general problems of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

Eight problems related to steering have been reported for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan based on all problems reported for the 2011 Tiguan.

1 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/13/2022

The clock spring is broken in my 2011 vw Tiguan at 114,000 miles. Therefore, the driver airbag on the steering wheel does not work. Therefore, there is a safety issue if one drives the car. The problem is not fixed because there are no parts to fix it. Apparently there is a chip in the clock spring and there are no chips available to manufacture replacement springs. I was told that the part has been on back order since October 2021. I was told that the part may be available in July 2022, but there are no guarantees. Until a replacement part is available, the vehicle is potentially unsafe to drive.

2 Steering problem

Failure Date: 01/24/2022

Clock spring in steering column has snapped. Because if a previous recall, this part is covered under warranty. New clock spring is on back order without any eta when one will be available. Car horn is disabled and airbags will not deploy if an accident does occur. State safety inspection can not/will not pass as a result of this broken part. I do not have the luxury of renting a car until this part comes in to the us. Per various forums, possibly 6000-8000 clock springs on back order.

3 Steering problem

Failure Date: 05/13/2018

After driving my 2011 Tiguan fine a couple times earlier in the day, I came back to my parked car, and turned it on. When I did this my airbag light came on with an "error: airbag" message on the display. After this happened, I notice the horn and other electrical features of the wheel didn't work. I took it into the shop, and their said the clock spring needs replaced. It wasn't until after all of this that I found out there had been a recall. I was never notified of this recall before. Although the clock spring needs replaced, the vw service center said they cannot get the clock spring part to replace it. They couldn't tell me a time that the part would be available.

4 Steering problem

Failure Date: 12/31/2017

The power steering stops working in cold weather. -10 f degrees or colder.

5 Steering problem

Failure Date: 09/30/2016

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. While driving 45 mph, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electrical system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.

6 Steering problem

Failure Date: 06/13/2016

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact had not experienced a failure until the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15v483000 (air bags). Shortly after the dealer's repair, the ribbon cable snapped internally and caused a failure. The steering wheel seized and the air bag indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ribbon cable affected the function of the horn, steering, cruise control and other components. The contact stated that the remedy failed to provide a solution. The dealer indicated that the clock spring assembly needed to be replaced. It was also stated that the steering wheel, multi-function switch, and cruise control needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 82,300.

7 Steering problem

Failure Date: 05/14/2016

My vehicle had the steering wheel clock spring replaced at the dealership in Feb 2016 under the recall. May 14 2016 I was turning left at a stoplight when there was a grinding noise and my airbag light came on and my steering wheel controls and horn stopped working. I believe the clock spring has gone bad and needs to be replaced again. Mileage: 87,000.

8 Steering problem

Failure Date: 08/10/2015

Vehicle just over 45k and was told the clock spring shorted with no real reason as to why this would happen so early in the vehicle life. The impact of the failure from what I can visually tell is that I have no horn, the electronic console does not function and all buttons on the steering wheel do not work. The console also displays an airbag error, which the dealer cannot confirm if this impacts my actual airbag system. I'm told the over $750+ to service. Given the potential safety impact of this device, I find it ridiculous that one, it shorted, and two, the cost and the dealership / vw corporate unwilling to address the concern, other than to say I am out of warranty. Its very dangerous not knowing if the clock spring impacts the air bag system in my vehicle, let alone not having a functioning horn.


Other Steering related problems of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan



Safety Ratings of Tiguan Cars
Fuel Economy of Tiguan Vehicles
Tiguan Service Bulletins
Tiguan Safety Recalls
Tiguan Defect Investigations