This page covers 3 recalls, 139 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan.
21–23 mpg combined
10.2–11.2 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
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.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan, the heaviest concentration of complaints falls across the airbag system and steering. Owners frequently report the airbag warning light illuminating, often accompanied by the horn stopping work and steering wheel controls, phone, radio, and vehicle functions, going unresponsive at the same time. That cluster of symptoms points to a recurring issue around the clock spring or steering wheel contact unit. On the steering side, multiple owners describe electric power steering cutting out suddenly while driving, sometimes without any prior warning light. Engine complaints come in third, with owners describing stalling, rough running or bucking behavior that persists even after tune-up work, and intermittent overheating warnings that sometimes clear after the engine is shut off and restarted.
139
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has 3 recalls, the most serious involving the driver's frontal airbag, which can lose its electrical connection and fail to deploy in a crash.
The airbag clock spring, a flat coiled cable that keeps the airbag circuit live while the steering wheel turns, can become contaminated with debris and lose continuity. Because the connection fails silently, the driver has no way to know the airbag is non-functional until a crash occurs. On the fuel side, when the vehicle runs on winterized fuel blends, bubbles can form in the fuel system under certain conditions and cause the engine to stall unexpectedly, which raises the risk of a collision, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic. The third recall covers vehicles that went through an internal evaluation period during which certain modifications were made that may leave the vehicle out of compliance with regulatory requirements, carrying a general elevated risk of crash, fire, or injury depending on which requirement is not met.
At a glance
What can fail
Modifications made during an internal evaluation period may have left these vehicles not fully compliant with applicable regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair vehicles to restore full compliance or Volkswagen will repurchase them at no cost to you.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 4 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Debris may contaminate and tear the air bag clock spring—a spiral cable that powers the driver's front air bag during steering wheel turns—causing the air bag to lose electrical connection.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a protective cover over the clock spring if the air bag light is off, or replace the clock spring if the light is on. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When winterized fuel is used in certain conditions, air bubbles can form in the fuel system, causing the engine to stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase fuel pump pressure at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
