Three problems related to water pump have been reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan based on all problems reported for the 2012 Tiguan.
The timing chain & timing chain tensioner malfunctioning prior to 93,000 miles, below the projected owners manual 120,000 miles, caused the timing chain to fail and the engine to not have the correct oil pressure/volume. This led to oil leaking from all of the covers and led to complete engine failure. Although the engine was serviced regularly by certified mechanics for oil changes and multiple water pumps ( 3 water pumps in 4 years) the engine exploded due to high oil pressure caused by the faulty time chain tensioner and timing chain malfunctioning.
The water pump has been cracked, leaking the coolant. The car engine was overheated but didn't lead to accidents in my case. Vw group is producing the water pump out of plastic, which eventually cracks for many of vw and Audi car owners, and could lead to the road accident indirectly.
Water pump malfunctions and oil leaks leading to water pump malfunctions that over heat the engine and cause significant engine damage. Three water pumps in three years and ultimately blown engine.