Home · 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd · Complaints

What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (160)Crash / fire / injury (6)Engine (62)Electrical system (46)Lights (39)Airbags (30)Steering (14)Fuel system (11)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Brakes (4)Speed control (4)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)

Newest first · 160 complaints · page 5 of 7

Jun 29, 2015Speed controlEngine

I WAS TURNING LEFT OFF OF A HWY. I ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO 40 MILES AND THE CAR HESITATED LIKE IT WAS SWITCHING GEARS, DECREASED IN SPEED AND STARTED SHAKING. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE GAS CAP, - IT WAS CLOSED. TURN CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED, CAR STILL SHAKING. I DROVE THE CAR TO SAFE PLACE OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MILES HOURS. I PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON, BUT THEY KEPT GOING OFF. THEN I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. THE CAR HAD RECEIVED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE INCLUDING SPARK PLUG CHANGES TWO DAYS AGO, BUT THEN THIS HAPPENED. VOLKSWAGON DEALER SERVICE FOLKS SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL MISFIRED. ORIGINALLY CHARGED 300 TO HAVE IT FIX, THEN DISCOUNTED AND PAID 200. I SEE THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE IGNITION COILS IN THE YEARS AROUND MY MODEL YEAR, AND VOLKSWAGON RECALLED THE IGNITION COIL A FEW YEARS AGO FOR OLDER MODELS. I THINK THEY NEED TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO COVER THE 2011 YEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I REPORTED IT TO VOLKSWAGON. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME IN THE BACK. A BLOCK FURTHER I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR. I LOVE MY VOLKSWAGON, BUT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 10731124

Jun 7, 2015Engine

PROBLEMS STARTED AT 15,822 MILES. PARKING BRAKE SWITCH JAMMING. AT 44,690 MILES ENGINE AND EPC. LIGHTS COMES ON, ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. FOUND 2 FAULTS SET INECM FOR RANDOM CYLINDER MISS FIRES (P0300) AND MISS FIRES ON CYL 2 (P0302). CHECKED FREEZE FROM DATA AND FOUND FAULT WERE SET AT ENGINE START UP. PERFORMED DE-CARBAN SERVICE, AT 45,400 OIL LEAK FROM DRAIN PLUG WASHER. LONG-LIFE WASHER ON DRAIN PLUG LEAKING. BLUETOOTH MALFUNCTIONING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 49,084. ALSO PROBLEM AND FOUND INTERNAL MALFUNCTION IN NEW MODEL. AT 50,011 MILES, FOUND FAULTS FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH CIRCUIT RANGE PERFORMANCE. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND RESEAL FUEL INJECTORS. AT 54,618 MILES, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACED. FOUND VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. AT 54,902 MILES FOUND VALVE COVER AND UPPER CHAIN COVER GASKET LEAKING. REPLACED VALVE COVER SEALANT, UPPER TIMING CHAIN COVER AND VACUUM PUMP GASKET. AT 63,186 MILES. FUEL RAIL PRESSURE TOO LOW, DETERMINED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP INTERNALLY FAULTY. AT 68.222 MILES DRIVER DOOR HINGES LOOSE. AT 68,222 MILES FUSE PROBLEMS. F16 BURNED AS WELL AS PANEL. HAD ALSO REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FUSE. PROBLEMS ARE ON GOING. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT STILL LOOSES POWER AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE AND EPC LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VW USA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DECLARE THE CAR UNSAFE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI 10723855

