Summary
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan has 20 recalls, the most serious involving front lower ball joints that can loosen and separate, causing sudden loss of steering control, and a panoramic sunroof LED module that can short circuit and start a fire.
Several recalls affect long wheelbase (LWB) models specifically. On those vehicles, rear shock absorbers can shed their lower mounting loop, reducing stability and raising crash risk, and engine support bolts may not hold the engine securely, leading to unexpected power loss. Front seat belt webbing on LWB models can also tear in a crash, leaving occupants unrestrained. On the airbag side, the front passenger airbag can tear or fail to unfold properly during deployment, and on Tiguan Limited models, the driver airbag may not meet US safety standards and could fail to protect the driver in a crash. A small number of vehicles that had roof damage repaired may have received an incorrect reinforcement panel, which can weaken the roof and interfere with side curtain airbag deployment. There is also a recall covering accessory rear hatch spoilers sold through dealerships that may not be securely bonded and can detach at speed, becoming a hazard for other vehicles. On the lighting side, backup lights on certain LWB models may not meet brightness standards, making the vehicle harder to see when reversing. Rounding out the list, the instrument cluster on vehicles without keyless entry may not chime when a key is left in the ignition with the door open, and backup lights on some Canadian-market vehicles similarly fall short of Canadian lighting standards.
