What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING IN COLD WEATHER. -10 F DEGREES OR COLDER

NHTSA ODI 11058017

WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AS WE WERE IN MOTION. UNABLE TO START ENGINE AGAIN. AT 52,000 MILES, THE VW MOHEGAN LAKE MOTORS TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $8K. RESEARCH INDICATES IT HAD BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW ISSUING TECHNICAL SHEETS ABOUT THE ENGINE IN THESE MODELS AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REFUSED TO PAY BECAUSE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY WHICH HAD ENDED A MONTH BEFOREHAND.

NHTSA ODI 11057731

CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME WITH NO ENGINE NOISE OR SMOKING AND PARKED BY THE STORM DRAINAGE. NO SIGNS OR ANYTHING PRIOR THAT THE CAR NEEDED SERVICING. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER WENT OUTSIDE TO MOVE THE CAR UP FROM THE DRAINAGE ABOUT 5 FEET TO IN FRONT OF THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE IN FRONT OF THE DOOR. OPENED CAR DOOR AND PLACED KEY IN TO TURN THE ENGINE ON. ENGINE JUST TURNED BUT WOULD NOT IGNITE OR COME ON. ON 12/26/17 CONTACTED THE DEALER AND STATED THE ISSUE. QUICK THOUGHT WAS THE FUEL PUMP OR MODULE WENT OUT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS AND RESEARCH. FOUND OUT THE ENGINE HAD "JUMPED TIMING" OR TENSIONER HAD CRASHED THE ENGINE. CAR HAS 63K MILES AND NOW TO FIX IT WILL COST 7000.00. DEALER STATED WITH A 10% DISCOUNT THE COST WILL BE LOWERED 6,1000.00 PLUS TAXES. TOTAL RIP OFF THE CAR HAS A WARRANTY OF 36K WHEN PURCHASED BUT NOW HAS PAST THE MILEAGE TIMEFRAME BUT THE (TENSIONER) IS NOT TO GO OUT OR HAVE PROBLEMS UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES AROUND 120K .

NHTSA ODI 11057066

TAKATA RECALL, I CALLED THE VW DEALER AT GREENWOOD, IN DREYER&REINBOLD, 317-527-4845,,,AND I WAS TOLD 3 TIMES THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, YET THE AIRBAGRECALL WEB SITE CONFIRMS THAT IT IS ON RECALL AND TO CONTACT THE DEALER, HOW DO I SAFELY RESOLVE THIS ???

NHTSA ODI 11055286

THE GEARBOX FUSED TO THE TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11020953

ON AUGUST 15, 2017 I ATTEMPTED TO START MY VEHICLE AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 24 HRS. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL TOP-END DAMAGE DUE TO A FAILED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. QUOTED $6,600.00 TO REPAIR. VOLKSWAGEN HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS 64,000 MILES AND ALL FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THE DEALERSHIP(S). VW DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY SERVICE OR INSPECTION BE DONE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER OR AFFILIATED COMPONENTS AT OR EVEN NEAR THE MILEAGE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS RECORDED. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED, LAWSUITS FILED AND VW,S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE THIS NOT TO BE AN ISOLATED EVENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE TENSIONER THAT VW IS AWARE OF YET REFUSES TO PROPERLY ADDRESS OR PROVIDE REMEDY.

NHTSA ODI 11020597

FAULTY PCV LED TO BLOWN REAR MAIN SEAL, TIMING CHAIN COVER, AND OIL SEPARATOR. CO SAID 2011 TIGUANS ARE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT CLAIMED MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED DESPITE BEING A 2011 TIGUAN.

NHTSA ODI 11020626

TAKATA RECALL: ON AUGUST 7, 2017, MY CAR WAS ON STATIONARY MODE AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT ON BUT FAILED TO DO SO, I THOUGHT THEN THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE WITH THE STARTER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 21ST, I GET A CALL BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONING SYSTEM. THE CHAIN TENSIONING SYSTEM HAS A MAJOR DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE THE CHAIN TO LOSE TENSION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF, WHICH CAN ALLOW THE CHAIN TO 'JUMP A TOOTH' IN THE CAR'S CAMSHAFT AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING AND CATASTROPHIC FOR ME SINCE I HAVE NO FAULT WITH THIS $7000 TO $10,000 DEFECT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT VOLKSWAGEN VIOLATED CONSUMER PROTECTION, FEDERAL WARRANTY, AND ANTI-FRAUD LAWS. IF I NEW THAT THE TIGUAN HAD SUCH A DEFECT, I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!

