NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
This page covers 21 recalls, 273 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan.
24 mpg combined
9.8 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.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2018 Tiguan, engine and powertrain complaints make up the largest share of what owners report. On the engine side, owners frequently describe the EPC (electronic power control) warning light triggering unexpectedly, often alongside the check engine light, sometimes limiting engine output while driving. Fuel injector harness failures come up across multiple reports as well, with owners noting the problem surfaces at varying mileages. On the powertrain side, complaints tend to cluster around drivetrain behavior and related warning indicators. The structure category is notable for front coil spring fractures, with several owners reporting a spring breaking at relatively modest mileage on otherwise well-maintained vehicles. A recurring structural complaint also involves water intrusion at the cowl area, where failed seam sealing allows water to reach the airbag control module, causing the airbag warning light to illuminate and the system to stop functioning.
273
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
6
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan has 21 recalls, the most serious involving front lower ball joints that can separate and cause loss of steering control, a rear shock absorber that can shed its lower mount, and a panoramic sunroof LED module that can overheat and catch fire.
On the structural and drivetrain side, long wheelbase models have a separate concern where engine support bolts may not hold securely, potentially causing an unexpected loss of power while driving. Rear coil springs on certain vehicles can fracture and puncture a tire, and some vehicles had an incorrect roof reinforcement installed during prior repair work, which can reduce the roof's ability to protect occupants and may interfere with side curtain airbag deployment in a crash.
Several recalls involve occupant restraints and airbags: front seatbelt webbing can tear in a crash, leaving the occupant without adequate restraint, and the front passenger airbag may tear or fail to unfold correctly during deployment. Some Tiguan Limited models received a driver airbag not intended for US-market vehicles, which may not provide proper protection in a crash.
The rear hatch spoiler, when dealer-installed as an accessory, may not be securely attached and can detach at speed, becoming a hazard for other vehicles. On the lower-severity end, backup lights on some long wheelbase models may not meet brightness requirements, making the vehicle harder to see when reversing. Two recalls cover the lack of an audible warning when the key is left in the ignition after the door is opened, raising the risk of theft.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
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 →
What can fail
The accessory rear hatch spoiler may not be securely attached to the vehicle due to incorrect installation instructions.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the spoiler at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear hatch spoiler may not be securely attached and could detach from the vehicle during driving.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will mail instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealership where the rear hatch spoiler will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During roof damage repairs, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed on certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the roof reinforcement assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In a crash, the front seat belt webbing may tear, potentially reducing restraint effectiveness.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect front seat belts and replace them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and front passenger seat belts may break during a crash, reducing protection in a collision.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front seat belts and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During internal evaluation, modifications were made to these vehicles that may prevent them from meeting all applicable safety and emissions regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will repurchase the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified and can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear coil springs may break prematurely, potentially affecting vehicle handling and stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument cluster may not alert you with a sound when the key remains in the ignition and a door is open.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster at no cost to restore the audible warning.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vehicle's door-open warning system may not beep when you open the driver's door after turning off the engine with the key still in the ignition, potentially increasing theft risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the instrument cluster's programming to restore the warning system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The LED light module for the panoramic sunroof's ambient lighting bar may short circuit, potentially causing an electrical failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will disconnect power to the panoramic sunroof LED module at no cost until the feature can be safely restored later.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The LED light modules for the panoramic sunroof ambient lighting can overheat, which may cause a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will install protective fuses for the left and right sunroof ambient light LED modules.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag may fail to open fully or tear when it deploys, raising the risk of injury to the front passenger.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace your passenger front airbag with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In a crash, the passenger front air bag may tear or fail to fully expand when it deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nut securing the lower ball joint of the front wheel may be loose or improperly tightened on each side of the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and clean the thread as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nut connecting the front lower ball joint may be loose or improperly tightened, causing the ball joint to separate and potentially impairing steering, traction, and vehicle stability.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the lower ball joint nut on one or both sides and clean the ball joint threads if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A lower loop on the rear shock absorber may separate from its base because of an incorrect welding process.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear shock absorbers and replace them if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base cup due to an incorrect weld, affecting vehicle stability and increasing crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect both rear shock absorbers and replace any that are defective.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that secure the engine to its mounts may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, potentially causing the engine to shift.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the engine support bolts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front driver air bag installed may not meet U.S. safety standards and could fail to protect the driver in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough to meet federal safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected inner taillight assemblies at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The backup lights in the tail light assemblies don't meet lighting standards. They may not produce the required brightness.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the inner tail light assemblies to restore proper backup light function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
