How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has 4 recalls on record from Transport Canada and NHTSA.

What is the most recent recall for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?

The most recent recall was issued on October 6, 2020 and relates to the lights and instruments system.

Are there any high-risk recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes, there are 3 high-risk recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan involving serious safety concerns.

Is the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan affected by any Canadian recalls?

Yes, there are 1 Transport Canada recall(s) for this vehicle.

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan: Recalls & Complaints

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

This page covers 4 recalls, 152 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Fuel Economy (EPA Estimates)

21–24 mpg combined

9.8–11.2 L/100km

Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

City18–22 mpg(10.7–13.1 L/100km)

Highway26 mpg(9 L/100km)

Combined21–24 mpg(9.8–11.2 L/100km)

Est. Annual Fuel Cost$3,200–$3,650/yr

Tailpipe CO₂370–423 g/mi

Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Owner Complaints

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan draws its heaviest complaint volume around the engine and steering systems. On the engine side, owners frequently report excessive oil consumption, stalling at highway speeds, and coolant system failures, particularly involving the water pump. Multiple owners describe the check engine light, EPC warning, and tire pressure monitoring light illuminating together, sometimes after a stall event. Steering complaints are equally notable: owners describe the power steering cutting out without warning while driving, accompanied by a red steering warning light on the dashboard. This loss of assist is reported across multiple owners and tends to occur suddenly, with no prior symptoms. The airbag system rounds out the top three reported categories, though steering and engine complaints dominate in terms of described severity and frequency. The water pump failure pattern in the engine complaints stands out as a recurring specific component mention across more than one report.

152

Total Complaints

Crash-Related

With Injuries

By System

engine
40
air bags
19
steering
19
unknown or other

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Recalls

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has 4 recalls, the most serious involving the driver's frontal airbag, which can lose its electrical connection through a contaminated clock spring and fail to deploy in a crash.

The clock spring is a coiled cable inside the steering column that keeps the airbag circuit live as the wheel turns. Debris can work its way into this component and interrupt the signal, leaving the driver without airbag protection when it is needed most. On the fuel system side, winterized fuel can produce bubbles in the fuel lines under certain conditions, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly. A stall at highway speed or in traffic raises the risk of a collision, particularly if it happens without warning. There is also a recall tied to modifications made during an internal evaluation period before these vehicles reached the market, which may cause certain vehicles to fall outside regulatory compliance in ways that could increase crash, fire, or injury risk, though the specific nature of that exposure varies by vehicle. Rounding out the list is a minor instrument issue: the electronic stability control warning light may not illuminate when the vehicle is first started after a fault was detected, instead waiting until the vehicle begins moving before turning on. The regulator notes this does not affect how the stability control system itself operates.

All 4 Recalls

Show:

Transport Canada

October 6, 2020

LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENTS

At a glance

What can fail

The ESC warning light may not turn on when you start the vehicle if a power steering fault was detected in the previous drive cycle. The light only appears once the vehicle moves.