Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid
Every Volkswagen Tiguan model year on file (2012-2026), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2017
Worst year on file
89.2
Severity index
Air Bags
Most-reported system
2022
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan | 89.2 High | 76 | Air Bags |
| 2 | 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan | 63.6 Medium | 62 | Air Bags |
| 3 | 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan | 58.9 Medium | 153 | Engine |
| 4 | 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan | 57.3 Medium | 97 | Air Bags |
| 5 | 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan | 56.8 Medium | 141 | Unknown Or Other |
| 6 | 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan | 55.1 Medium | 76 | Electrical System |
| 7 | 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan | 54.4 Medium | 23 | Engine |
| 8 | 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan | 48.4 Medium | 286 | Engine |
| 9 | 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan | 44.7 Low | 193 | Electrical System |
| 10 | 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan | 42.9 Low | 70 | Engine |
| 11 | 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan | 42.5 Low | 53 | Electrical System |
| 12 | 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan | 37.5 Low | 84 | Air Bags |
| 13 | 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan | 35.0 Low | 143 | Engine |
| 14 | 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan | 34.7 Low | 139 | Air Bags |
| 15 | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan | 32.0 Low | 272 | Engine |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Volkswagen Tiguan complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 153 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 58.9 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2013 | 139 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 34.7 Low | AIR BAGS |
| 2014 | 84 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 37.5 Low | AIR BAGS |
| 2015 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 63.6 Medium | AIR BAGS |
| 2016 | 97 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 57.3 Medium | AIR BAGS |
| 2017 | 76 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 89.2 High | AIR BAGS |
| 2018 | 286 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 48.4 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2019 | 193 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 44.7 Low | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2020 | 141 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 56.8 Medium | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| 2021 | 143 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 35.0 Low | ENGINE |
| 2022 | 272 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 32.0 Low | ENGINE |
| 2023 | 70 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42.9 Low | ENGINE |
| 2024 | 76 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 55.1 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2025 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 42.5 Low | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2026 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 54.4 Medium | ENGINE |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.