NHTSA ODI 11019955

CAR STARTED LOSING POWER IN FAST LANE I35 75MPH. WE WAITED FOR A CLEARING AND JERKED CAR HARD RIGHT TO GET TO SHOULDER/GRASS. ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON SHOULDER. TOWED TO REPAIR. SAID CAMSHAFT BRIDGE FILTER IS FAULTY AND MALFUNCTION HAS DESTROYED WHOLE ENGINE. LUIKART'S WACO SAID HAS SEEN NUMEROUS EXACT PROBLEMS W THIS ENGINE TYPE WITH SAME PROBLEM. HE EXPECTS A CLASS ACTION TO EMERGE IN THE FUTURE. VW DENIED ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. MECHANIC SAYS VW IS TRACKING ALL VINS WHEN NEW CAMSHAFT IS ORDERED.

NHTSA ODI 11019378

VW HAS RECOGNIZED A DEFECTED PART IN THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO HAVE THE REPAIR, DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND A DUST COVER WAS PUT ON 7/20/16. WELL THE DUST COVER HAS BROKE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND HORN IS NOT WORKING. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS FIX, MIND YOU THEY SAID DUST COVER AND NOT A NEW PART. WE CALLED VW AND THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE REPAIR FOR THE DEFECTED PART. THE PART WAS NEVER REPLACED, JUST A BAND AID PUT ON THE PROBLEM. VW SAID THEY ONLY HAD TO HONOR THEIR REPAIR FOR 1 YEAR. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WHEN THEY NEVER REALLY REPLACED THE PART????? THE DUST COVER THEY PREVIOUSLY PUT ON SNAPPED WHEN I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT, AIRBAG LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON. THE PART COST $348.08 AND $170.00 IN LABOR.

NHTSA ODI 11019415

TIMING CHAIN - DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE MADE A CLICKING WINING NOISE AND CAME TO A STOP. IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. THE OIL BREATHER/REAR MAIN SEAL IS ALSO LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11019066

FAULTY CLOCK SPRING - CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNED THEN NONE OF THE BUTTONS WOULD WORK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING AND THE AIRBAG WOULDN'T DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11019067

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE DESTRUCTION. 67,000 MILES. VW NORTH AMERICA SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS ABOUT THE TENSIONER BUT SINCE THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 60,000 MILES THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COVER IT. $8,000 REPAIR BILL FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 11019167

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP MODULE, THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OR LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,200.

NHTSA ODI 11018866

DEFECTIVE FUSE LINK IN WIRING HARNESS MELTED TOGETHER RATHER THAN SEPARATING CAUSING VERY HIGH VOLTAGE DAMAGING THE CPU AND IGNITION COILS CAUSING PISTON MISFIRING AND POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FIRE. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART. MECHANIC REPORTS BOTH FUSE LINKS CONNECTING TO TWO COILS ARE MELTED AND 30,000 VOLT POWER BRIDGED THESE LINKS TO DAMAGE THE OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. REPAIR WAS OVER $2700. FIRE WAS AVOIDED BY TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE BUT SEVERELY MELTED LINKS AND HIGH VOLTAGE FEEDING BACK INTO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED VERY HIGH POTENTIAL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE IN VICINITY OF FUEL SOURCES. VW NOTICE TO MECHANICS ABOUT PROBLEM HAS BEEN ISSUED BUT NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11015637

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AND HANDS FREE PHONE SERVICE FAILED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DARCARS VOLKSWAGEN SILVER SPRING (12511 PROSPERITY DR, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904, (301) 622-7000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY HAD A COVER ASSEMBLY PLACED OVER THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11014016

TURBO FAILURE, WATER PUMP FAILURE, AND REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE. ALL RIGHT AFTER HITTING 100K MILES. NEARLY 5K IN TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. I'VE EXPERIENCED REDUCED PERFORMANCE BECAUSE OF THE TRURBO ISSUES. ISSUES PULLING OUT ON TO STREETS, OR ON RAMPS. I OPTED OUT OF THE REPAIR AT THE TIME DUE TO VW WANTING 2.2K TO REPLACE THE TURBO, WHICH SHOULD BE ALMOST A LIFETIME PART. I THEN TOOK IT BACK 2 WEEKS LATER FOR THE WATER PUMP WHICH WAS LEAKING FLUID EVERYWHERE, THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP BUT FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL WILL NEED REPLACED AS WELL. REAR MAIN SEAL IS COMMON, AND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF ENOUGH OIL LEAKS ON TO THE EXHAUST.

