2021 Volkswagen Tiguan problems and recalls

Owners have filed 143 complaints on the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (54 complaints).

143
Complaints
5
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
35.0
Severity index

Severity index 35.0 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 35.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 91 of 94 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 3% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 54 complaints (37.8%)54 38%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 29 complaints (20.3%)29 20%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 25 complaints (17.5%)25 17%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 12 complaints (8.4%)12 8%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 11 complaints (7.7%)11 8%Power TrainPower Train: 11 complaints (7.7%)11 8%StructureStructure: 11 complaints (7.7%)11 8%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 8 complaints (5.6%)8 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE5437.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2920.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2517.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM128.4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE117.7%
POWER TRAIN117.7%
STRUCTURE117.7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER85.6%

Complaints filed per year

020412021: 82022: 152023: 122024: 292025: 412026: 38 (partial year)21222324254126
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20218
202215
202312
202429
202541
2026 (year to date)38
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 3.6x those in 2021 to 2022 (82 against 23).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V03800001/02/2021SEATSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
20V71600018/11/2020BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system
22V17600023/03/2022SUSPENSIONVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.
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.
22V51400020/07/2022BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainm

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 2026-10-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.