Equipment Problems of Volkswagen Tiguan - part 2

Parking brake would not disengage and the shop told me it was because water was in the floor pan behind the passenger seat and it’s causing shorts in the electrical system. The cause of the water was diagnosed as a leaking sunroof. This has caused me loss of vehicle, time and too much money!.

See all problems of the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

During normal operation on a public road, the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan suddenly began emitting smoke from the front of the vehicle. This occurred without any warning lights, messages, unusual smells, or symptoms beforehand. Within moments, flames became visible from under the hood. The occupants, including a child and an elderly family member, immediately exited the vehicle. The fire spread rapidly and resulted in a total loss. The fire department arrived and extinguished the flames, and both fire and police reports were created documenting the incident. The vehicle was nearly new, with approximately 7,000 miles on it, no mechanical issues, and no prior maintenance warnings. Nothing unusual occurred during the drive, and the vehicle had been used under normal, paved-road conditions. On November 5, 2025, Volkswagen conducted an inspection at the iaa facility in puyallup, wa. Volkswagen later denied liability, stating that burned and unburned vegetation was found in the engine compartment and suggesting that external organic material may have caused the fire. This explanation appears unreasonable, as vegetation in the engine bay does not normally ignite spontaneously in a modern vehicle operating under standard conditions. The vehicle is currently with state farm at the iaa facility in puyallup, wa, and is available for further inspection by NHTSA if needed. This incident posed a serious safety risk to the occupants and to other motorists, and may reflect a potential safety defect requiring further investigation.

See all problems of the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

As I was driving on the long island expressway at 50mph, there was a sudden very loud explosion that sounded like a gun shot. I thought perhaps a tire had blown out but then I heard air rushing by. My sunroof had spontaneously exploded!.

See all problems of the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

The overhead console has come disconnected inside of the vehicle. I am seeing countless comments and posts online, both on Volkswagen site as well as other automotive sites, that also report this same issue for Tiguan autos from the 2020 through 2022 years. My car is a 2021 vw Tiguan. I am calling the perrysburg auto mall vw dealership located in perrysburg, OH to request full service and that this should be covered under the extended warranty that I have seen is a part of this automobile. I wanted to make sure I reported this incident to this governing board.

See all problems of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

While stopped at a traffic light, the engine shut off without warning and would not restart after releasing the brake. Vehicle required shifting back into park to restart. Documented in dealer repair order #xxx dated xxx. Vehicle also experienced random infotainment shutoff and inoperable wipers with no driver input across multiple repair visits. These recurring electrical failures pose a safety risk. Vehicle is my sole work transportation as a licensed realtor. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On 9/14/2025 my 2024 vw Tiguan failed to unlock while my two-year old daughter was inside. My keys were in my front passenger seat. The unlock/locking mechanism on the doors on the outside of the car did not work and my trunk would not open. My child was trapped in the vehicle for about 20 to 30 minutes in hot conditions until emergency help arrived. After inspection, Volkswagen stated there was “nothing wrong” with the vehicle; however, a locking system that prevents occupants from exiting or others from entering in an emergency presents a clear safety defect and risk of injury or death. My child was distressed and overheated but was evaluated at the hospital and is okay. Emergency help was needed to get the door open. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The electric seems to be faulty- so far the vehicle stops& fails to restart- the dealership changed the battery once but it continues to happen.

Overhead console fell out of ceiling. Hanging by wires. This poses a danger especially when it falls during driving. It is a known vw issue. The plastic tabs at each of the 4 mounting points of the panel had cracked, and snapped causing the entire panel to fall down, dangling by the wires. Whether the mounting points failed due to heat or whether it was the mounting screws being over-tightened causing the plastic to crack is indeterminable, but it failed at each of the 4 mounting screw points.

See all problems of the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

My vehicle has relatively low miles on it, it does not get driven very often. Once I had done the first oil change I had to pay for after the dealer covered maintenance warranty was over for the oil changes was when I started having the problems. Three separate times the low oil light came on the dash and I had to add oil to my engine, about a total of 3 quartz. I told the first dealer that I was having this issue and they didn’t believe what I was saying and didn’t want to check anything. I told them to do an oil consumption test but because I had having such a hard time with them I went to a different dealer to get it look at. Under dealer warranty, they conducted the oil consumption test and after 600 miles I was to bring it back. When they did a volume displacement test, they said there was metal shaving in my oil when they went to drain the oil and they had to change the engine and turbo. My car was around 45,200 miles when it was said to be replaced. Ever since they said they replaced it the engine is very noisy, they didn’t put enough oil in the engine and it doesn’t even look like they replaced the engine at all. None of the hoses has signs that they were removed or replaced, bolts and nuts not removed and the transmission bolts don’t look they have been removed from the engine or got a new seal. This engine is not reliable at all. Also the vehicle certification label that should be in my wheel well and in my owners manual is not there. I can not find it anywhere.

