IN. THEY TEST DROVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND TO COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS WRONG. I SUGGESTED THEM DO MORE DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THEY DID NOT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY DID DOCUMENT MY CLAIM AND GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER. IN THE MEANTIME I STARTED DOING SOME INVESTIGATIONS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVESTIGATION GOING ON. I ALSO FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING ON ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11385693
5,534 miles · Nov 7, 2020
Seat Belts
SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON AND DINGS EVEN WHEN SEATBELTS ARE LOCKED IN. MY CAR HAS 5500 MILES ON IT. I'M SCARED MY SEATBELTS WON'T WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. IS THIS A SOFTWARE ISSUE OR SEATBELT CONNECTION?
NHTSA ODI #11373599
41,000 miles · Oct 29, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS AFTER BEING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I STEP ON THE GAS AND LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ENGINE DOESN'T REV AND THE CAR DOES NOT ADVANCE. I CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY ACCELERATES AND THEN IT DOES IT IN AN OUT OF CONTROL MANNER. I HAVE…
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THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS AFTER BEING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I STEP ON THE GAS AND LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ENGINE DOESN'T REV AND THE CAR DOES NOT ADVANCE. I CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY ACCELERATES AND THEN IT DOES IT IN AN OUT OF CONTROL MANNER. I HAVE HAD TO SIT THROUGH A FULL CYCLE OF A LIGHT BEFORE IT HAS STARTED. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO A DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT, BUT EVERY TIME THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET IT TO FAIL. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A RECALL AND THE PROBLEM WAS MADE WORSE AND NOT BETTER. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE. THE ISSUE BEGAN WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND WHILE IT ISN'T CONSTANT, IT HAS BEEN A REPEATED PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS.
NHTSA ODI #11366975
40,300 miles · Sep 27, 2020
Unknown Or Other
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE 2018 I HAVE NOTICED AND REPORTED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FEELING LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT IS MAKING VARIOUS INDICATOR LIGHTS TO COME ON. MOST CONCERNING AND UNSAFE ON 9/11/20 THROUGH 9/15/20, MY CAR S…
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SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE 2018 I HAVE NOTICED AND REPORTED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FEELING LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT IS MAKING VARIOUS INDICATOR LIGHTS TO COME ON. MOST CONCERNING AND UNSAFE ON 9/11/20 THROUGH 9/15/20, MY CAR STALLED RANDOMLY 8 TIMES. NO ISSUE COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER ON 9/16, THERE WAS A RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL WAS FIXED ON 9/19/20, I GOT AN ALERT THAT THE 'TRANSMISSION IS IN EMERGENCY MODE', I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW GEARSHIFT. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY STALK AGAIN AND HAVE HAD NO ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL NOT AS VW NEVER IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE STALLING.
NHTSA ODI #11361342
25,805 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other
CAR FALSELY READS ANOTHER CAR OR OBSTACLE IN FRONT AND BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY
NHTSA ODI #11354844
20,000 miles · Sep 3, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
THE VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR OCCASINGLY SURGES UNDER HEAVIER THROTTLE PRESSURE WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE FROM A DEAD STOP. THE VEHICLE WILL START TO GO THEN ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL THE…
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THE VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR OCCASINGLY SURGES UNDER HEAVIER THROTTLE PRESSURE WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE FROM A DEAD STOP. THE VEHICLE WILL START TO GO THEN ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL THEN START TO MOVE. IT IS VERY CONCERNING WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2018, BUT THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS THE VEHICLE GETS MORE MILEAGE. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. PLEASE SEE LINK: HTTPS://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/TIGUAN/2018/FUEL_SYSTEM/FUEL_PROPULSION_SYSTEM.SHTML
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The incorrect roof reinforcement may decrease the roof's structural integrity or impact deployment of the side curtain air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will be replace the roof reinforcement, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51H5.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A torn seat belt may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belts and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BH.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the power supply for the panoramic sunroof LED module, free of charge, until a future service action can safely reactivate the feature. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall 60D1.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and, as necessary, clean the thread in the ball joint, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40N4. Note: owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair has been performed.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the lower loop of the rear shock absorber detaches, there may be a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear shock absorbers, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42i7.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the engine support bolts were not properly tightened, an unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power may occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace engine support bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F7.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the back-up lights are not bright enough, other drivers may not see the vehicle reversing, or the driver may back into an obstacle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected inner taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94J9.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Seat Belts:front
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Seat Belts:front:webbing
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Seat Belts
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio.During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury criteria requirements, as set forth in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, were met with one exception. The chest deceleration G force requirement was exceeded in the test conducted at TRC. The FMVSS 208 injury criteria requirement for the chest deceleration is 60 Gs and it was measured at 67 Gs in the test conducted at TRC. It should be noted, FMVSS 208 does not include a requirement that the seat belt webbing remain intact during a frontal collision to comply with the standard. Compliance with the standard is based on the dummy injury criteria.Further, the Agency has conducted NCAP testing with no substantial protocol changes for over forty (40) years. This includes tests conducted prior and subsequent to the subject NCAP tests. During that time there has not been a similar failure of the seat belt webbing in any other NCAP tested vehicle manufactured by VW or another manufacturer.In November 2020, VW filed a defect notice (20V-724/69BH) that recalled seat belt systems, both driver, and front passenger, that were manufactured with webbing from the same lot as the two NCAP tested MY2018 Tiguan vehicles. VW has tested and inspected several of the returned seat belt systems and found no anomalies in either the webbing or the CLT that would substantially affect system performance in a frontal collision.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) estimates that between 2000 and 3500 frontal collisions involving MY2018 VW Tiguan vehicles have occurred in the field during the time these vehicles have been in service. This estimate is based on vehicle population and an estimated yearly rate of severe frontal collisions.A severe frontal collision is defined, in this instance, as being of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment of the frontal air bags. These collisions would place a significant load on the seat belt system similar to loads experienced during the NCAP tests. To date, neither ODI nor VW is aware of any frontal collision in the field that resulted in separation of the seat belt webbing. ODI believes that had any field collisions involved separation of the seat belt webbing, the Agency would have been notified.In view of the recall being conducted by VW, and lack of field data demonstrating a system defect, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
PE18001 · Seat Belt Webbing Failure
Opened Jan 10, 2018 · Closed Jul 3, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the 2018 MY Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35 mph, full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front-passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017 at MGA Research Corp. in Wisconsin (MGA) and December 13, 2017 at the Transportation Research Center of Ohio (TRC).During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated in tension where it looped through the seat belt latch tongue (see attached photos). Based on its analysis of the NCAP test results, VW asserted that the test dummy umbilical cord exerted additional forces on the seat belt system causing the separation. To support this theory, VW conducted several sled tests.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-001) on 01/10/2018 to evaluate the two (2) incidents of seat belt separation. ODI and NCAP reviewed the sled test data submitted by VW in support of their theory. Micro analysis, conducted by the Materials Laboratory at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), verified the seat belts failed in tension and not due to cuts or abrasion.PE18-001 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA18-005) to further examine seat belt behavior in the subject vehicles and to determine, among other things, a root cause for the seat belt separation. ODI will perform a thorough review of any vehicle and seat belt design changes for the new 2018 MY Tiguan platform and their effects on the performance of the seat belt system.
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