SUV, gasoline, FWD/Front-Wheel Drive, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from May 24, 2017 to Sep 2, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21V-321 | May 5, 2021 | These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been… | Other or unknown | 46 | Refund or buyback |
| 18V-329 | May 16, 2018 | Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the… | Other or unknown | 252 | Repair or modification |
| 18V-102 | Feb 9, 2018 | Front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States | Airbags | 3,768 | Part replacement |
| 16V-955 | Dec 29, 2016 | Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not… | Airbags | 5,947 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
75 complaints on file, page 1 of 4.
Ive had every now and then a steering wheel light come on then come off. Well today 9/1/26 I had lost all steering to my 2017 vw tiguan. The electronic power steering has failed and I believe this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. And push for a recall to be made on these vehicles.
NHTSA complaint 11761779A/C has been a consistent issue since I purchased this from Columbia SC- CarMax's dealership in 2022. I've replaced the compressor and valves, and no resolve. The car sucks up oil and the electrical system is wacky!
NHTSA complaint 11760545No crash or incident occurred. While starting the vehicle normally, the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed fault code P0588 — driver side airbag igniter at resistance limit. The mechanic confirmed that all airbags are non-functional as a result of this fault. No accident, collision, or unusual event preceded this failure. The part failed during normal use and operation. This is the same component covered under Safety Recall 69P4, issued February 2017 for driver and passenger airbag igniters on 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. My VIN was not included in that recall but is experiencing the identical failure. I purchased this vehicle certified pre-owned from a Volkswagen dealership in 2020. The Carfax report provided at purchase shows no record of any airbag recall service ever being performed on this vehicle. When I contacted VW Customer Care, they confirmed my vehicle has an extended clock spring warranty and directed me to a dealership for service. The existence of an extended warranty on this specific component suggests Volkswagen is aware of a defect population broader than the original recall. I am currently driving a vehicle with non-functional airbags, creating significant safety risk to myself and my family. I believe this recall should be investigated for expansion to additional 2017 Tiguan VINs experiencing the same failure.
NHTSA complaint 11745250I am filing this complaint to seek a full buyback and debt cancellation for a 2017 VW Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) sold to me by Carvana for $40,000. Summary of Deception: Carvana sold this vehicle as "Certified" with a "150-Point Inspection" guarantee. This was a fraudulent misrepresentation. Within six months, the vehicle required 45+ mechanical services, including a full internal teardown that revealed catastrophic wiring corrosion caused by a long-term sunroof leak. These were latent defects present at the time of sale. The vehicle has has 2 Turbos: one recalled (now currently being recalled again) and one replaced 3 months into ownership. The vehicle slowed down on [XXX] traffic and I had to make an emergency exit and take to the dealership. This make and model were completely overhauled engine and externally after my model 2017. 45 mechanical services in 12 months justifies a recall and an exchange, Safety & Financial Hardship: As a high-level executive commuting from [XXX] to [XXX] , I required a reliable vehicle. Instead, this car decelerated dangerously on [XXX] , nearly causing a collision. Despite active steering and turbo recalls, Volkswagen mechanics have deemed the car "unsafe for road use" since January 2025. I am warned that any further driving will void my warranties due to engine damage risk. Bad Faith Negotiations: I have attempted to resolve this with Carvana and Volkswagen Executive Care. Carvana offered a mocking $500 gesture for a $40k total loss, while their supervisors were condescending and dismissive. They have refused to provide the original inspection report. Impact: I have lost tens of thousands in wages, rental costs, and storage fees while my credit and mental health suffer under $19,000 of debt for a "shell. " I am seeking an immediate buyback at their expense to resolve this matter and restore my ability to work safely. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11729125On December 3, 2025, Volkswagen of XXX performed an intake manifold recall repair on our 2017 Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) while the vehicle was under factory warranty. Approximately six weeks later the low coolant warning light appeared and the vehicle began actively leaking coolant. No other work had been performed between the recall and the onset of the leak. Our independent mechanic discovered physical damage to the original water pump consistent with a tool strike during the recall procedure. A new OEM water pump was installed but failed immediately due to an underlying pressure issue originating underneath the intake manifold. The vehicle has been at VW of South Charlotte since February 11, 2026 — seven weeks — with no root-cause diagnosis or repair. The dealership falsely documented OEM parts as aftermarket, refused to diagnose the vehicle, and the service manager made his final decision based on text messages rather than any inspection. VW Customer Care opened and closed six separate case numbers on this single unresolved complaint. Safety concern: The vehicle is non-operational and actively leaking coolant. The damage originated during a recall repair and has never been properly diagnosed or repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11728157What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering rack and pinion, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There is no power steering and unable to make a quick turn to maneuver the car around a potential hazard in the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, two independent service centers. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Just a power steering light when it failed.