NHTSA ODI 11010654

I PURCHASED MY TIGUAN THREE YEARS AGO AS A CERTIFIED PREOWNED CAR. IT WAS WORKING GREAT UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO I WENT TO GO START IT WHILE IT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO FIRST A MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVES WERE BENT AND NO COMPRESSION WAS IN ANY OF MY CYLINDERS. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED CAUSING MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. NO WARNINGS. NO INDICATORS. BUT A BILL FOR OVER $6,000 WHICH VOLKSWAGEN HAS ONLY TOLD ME TO "KEEP RECEIPTS AND PROOF SHOULD THEY ISSUE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE." VW IS IGNORING A MASSIVE FAULT IN THEIR ENGINES THAT MAKES THEIR TENSIONERS FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY AND PREMATURELY AND RUIN ENGINES WITHOUT THE DRIVER NEEDING TO HAVE MOVE THE VEHICLE AND THEY'RE DOING NOTHING TO WARN CONSUMERS OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11002429

CARBON BUILDUP IN ENGINE AT 65K MILES, VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED AS RECOMMENDED BY VW. PCV VALVE COMPLETE FAILURE AT 88K MILES WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE REAR MAIN SEAL WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL OF TRANSMISSION (ROUGHLY $2,000 OF REPAIRS). THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY DEALERS AND SERVICE CENTERS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR IMPROPER APPLICATION OF SEALANT.

NHTSA ODI 11000433

TURBOCHARGER LEAKS OIL

NHTSA ODI 10986285

THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED CAUSING MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE, DESPITE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED MASSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10984230

ENGINE SHUDDERS AS IF IT WILL STALL BUT DOES NOT. HAPPENS AFTER COLD START, GOES AWAY WITH SLOWLY REVVING ENGINE IN PARK. TRIGGERS ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. OIL BEING PUSHED OUT OF CYLINDERS AND LEAKING UNDER ENGINE. ALSO HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 10983915

THE CAR HAD AN EXTREME MISFIRE AT IDLE AND VERY ROUGH RUNNING. I TOOK THE CAR FOR AN INSPECTION AT THE VW DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CHAIN HAD STRETCH BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE GET AN STABLE TIMING. AFTER DISSEMBLING THE OPENING UP THE HOUSE COVERING THE TIMING CHAIN THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAM SCREEN HAD COME LOOSE AND LIKING CAUSED THE CHAIN TO STRETCH. VW TOLD ME IT WOULD BE WISE TO HAVE THE CAM REPLACED IN CASE THE SCREEN CAUSED ANY DAMAGE IT TO IT AS WELL. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED I ASKED THEM DIRECTLY IF THE TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND THEY THEN ADMITTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF BAD TENSIONER NOT A STRETCHED CHAIN. THE VW MANAGER TOLD ME HE WAS AWARE OF THE TBS ON THE TENSIONER FAILURES. THE MANAGER CHOOSE TO MAKE UP AN UNBELIEVABLE STORY TO COVER THE TRUE PROBLEM. THE CHAIN WAS NOT STRETCHED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAM SHAFT. I DIRECTLY COMPLAIN TO VW AND THEY TOLD ME IN A LETTER THE "TSBS DON'T INDICATE TRENDS AMONG OUR VEHICLES, AS THEY ARE ISSUED TO OUT DEALERSHIPS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY." THIS IS A CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED STATEMENT TO OBFUSCATE THE TRUTH. INITIAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE MILEAGE WAS 77300. THE FAILURE ON THIS ENGINE APPEARS TO HAVE SPARED DAMAGE TO THE VALVE BUT A MORE SERIOUS FAILURE COULD HAVE SHUT DOWN THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10940319

THE CAR HAD AN EXTREME MISFIRE AT IDLE AND VERY ROUGH RUNNING. I TOOK THE CAR FOR AN INSPECTION AT THE VW DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CHAIN HAD STRETCHED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE GET A STABLE TIMING. AFTER DISSEMBLING AND OPENING UP THE HOUSE COVERING THE TIMING CHAIN THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAM SCREEN HAD COME LOOSE AND LIKING CAUSED THE CHAIN TO STRETCH. VW TOLD ME IT WOULD BE WISE TO HAVE THE CAM REPLACED IN CASE THE SCREEN CAUSED ANY DAMAGE IT TO IT AS WELL. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED I ASKED THEM DIRECTLY IF THE TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND THEY THEN ADMITTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF BAD TENSIONER NOT A STRETCHED CHAIN. THE VW MANAGER TOLD ME HE WAS AWARE OF THE TBS ON THE TENSIONER FAILURES. THE MANAGER CHOOSE TO MAKE UP AN UNBELIEVABLE STORY TO COVER THE TRUE PROBLEM. THE CHAIN WAS NOT STRETCHED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAM SHAFT. I DIRECTLY COMPLAIN TO VW AND THEY TOLD ME IN A LETTER THE "TSBS DON'T INDICATE TRENDS AMONG OUR VEHICLES, AS THEY ARE ISSUED TO OUT DEALERSHIPS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY." THIS IS A CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED STATEMENT TO OBFUSCATE THE TRUTH. INITIAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE MILEAGE WAS 77300. THE FAILURE ON THIS ENGINE APPEARS TO HAVE SPARED DAMAGE TO THE VALVE BUT A MORE SERIOUS FAILURE COULD HAVE SHUT DOWN THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10940323

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI 10933950