2012 Volkswagen Tiguan problems and recalls

Owners have filed 152 complaints on the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (50 complaints).

152
Complaints
3
Recalls
10
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
6
Injuries
59.1
Severity index

Severity index 59.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 59.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 77 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 41% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 50 complaints (32.9%)50 33%Air BagsAir Bags: 33 complaints (21.7%)33 22%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 23 complaints (15.1%)23 15%SteeringSteering: 20 complaints (13.2%)20 13%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 20 complaints (13.2%)20 13%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 12 complaints (7.9%)12 8%Service BrakesService Brakes: 11 complaints (7.2%)11 7%Power TrainPower Train: 7 complaints (4.6%)7 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE5032.9%
AIR BAGS3321.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2315.1%
STEERING2013.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2013.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM127.9%
SERVICE BRAKES117.2%
POWER TRAIN74.6%

Complaints filed per year

012252012: 62013: 122014: 142015: 132016: 62017: 192018: 252019: 212020: 122021: 42022: 52023: 62024: 42025: 5121314151617182519202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20126
201312
201414
201513
20166
201719
201825
201921
202012
20214
20225
20236
20244
20255
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (15 against 21).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V32900016/05/2018UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal
15V48300004/08/2015AIR BAGS:FRONTALVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock
14V44100021/07/2014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.

Other Volkswagen Tiguan model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.