Mar 27, 2015Electrical systemAirbags

VEHICLE JUST UNDER 45K AND WAS TOLD THE CLOCKSPRING SHORTED WITH NO REAL REASON AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN SO EARLY IN THE VEHICLE LIFE. THE IMPACT OF THE FAILURE FROM WHAT I CAN VISUALLY TELL IS THAT I HAVE NO HORN, THE ELECTRONIC CONSOLE DOES NOT FUNCTION AND ALL BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. THE CONSOLE ALSO DISPLAYS AN AIRBAG ERROR, WHICH THE DEALER CANNOT CONFIRM IF THIS IMPACTS MY ACTUAL AIRBAG SYSTEM. I'M TOLD THE PART COSTS $290 PLUS $400 IN LABOR COSTS. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPACT OF THIS DEVICE, I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT ONE IT SHORTED, TWO THE PRICE IN LABOR TO REPLACE AND THE DEALERSHIP / VW CORPORATE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN, OTHER THAN TO SAY I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WAS A REAL PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS IN THE VW LINE UP, INCLUDING A HUGE RECALL FOR CHRYSLER. I REALLY THINK SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS A RECALL THAT SHOULD BE DONE HERE. VERY DANGEROUS NOT KNOWING IF THE CLOCKSPRING IMPACTS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE, LET ALONE NOT HAVING A FUNCTIONING HORN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702212

Mar 8, 2015Engine

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SHAKE, LOSE SPEED--THE ECM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON--WAS DETERMINED THAT AN IGNITION COIL HAD FAILED--HAVE HAD A ANOTHER IGNITION COIL FAILURE IN FEB. 2015. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10692818

Feb 9, 2015Wheels

ALUMINUM WHEEL HAS CRACK IN IT WITH NO DAMAGE TO TIRE OR AXLE. TIRE WENT FLAT. ONE SERVICE PERSON SAYS DEFECTIVE. ONE WEEK LATER ANOTHER SAID "YOU MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING", WHICH WE DIDN'T. I HAVE PICTURES. I HAVE ESCALATED AT VW. THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT. NUMBER ON WHEEL IS: KBA 46696. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10682051

Jan 24, 2015Electrical systemFire

LAST WEEK MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT SHE COULD SMELL AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FEEL A BURNING SENSATION COMING FROM HER VW DRIVER?S SEAT WHILE SHE HAD HER SEAT WARMER ON. I IMMEDIATELY HAD HER TAKE IT IN TO THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THIS ISSUE IS A FIRE HAZARD AND SAFETY ISSUE AS WE COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSISTED SYSTEMS WHILE IN MOTION RENDERING THE CAR UNMANAGEABLE IN TRAFFIC. ADDITIONALLY, WE COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE BURNING PAIN TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE DRIVER?S SEAT TO MY WIFE?S FLESH WAS PAINFUL ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY DISTRACT HER FULL ATTENTION FROM DRIVING. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND SAFETY FAILURE?S WE MUST INSIST THAT VW TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF OUR VEHICLE AND REIMBURSE US PROMPTLY FOR OUR COSTS AND EXPENSES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678667

Dec 26, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

VEHICLE SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR (IT IS AUTOMATIC), ALMOST KILLING OUR FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10668315

Nov 7, 2014Fuel system

CAR LOST POWER AND LURCHED, ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER 20-30 MPH. WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR OVER OFF OF 2-LANE ROAD. COULD NOT START CAR. HAD TO HAVE A TOW. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM PROBLEM AND THE FIRST HAPPENED ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THE FUEL PUMP WAS "BAD" ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. CAR WAS REPAIRED, ALONG WITH A REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR (2ND TIME). PICKED UP CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE DEALER. CAR WAS DRIVING LIKE A TRUCK AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY FLASHING, BAD FUMES IN CAR. WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TURN AROUND AND MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. TODAY IT'S THE COIL. AND "THIS IS A FLUKE" AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME. THEY ARE REPLACING THE COIL, BUT NOW WHEN WILL THE NEXT ONE HAPPEN? THIS 2011 TIGUAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS FUEL PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. ALSO, I DID EXPERIENCE THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS RECALL ISSUE AND THIS WAS FIXED EARLIER THIS YEAR. SEEMS THERE IS A LOT WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AND WHERE I WILL BE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10653409

Oct 6, 2014Fuel system

2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED, WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL # 14V441000. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10640996

Sep 24, 2014Lights

HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON A CAR WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON CAR. HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE BULB WITH BALLAST AT A COST OF $305.36!!! I HAVE HEARD THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING HEADLIGHTS FAILING IN 2011 VW TIGUANS. WANTED TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638812

