2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, approximately 34,316 miles. While driving on I-26 in South Carolina, the EPC warning and amber warning triangle illuminated. I pulled over and stopped. After approximately 10 minutes, I restarted because I was in an unsafe location. No warnings were displayed after restarting, but approximately five miles later they returned, and I exited the highway. After stopping, extensive engine oil was visible on the rear/underside of the vehicle. I immediately checked the dipstick and no oil was visible. At no time did I observe a low-oil-level or low-oil-pressure warning. An authorized Volkswagen dealer diagnosed a faulty oil separator causing internal engine pressure to build, which caused the oil pan to crack and upper timing cover to leak. The oil separator, oil pan and upper timing cover were replaced under warranty. During approximately two months before the failure, the vehicle had several times briefly displayed “Max engine speed: 3,000 rpm.” The night before the incident, the check-engine light illuminated but was no longer illuminated before the return trip began. The vehicle had received scheduled service, including an oil/filter change, at approximately 29,780 miles, only about 4,500 miles before this failure. My safety concern is the sudden pressure-related engine failure and major oil loss at highway speed, together with no observed oil warning despite no oil being visible on the dipstick immediately after the incident. The servicing dealer has stated that it does not know what causes these oil separators to fail. I am reporting this incident so NHTSA can evaluate whether it may represent a broader safety issue.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line with approximately 54,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a significant engine-related failure involving the oil separator/PCV system. Volkswagen diagnosed a failed oil separator/breather that caused excessive crankcase pressure, resulting in substantial oil expulsion and damage/leaks involving the plastic/composite oil pan and timing-chain cover. Volkswagen also identified oil contamination around engine sensors and a P0341 camshaft-position fault. The vehicle has previously experienced EPC/check-engine warnings and entered limp mode, creating concern about potential loss of power while driving. The dealer’s repair required replacement of the oil separator/PCV system, oil pan, timing-chain cover and associated gaskets, along with cleaning oil from the engine compartment and sensors. The repair estimate was approximately $2,490, later reduced to approximately $2,300. Volkswagen declined my request for goodwill assistance. I am concerned that a failure of the oil separator/PCV system can create excessive crankcase pressure and cause oil to be expelled from the engine, damage other engine components, contaminate sensors, trigger fault codes, and potentially result in reduced engine power or limp mode. Sudden oil loss or loss of engine power can create a serious safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic. This vehicle has also experienced recurring alignment problems, requiring three alignments in approximately six months, raising additional concerns about the vehicle’s overall reliability and safety. I request that NHTSA investigate whether oil-separator/PCV failures and their resulting oil loss, component damage, sensor faults, and potential loss of power represent a broader safety defect in 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles.

The vehicle has experienced multiple intermittent electrical and safety-related malfunctions that have become more frequent over time. The most serious issue involves the Automatic Emergency Braking system activating unexpectedly while the vehicle is slowly reversing out of a residential driveway. The brakes suddenly apply with significant force even when there is no visible obstacle behind the vehicle. This causes the vehicle to stop abruptly, jerks all occupants forward, and creates a risk of being struck by other vehicles because the sudden stop is unexpected. The vehicle has also experienced an intermittent engine shutdown while stopped in traffic. While waiting at a stoplight or waiting for another vehicle to reverse, the engine will unexpectedly shut off and a message appears instructing the driver to place the vehicle in Park. This creates a safety hazard because the vehicle cannot continue moving until it is restarted. Additional intermittent electrical issues include the infotainment/navigation screen freezing or glitching, the air conditioning unexpectedly blowing warm or hot humid air instead of cold air, and the horn failing to operate properly. The horn will sometimes not sound at all or will be much quieter than normal, reducing the driver’s ability to warn other motorists or pedestrians in an emergency. These problems occur intermittently and without warning. There are no consistent warning lights prior to the failures other than the message instructing the driver to place the vehicle in Park when the engine shuts off. The unexpected braking, engine shutdown, and horn malfunction create significant safety concerns for the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. The cause of these issues is UNKNOWN.

XXX my Tiguan was serviced at Byers VW and received the recommended 80k maintenance. During this recommended service my vehicle passed the multi-point inspection except tires and brakes. On XXX I contacted your service department because as I was driving to [XXX] my check oil level came on. An appointment was scheduled for Tuesday. After the inspection was completed Tuesday it was determined that the value seal needed to be replaced which was already completed 25k miles prior therefore a request to replace the cylinder head would be sent to my warranty company which is through VW Drive Easy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Excessive oil consumption. Check Oil Level light comes on repeatedly between oil changes. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The dealer has now looked at the issue 2x. Potential safety issue should the engine be affected while driving. The problem has not been reproduced by the dealer. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer 2x. 1st issue appeared at approx. 33k miles and again at about 35k miles.

23 Tiguan..been having to top off oil every couple thousand miles sometimes up to a quart and they tell me it's within "tolerance" to lose oil. Bad pcv caused leak at timing seal and oil pan, oil everywhere needs extensive cleanup. This consumption has happened consistently since buying the vehicle and am being told with the new pcv installed we have to wait to see if the oil problem continues before we can do a consumption test. There should be no reason to be losing up to a quart every few thousand miles and this should be fully investigated.

While driving on the highway in my 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan (approximately 70,068 miles), the EPC warning light and oil warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to stall/lose power. I exited the highway immediately and shut the vehicle down safely. A substantial amount of engine oil leaked from underneath the vehicle after stopping. The vehicle was towed to a Volkswagen dealership. Dealer diagnosis included: * cracked oil pan, * oil separator failure, * and timing chain cover leak. The dealership advised there was no metal contamination found in the oil or filter and no confirmed catastrophic internal engine failure at this time, though the long-term condition of the engine cannot be guaranteed after the oil-loss event. I am submitting this report because the sudden oil-loss event and stalling condition occurred while driving on the highway and created a potential safety hazard.

The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light unexpectedly illuminated. The failure persisted even after the vehicle had received several oil changes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that an oil change was completed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the valve stem seal had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,061.

Currently in the 22-23 Tiguans they are experiencing an oil consumption issue. Where the engine is consuming oil at a fast rate. I am having to add oil to the car every 800-1000 miles. There’s several class action lawsuits against VW for this exact issue yet they refuse to fix the issue in our car even though it is still under warranty. In writing they told me it’s not consuming ENOUGH oil for VW to approve the repair and that it has to get worse before they will fix it. This problem CAN cause catastrophic failure to the engine. It can also cause the car to stall while driving putting myself and my family at risk. The service advisor admitted that the Tiguans are known oil burners, so much so that they now put in their manuals that burning 1qt of oil per 1000-1200 miles is within spec. It should not be burning oil at all! When I took it to VW bc the check engine light and low oil light was on they said they needed to perform an oil consumption test to see how much it was burning. Yet when I went to pick it up they said that I had to bring it back in exactly 630 miles to do the test. They wouldn’t say why they didn’t get it done that day which I thought was strange. I was unable to get back there at exactly 630 miles bc I work and they are in a different state. So I called to say hey I’m a little Over is that ok. They said no sorry ,we will have to do it at my next oil change. Which per VW is 10,000 miles or 1 year! They want me to wait up until one yr to test this? This is not acceptable! It is costing me money in extra oil every month , putting my family at risk, and putting the car at risk for catastrophic failure . Again, I have the proof in writing where they stated what I said above. As well as receipts and proof that I have taken it to VW for this issue yet they refuse to fix it.