See all problems of the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

When placing the vehicle on reverse the rear back up camera screen goes dark, preventing to see anything when backing up. I’ve cleaned the back up camera and there is nothing obstructing the lens.

See all problems of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

Purchased 2021 Tiguan new, the rear spoiler just flew off while driving on the freeway. Checked with dealership, which was apparently under recall, but now is not. . . Wanting me to purchase new spoiler and pay for service repair (cost over $600. ) dealership stated that recall was only good for 12 months. . . .

The overhead console on the vw Tiguan fell out of the ceiling. This is actually the second time this has happened (was originally replaced by the dealership at time of purchase). It so far has only fallen out a little bit and I taped it a bit, but it's still coming out. It blocks visibility and exposes electrical wires of the car. If it should fall out during a sudden stop, the whole thing could hit me in the head and cause an accident as I am a shorter driver and closer to the windshield. Vw extended the warranty coverage given this known defect, but completely dependent on miles driven versus age of car-so mine is unable to be fixed without a costly repair, that I still cannot trust will not happen again since this is a repeated issue. Many vw owners have the same problem and this is a safety hazard vw needs to address immediately.

The wireless phone charger in my 2023 vw Tiguan does not function as intended and consistently fails to charge any phone, regardless of placement, brand, or case. The charging pad repeatedly disconnects, overheats the phone, or never initiates charging at all, making the feature completely unusable. This is a safety concern because it encourages drivers to handle their phones while driving after assuming the vehicle would keep the device charged.

See all problems of the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

My 22 Volkswagen Tiguan could very well be apart of the class action lawsuit that is happening right now with oil consumption issues my vehicle only has 45,000 miles and is consuming 1 quart of oil every 1200 miles started noticing oil loss back in July.

My Tiguan has a feature called auto unlock. All four doors & the back lift gate are automatically unlocked when the car is put into park or the ignition is turned off. Anytime I pull into a parking lot, park on the street or even pull over to look at my phone the car unlocks. When I am concentrating on driving and parking safely I should not have to worry that all the doors are unlocked this option makes me feels unsafe driving my car - anybody can access any door & get in to the car &/or grab something from the car. How can this be considered a safety feature? it makes me feel so unsafe - I should not feel any trepidation when driving my car. In this era of car hijackings & theft - this is a feature that should be optional. I should be able to turn it off. I have researched how to disable this feature & it is not possible. Please let me know if the NHTSA can help me, & countless others who have this option on their cars, to feel safe when driving my car. I look forward to hearing a response. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Excessive oil consumption: I purchased this Tiguan 2022 back on [xxx] in florida and since I purchased it I have issues with this matter. I have reported my Tiguans consuming oil at a rate significantly higher than what's expected between oil changes and I was informed that is normal, yet I still did not get any resolution on this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My wife purchased herself a new 2025 Volkswagen tiguen on June 20, 2025. On July 20, 2025 she hit a deer. The car sustained significant front end damage. Being that we live 45 minutes from the dealership we brought it to our local body shop, petrella bros. The damage total was over $13,000. 00. Petrella bros. Has been trying to get new parts for this vehicle for almost a month and has been told that Volkswagen has not made extra parts for their new cars yet. Today I personally spent an hour on the phone with the dealership as well as over 3 hours with Volkswagen corporate who both also told me they cannot currently get the parts and have no idea when they would be available. Our body shop expressed that when a new model comes out the manufacturer is obligated to have a surplus of replacement parts on hand for this very reason. On top of all this our insurance company has done their due diligence and gave us a rental car as well as extended it but after 7 more days we will need to pay out of pocket. Also my wife is making a fairly large monthly payment and still paying insurance for an Toyota corolla rental car. It's disheartening when the dealership and manufacturer cannot stand behind their product.

