2018 Volkswagen Tiguan problems and recalls

Owners have filed 282 complaints on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, and NHTSA has issued 13 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (80 complaints).

282
Complaints
13
Recalls
5
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
11
Injuries
48.9
Severity index

Severity index 48.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 48.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 76 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 38% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 80 complaints (28.4%)80 28%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 50 complaints (17.7%)50 18%Power TrainPower Train: 49 complaints (17.4%)49 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 43 complaints (15.2%)43 15%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 40 complaints (14.2%)40 14%StructureStructure: 39 complaints (13.8%)39 14%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 21 complaints (7.4%)21 7%Service BrakesService Brakes: 20 complaints (7.1%)20 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE8028.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5017.7%
POWER TRAIN4917.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4315.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4014.2%
STRUCTURE3913.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL217.4%
SERVICE BRAKES207.1%

Complaints filed per year

046922017: 42018: 922019: 572020: 252021: 192022: 192023: 182024: 122025: 172026: 19 (partial year)1718921920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20174
201892
201957
202025
202119
202219
202318
202412
202517
2026 (year to date)19
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (47 against 63).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V72400020/11/2020SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBINGVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear.
21V73200023/09/2021STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed.
18V32400016/05/2018SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINTVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened.
19V67900025/09/2019UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and B
18V26200025/04/2018SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process
18V37500006/06/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
18V46700013/07/2018VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may short circuit.
18V82400026/11/2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in
19V18800006/03/2019SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
18V10200009/02/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTALVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the require
18V15900008/03/2018ENGINEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.
17V66200018/10/2017EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi
22V22600006/04/2022STRUCTURE:BODYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.

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 2026-09-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.