Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan incident description: while driving at approximately 45 mph, about 5 minutes into the drive, my vehicle displayed a lane assist warning and a message to place my hands on the steering wheel. Immediately after, multiple warning lights and messages appeared across the dashboard. Followed my emergency warning message. The vehicle then suddenly applied the brakes on its own without any obstacle or hazard present. The brakes locked up, and the vehicle would not move. At the same time, the vehicle began honking and exhibited abnormal alarm/locking behavior. I had to restart the vehicle to regain normal operation. This sudden and unintended braking could have resulted in a rear-end collision, serious injury, or loss of control of the vehicle, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. The vehicle was taken to a Volkswagen dealership. The dealership documented that the brakes locked up and the vehicle would not move, but stated they could not replicate the issue and did not identify a cause or provide a repair. I do not feel safe operating the vehicle due to unintended braking and system malfunction. Date of incident: 3/19 between 7:30 and 7:57 in the morning approximate speed: ~45 mph location: colleyville, TX no obstacle, hazard, or driver input caused the braking.

The emergency brake came on and the engine turned off on its own , may be a faulty sensor in the seat. Sensor is detecting no one is in the drivers seat, and you are sitting in it. Car put on emergency brake and shut engine off at red light, as it turned green and you move foot from brake to gas pedal, putting car at risk of collision from behind. Dealership said they can’t reproduce this and therefore can’t fix it. Told don’t move when you’re driving by dealership. Car gave no warning. Happens at red lights and while backing up in reverse. The problem appeared on the evening I received car. Dealership said the service supervisor drove car and can’t get it to reproduce problem, so can’t fix it. Told don’t move while driving. Your car is ready showed service advisor on the instrument panel in the car diagram the front two seats are not registering in the diagram, took car back into service and provided loaner once again.

I got into the middle lane, getting ready to turn left. I was going about 15-20 mph, when I got into the middle lane, the emergency brake came on and slammed my car into park. The master technician experienced the problem. There was no warning lamps, but there were symptoms that lead up, like trying to back up or go forward when turning on the vehicle and it deploying the emergency brake and putting it into park multiple times.

The automatic emergency braking feature comes on when it shouldn’t; but it instead, throws me into park and puts on the emergency brake. The date 6/28/25 is just the first time it happened. Its happened multiples times (upward of 15), and I’ve physically had the car for less than 3 months (it’s been in the shop for just under a month, total). It’s very jarring when it happens and is so dangerous and happens so often, I don’t even want to drive it. The front assist fault light has been illuminated and turns off when I restart the car. Other directional (sides and rear) fault lights have also illuminated on the dash, just to turn off right after. They appear randomly or usually after it happens. The dealership has replicated the issue and currently has my car. No warning lights are currently illuminated. But I do have pictures of them. Luckily, it hasn’t caused an accident yet. But I am very wary about braking because it’s a common occurrence at this point. I don’t have a repair invoice as my car is still currently in the shop.