Subject: known carbon buildup issue in 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan tsi – request for recall and accountability to whom it may concern, I am writing to formally express my concern and request action regarding a well-documented and dangerous issue affecting Volkswagen tsi engines—specifically, severe carbon buildup. I am the current owner of a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan tsi, which I purchased in April 2025 with approximately 84,000 miles on it. In June 2025, I had to have the intake manifold replaced due to carbon buildup—a repair that was still covered under warranty. However, shortly after, I was informed that the vehicle now requires a full engine decarb and replacement of all four fuel injectors, at a total cost of $3,296. This raises several serious concerns: •carbon buildup this severe at such low mileage is not typical wear and tear. It indicates a design flaw in the tsi direct-injection engine. •my extended warranty provider refuses to cover the repair, citing that it is a maintenance issue—conveniently shifting the responsibility away from the manufacturer. •this type of engine failure can result in dangerous performance issues, including: •sudden engine misfires •loss of power while accelerating •poor fuel economy •stalling or hesitation while merging or turning •catalytic converter damage •potential long-term engine failure I am stunned that this is not considered a safety issue worthy of recall, especially given the number of reports online and in service centers regarding this exact problem. The symptoms of carbon buildup can easily result in on-road danger to the driver and others. What’s most disheartening is that Volkswagen has long been aware of this flaw, yet no recall or extended warranty has been offered for affected consumers. I previously owned a 2015 passat and was a loyal vw owner—but now, as a single mother, I am expected to pay nearly $3,300 for a repair tied to poor engineering and design, not misuse or neglect.

Sunroofs suddenly exploding.

When trying to accelerate from a full stop the car is not accelerating when pressing the gas pedal. It happened at a stop light, I pressed the gas, the car went nowhere, pressed the gas harder until gas pedal was floored and then the car accelerates forward very quickly. Also happened when I was making a left turn crossing 2 lanes of traffic. Stepped off the gas to make a left turn, car begins to roll forward but when I press the gas nothing happens, I am now in both lanes of traffic flooring my gas pedal, nothing happens for about 5 seconds and the car lurches forward quickly. There are no lights illuminated on the dashboard. Brought car to vw delearship, they say they went over the entire car and found nothing wrong. When investigating online it seems others are also having the same issue and getting the same response from vw.

My vw is leaking so much oil. I have been reading so much about vw and lots of unhappy people in regards to the bills they have to pay to fix oil leaks, pct valves, upper and lower oil pans. One mechanic told me he'd never own a vw because of this leaking oil issue. Due to the extent of people affected, I was hoping there would be an extended warranty issued for people owning faulty 2018 - 2023 vw's. I was told this would be the next place to make a complaint. My car is only 3 years old! of course I'm at 65k, just over the 50k warranty. Please consider urging vw to cover the costs associated with a well-known oil leak problem, please!.

My hood latch has failed. It sometimes appears latched, but actually is not and other times it doesn’t even look like it’s latched at all. There is in fact, a hood latch recall for this year make and model of vehicle, however, my vehicle is not on the list recalled. I believe the current recall for this year making model is not inclusive of all affected VIN numbers!!!!.

My 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan (purchased used) has a recurring and unsafe issue related to acceleration and the automatic start/stop feature. When accelerating from a stop or while maintaining slight pressure on the gas pedal, the vehicle lurches forward as if aggressively accelerating, even though my foot pressure has not changed. Additionally, when the start/stop feature re-engages after idling, the vehicle sometimes lunges forward despite my foot being firmly on the brake pedal. This behavior has occurred multiple times, creating near-miss situations that could have resulted in accidents. Service history: the issue was replicated by one Volkswagen technician during an overnight test drive but was not accurately reflected in the official service notes. A different technician (shop foreman) later claimed the concern could not be replicated and dismissed it as a “normal vehicle characteristic,” despite my report. The dealership performed a factory reset but the problem persists. Safety concern: this is a serious safety risk that poses a danger to myself, my passengers, and others on the road. I am especially concerned because my teenage daughter is about to begin driving this vehicle, and I do not feel it is safe for her. Manufacturer response: Volkswagen of America has declined my buyback request, stating that the situation “does not merit an offer. ” I strongly disagree, as the vehicle’s behavior is not normal or acceptable, and could result in unintended acceleration accidents. Request: I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this issue is a defect in the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan and whether other vehicles may be experiencing the same unsafe condition.

Coolant burst and started leaking. Unable to drive car. Radiator problem may be related to bad water pump. I see there was a recall.

See all problems of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 🔎.

I am a passenger of a Volkswagen Tiguan and the owner ran into a store to pick something up and the vehicle shuts off, even when the keys are present in 80 degree weather. While it shouldn’t happen, what would happen if there were children present and an absent minded parent didn’t realize that the car would shut down and cook and kill their children?.

The overhead console came loose while parked during a heat wave and over the course of a day, it ended up hanging by the wires needing to be held up while driving. It blocks the rearview mirror, has exposing wires and swings around. This occurred during a heat wave. It seems that the plastic holding the screws melted, causing it to fall off. There are no warning lights or sounds and were none prior. Warranty states they do not cover this damage. Many others online say this happened to them with the same vehicle.

