Table 1 shows one common power train related problems of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Power Train problems |
I went to start the vehicle and immediately received numerous errors and warning lights on the dash. These include: rear traffic alert, transmission error, drive system warning, engine warnings and more - all saying to ‘please service vehicle’. I put my foot on the break and attempted to shift the car into drive and it would not let me shift out of park. I turned the car off, then back on, and attempted the process again with the same errors and result. I had to contact road side assistance and have my car towed to the dealership service department. Had I been anywhere but at home, I would have felt increasingly unsafe and inconvenienced. However, as this is just one of multiple malfunctions with this vehicle, I continue to feel unsafe using the vehicle for myself and my family, as it has proved unreliable time and time again.
This is an additional complaint concerning the same vehicle previously reported under odi xxx. On xxx, while the vehicle was in drive and moving at approximately 5 mph in [xxx], it unexpectedly shut off and shifted itself into park. On xxx, while reversing, the vehicle suddenly lost all power and the engine shut off while the transmission was still in reverse. The vehicle had to be shifted into park before it would restart. Photographs were taken immediately after the xxx incident and are available. These repeated shutdowns created a serious risk of a crash or injury. The vehicle has an extensive repair history, including a transmission replacement, but continues to experience hard shifting, vibration at all speeds including during acceleration, intermittent check-engine lights, electrical problems, camera and infotainment failures, and remote-start failures. There was no immediate warning before either shutdown. Volkswagen has been notified. The vehicle is now included in Volkswagen safety recall 57kl/NHTSA 26v587 for body control module software that may reset unexpectedly, switch off the ignition, cause an engine stall, and disable controls, warning lights, exterior lighting, or the rearview camera. The recall remains incomplete. The vehicle is available for inspection. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The vehicle’s automatic emergency-braking and parking-assistance systems intermittently activate when no collision is imminent. The vehicle unexpectedly stops, shifts itself into park, and engages the electronic parking brake while moving at low speed. This has occurred while pulling into parking spaces with vehicles on both sides and while beginning an unprotected left turn when oncoming traffic was still at a safe distance. The sudden stop creates a risk of being struck by another vehicle. The vehicle was presented to an authorized Volkswagen dealership for inspection, but the dealership was unable to reproduce the condition and stated that it did not believe there was an issue. The vehicle remains available for inspection.
The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-25 mph, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into park(p) and the engine shut off. Additionally, the vehicle experienced phantom braking while reversing. The vehicle was restarted and taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The failure reoccurred, nearly causing another vehicle to rear-end the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact requested buyback. The failure mileage was approximately 9,910.
Since purchasing this new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, I have experienced repeated electrical and drivability defects despite multiple repair attempts by an authorized Volkswagen dealership. The vehicle has been out of service approximately 70+ days, including a transmission replacement, a loose ball joint and suspension repairs. Defects include repeated check engine lights, remote start failures, false "door ajar" warnings, intermittent warning messages, vibration while driving, and hard shifting. The vehicle also shut off while I was reversing and had to be shifted into park before it would restart. Before taking the vehicle back, I asked the dealership whether it was safe to drive and did not receive a response. After the vehicle was retrieved from the dealership for the 4th time, several defects recurred within approximately 44 minutes, and the check engine light returned the following night. I believe these recurring defects present a safety risk to me, my passengers, and other motorists.
The problem occurred immediately after picking my car up from a valet on 5/17/2026 around 9:00pm. The valet had pulled my car up to the front of the seattle park ‘n fly valet by sea-tac airport. I pulled out onto International blvd, and within a few seconds, the accelerator pedal became completely unresponsive. I was able to coast the car into the denny’s parking lot just north of the valet lot (about 0. 2 mi north of the valet). Everything else seemed to work just fine, except for the accelerator pedal (brakes worked just fine). I turned off the engine, and when I tried to restart the car, it was turning over but wouldn’t start. I called out someone to jump the battery, but the battery was fine. We then disconnected and reconnected the battery, and this resolved the issue and I was able to restart the car and drive away. It was dangerous that I was able to pull out onto a road, just to immediately lose any ability to accelerate. I’m lucky there was a nearby parking lot and I didn’t pull into busy traffic. Something seems to have happened at the valet, that was then triggered as soon as I pulled out onto the road. My guess is they tried to start the car and use the twist shifter in some combination that caused a fault that only triggered once I started to get up to speed. It’s strange because they were able to pull my car up to the front of the lot just fine, and I was able to pull out onto the roadway just fine, but the loss of acceleration only happened once I tried to get it up to speed.
In March 2026, my 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan se experienced multiple unexpected malfunctions, including entering reduced-power (limp) mode twice within approximately two days. The vehicle displayed a “drive system error – service now” warning, along with multiple driver-assistance system errors involving rear traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and travel assist. The vehicle also exhibited unusual engine revving while stopped. Most concerning was an incident during rush-hour traffic when my vehicle unexpectedly stalled in the middle of a busy road. The sudden loss of power created an immediate and dangerous situation, as surrounding drivers had to brake abruptly and maneuver around my stopped vehicle to avoid a collision. I was unable to move the vehicle out of traffic until I could get it restarted. This malfunction placed me and other motorists at significant risk of a serious accident. The vehicle’s unexpected loss of power in active traffic, combined with multiple electronic and driver-assistance system warnings, raised serious concerns about its safety and reliability. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Volkswagen dealership, where it remained for approximately 12–13 days. Volkswagen of America became involved because the dealership had difficulty diagnosing and resolving the problems. Multiple components were replaced, including fuel-system components, a front camera sensor, and the main ocu module. The repairs were performed under warranty. I am concerned that these unexpected malfunctions presented a significant safety hazard and could have resulted in a serious collision, particularly because the vehicle stalled without warning during heavy traffic.
I own a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan se r-line purchased new in August 2025. Since shortly after purchase, the vehicle has exhibited a recurring safety defect where the electronic parking brake engages without driver input and the vehicle shifts itself into park. This happens suddenly and without warning. This defect occurs multiple times per week, on average (upwards of 50+ times total since purchase) under varied low-speed conditions, including at stoplights, while slowly moving through traffic, and during parking maneuvers, etc. When it occurs, the vehicle stops abruptly as park is engaged. This creates a significant risk of being rear-ended or losing control in an intersection or traffic lane. There are no warning lights, chimes, or alerts beforehand. The behavior is intermittent and unpredictable, so there is no way to anticipate or prevent it during normal driving. This has not yet caused a collision, but there have been near-miss situations in traffic due to the sudden stop. I notified the dealership when the vehicle was new, but because the model had only recently been released and the defect could not be reproduced on demand, there was no formal inspection or repair, and no guidance was provided. The issue has continued multiple times per week since then. I have now found other 2025 Tiguan owners reporting the same behavior, which suggests this may be a broader safety defect rather than an isolated case. I am requesting an investigation due to the frequency of occurrence and the clear collision risk associated with unintended braking and shifting into park.
Engine stumbles repeatedly, stutters and dies. No warning lamps. Car inspected twice by manufacture but no solution found. Continues to show same characteristics. Have to pull off the road to avoid danger to self and other autos.