NHTSA complaint 11693994when was driven i lost power and got the ECU light and check engine light when scan for codes got fuel system and also car went into limp mode and had low fuel reading from live feeding and since have replaced the high pressure fuel pump and live reading are good now it still won’t start and won’t come out of limp mode
NHTSA complaint 11683981During a collision in which my vehicle was struck by another driver, the airbag warning light activated, my seatbelt locked in place, and white smoke with a strong electrical smell filled the cabin. No airbags deployed (frontal or side). There is now an "ERROR: Airbag" warning on my dashboard, and the seatbelt is completely locked. The vehicle currently has multiple open safety recalls for airbag systems, including frontal and side/window airbags. I am concerned that these recalls may be related to the malfunction experienced. This failure could have resulted in serious injury if the impact had been greater. I am requesting investigation and confirmation as to whether the non-deployment is related to known defects.
NHTSA complaint 11680342Turning on the car I got a notification on my dash that says error airbag with the light icon.
NHTSA complaint 11679642The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle after a rainstorm, the contact became aware that the interior of the vehicle was flooded, and that water had entered the vehicle through the sunroof. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the sunroof drainage system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 66,000.
NHTSA complaint 11670895Steering rack and pinion failed. Lost power steering while driving. Failed part is inside no way to change part without changing whole steering rack and pinion.
NHTSA complaint 11669391Timing chain and engine issues and repairs
NHTSA complaint 11666091timing chain repairs and replacement
NHTSA complaint 11666089My [XXX] daughter was a front seat passenger in her friend‘s car the 2017 Tiguan when the driver swerved to avoid another car and struck a pole. The damage was primarily on the front passenger side of the car. My daughter hit the windshield. It was broken in two places and she sustained several other injuries. The airbags never deployed. The car was totaled. I’m interested in knowing whether or not it can be determined if the airbags should have deployed and did not, and if the seatbelt worked properly or not, and whether or not you’ve had other complaints about this make and model. My daughter has sustained a concussion and has been out of work since he accident thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11652619Power Steering assist is completely disabled. No power steering. Intermittent problem increasing in frequency. Diagnosed as defective rack'n'pinion steering gear and related electrical components. 63,000 mi. 2017. Tiguan. After many restarts or left over night steering assist may return.
NHTSA complaint 11647835the power steering system fails sometimes. that happens most of the time when you start the vehicle. A red symbol comes on for the power steering locking the steering. When you turn off the vehicle after some minutes you can start the vehicle. sometimes works and sometimes not. you have to try couple times to make it work.
NHTSA complaint 11638690The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who serviced the engine, and the check engine warning light was deactivated; however, the failure persisted. No further information was available. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced excessive oil consumption. An oil consumption test was performed, and the vehicle failed the test. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 30,000.
NHTSA complaint 11595738My Tiguan does not have airbags, the tire sensors don’t work, none of the buttons on my steering wheel work. My turbo supercharger started failing and I had to spend $2,500 to fix it, which the car is not worth that plus the payments I make. The dealership says the airbags are on back order but won’t say when they’ll have it and that was over a year ago. It’s been inspected by a dealership and they won’t do anything about it.
NHTSA complaint 11590891I was driving and the fuel gauge quit working randomly. I am unsure how much gas is in my vehicle. I have had to get several repairs since purchasing my car from Carmax including my turbo boost, fuel pump and gas line. I financed the car in 2021 from Carmax.
NHTSA complaint 11578584It is nearly 2 years since the "clock spring wire" in the steering wheel failed. While this results in the buttons on the steering wheel not working, that is a minor inconvenience (such as not being able to reset the tire pressure warning light). The major problem is that the steering wheel air bag is not functional. Local VW dealers and VW of American customer support have been unable to obtain this part for more than 18 months. A very reliable source (local mechanic) tells me the local VW dealer has several customers with the same need for this part. We have been checking with local dealers for more than a year to see if/when this part might become available if no success.
NHTSA complaint 11558523Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.