When the car is at a complete stop such as at a light or pulling onto a street, when you press the gas there will be a delay before it lurches forward. This becomes a very real safety risk trying to pull onto busy roads or even at lights. This car has been taken into multiple shops without it being fixed, the last one kept saying they had no idea why since there are no warning lights. They said they contacted vw who is saying a 5 second delay is within what they consider normal. It's not normal and is a very real risk and has almost caused us to get into numerous accidents.

Evap warning light sporadically displays and the odor of fuel emits from vehicle - both inside and outside. Occured approximately seven times since purchase. Driver door is not operational, sporadically. Will not respond to key fob, windows will not roll down or up, cannot lock or unlock, and displaying a flashing red light with a loud noise emitting every three seconds. Occured approximately five times since purhcase. Mirrors will sporadically not fold outwards and remain in a stuck inward position. Travel assist, side assist, and start / stop has malfunctioned approximately seven times. Dynamic cornering light malfunction approximately three times. Vehicle was not configured when purchased. Sos was not operational.

The vehicle experiences intermittent (but daily) accelerator lag or failure to respond when the gas pedal is pressed from a stop. There is a significant delay—sometimes several seconds—before the car begins to move, even when the accelerator is fully depressed. This appears to be related to the power train and/or engine system. The hesitation in acceleration has created multiple unsafe situations, including near-miss accidents while turning left across traffic or entering intersections, when the car failed to respond as expected. This hesitation could easily result in a collision, particularly in high-traffic areas. The issue has been reported to the dealership on multiple occasions and while they have been able to reproduce the problem, it isn't every time and they turn the vehicle back over to us unresolved. Video documentation of the malfunction has been submitted to the service department, and they have acknowledged the issue is being reviewed by vw engineers. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. Engineers from the manufacturer have reportedly been involved in the review, though we have not yet received a confirmed diagnosis. There are no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or error indicators associated with the accelerator issue. The first noticeable delay in acceleration from a stop occurred at least 6 months ago and has continued intermittently since.

The sunroof of my vehicle spontaneously exploded as I was driving on the highway, shattering the entire sunroof and spilling broken shards of glass onto me and into my vehicle as I was going 70 mph on the highway. I had to cross 6 lanes of traffic, with glass flying off of my vehicle and bouncing around on the sunshade, with my hazards on, to get into an exit lane and get off of the highway. This was not only terrifying, but incredibly dangerous to both me and those around me. Volkswagen has received multiple reports of this same incident, and previously issued a voluntary recall in 2014 for the same issue with their "panoramic sunroof" on their beetle cars. I called both the non-emergency police and highway safety control to try and make a report or have someone dispatched to assess the situation, but they did not do anything or even come inspect the vehicle because "it was not a collision with another vehicle and there was nothing that could be done". This needs to be known, addressed, fixed by Volkswagen so others are not put at risk like I was.

The center console from the ceiling above the rear view mirror (that has the lights and the sunroof controls) broke and fell, making it hang by the cables. This happened while I was driving on the highway and I got startled. I had to hold it up with one hand since it blocked my rearview mirror and I had to pull over to see what had happened. All of the 4 screws were still in place but the plastic had basically crumbled/broken off without reason. This is a real safety issue because I could've had an accident.

I have had several incidents where the forward collision activated for no reason. I didn’t keep track of dates because I did t realize I would need to. Then I began having other issues: incident 1 June 7, 2025: I was driving down the road and lost all power. Car wouldn’t start back up. Got a jumpstart and didn’t have any issues like that after that for two months. Issue 2: July 3, 2025: infotainment center went completely black. Callled dealership and they told me it wasn’t under warranty. July 11, 2025: backup camera came on in reverse. August 3, 2025: backup camera came on while in reverse. August 15. 2025: backup camera came on in reverse. August 27, 2025: went to start car for in morning and it start, just made strange sounds along with clicking. Put on battery charger for 20 minutes, started it and let run for a few minutes. It was fine after that. August 27, 2025: displayed the welcome to Volkswagen three times today. Backup camera came on. August 28, 2025: sitting in my car without power on and the welcome to Volkswagen displayed on infotainment screen.

At around 60,000 miles my infotainment system started acting strange. The backup camera wouldn’t engage intermittently. After doing that for a couple months, it stopped working completely and is just a black screen. Several times randomly it has come on briefly to display the welcome to vw message but will do nothing more than that. I have no back up display.

Fuel gauge showed close to empty and we filled up the tank. The fuel gauge is still reading empty and not properly reporting the gas level in the tank.

The rear camera has been inoperable since June 2025. Vw have not issued a fix. This is a safety issue.