Sep 22, 2014Electrical systemEngine

WE BOUGHT 2011 VW TIGUAN SE IN MAY 2011, AND THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION-COIL ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE TO US ALREADY. BELOW IS THE TIMELINE & DETAILS. ON 4/19/2014, WE FINISHED THE LAST MANUFACTURER-COVERED-SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP (3 YEARS/36K MILES), AND WE WERE TOLD OUR CAR IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ON 5/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED. ON 5/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #1 & #2 IGNITION COILS WERE DEAD. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. ON 9/13/2014, WE FINISHED THE RECALL SERVICE FOR THE CAR REGARDING TO THE FUEL BUBBLES ISSUE. ACCORDING TO THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE, THE SOFTWARE RELATED TO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED WAS OK. ON 9/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED AGAIN! IT BEHAVED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS IT DID IN MAY. WE HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE. ON 9/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #4 IGNITION COIL WAS DEAD. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE BOTH #3 AND #4 IGNITION COILS THIS TIME. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. I ALSO ASKED THE STAFF, "IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE THIS IGNITION COIL SO OFTEN FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR? HOW FREQUENTLY WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL? I DON'T WANT MY WIFE AND BABY STUCK IN TRAFFIC LIKE THIS TIME.". HOWEVER, NO ANSWER OR SUGGESTION WAS GIVEN SINCE THE STAFF CLAIMED HE'S NOT A MECHANICS. THIS TIME, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWING SERVICE, PARTS, AND THE LABOR COST (1.5 HOURS?!). THE STAFF SUGGESTED US TO SAVE THE RECEIPT FOR FUTURE JUST IN CASE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE VW IGNITION COIL ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND OTHER RESOURCES TO FILE THE COMPLAINTS. THEN I REALIZED THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION COIL ISSUE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE WITH VW CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638051

Sep 22, 2014Electrical systemEngine

WE BOUGHT 2011 VW TIGUAN SE IN MAY 2011, AND THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION-COIL ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE TO US ALREADY. BELOW IS THE TIMELINE & DETAILS. ON 4/19/2014, WE FINISHED THE LAST MANUFACTURER-COVERED-SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP (3 YEARS/36K MILES), AND WE WERE TOLD OUR CAR IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ON 5/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED. ON 5/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #1 & #2 IGNITION COILS WERE DEAD. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. ON 9/13/2014, WE FINISHED THE RECALL SERVICE FOR THE CAR REGARDING TO THE FUEL BUBBLES ISSUE. ACCORDING TO THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE, THE SOFTWARE RELATED TO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED WAS OK. ON 9/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED AGAIN! IT BEHAVED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS IT DID IN MAY. WE HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE. ON 9/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #4 IGNITION COIL WAS DEAD. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE BOTH #3 AND #4 IGNITION COILS THIS TIME. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. I ALSO ASKED THE STAFF, "IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE THIS IGNITION COIL SO OFTEN FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR? HOW FREQUENTLY WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL? I DON'T WANT MY WIFE AND BABY STUCK IN TRAFFIC LIKE THIS TIME.". HOWEVER, NO ANSWER OR SUGGESTION WAS GIVEN SINCE THE STAFF CLAIMED HE'S NOT A MECHANICS. THIS TIME, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWING SERVICE, PARTS, AND THE LABOR COST (1.5 HOURS?!). THE STAFF SUGGESTED US TO SAVE THE RECEIPT FOR FUTURE JUST IN CASE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE VW IGNITION COIL ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND OTHER RESOURCES TO FILE THE COMPLAINTS. THEN I REALIZED THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION COIL ISSUE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE WITH VW CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638054

Aug 2, 2014Engine

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING TO JUMP DESTROYING THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618373

May 14, 2014Electrical systemEngine

TWICE WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF. ONCE WHEN LEAVING A PARKING LOT. ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFICK, GOING UNDER 20 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE J519 MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588274

Apr 25, 2014Electrical systemEngine

VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATED FROM 50 MILES PER HOUR TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. CHECK ENGINE AND EPC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND ACCELERATION ABOVE 35 MILES PER HOUR WAS NOT POSSIBLE. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL FOUR IGNITION COILS. VOLKSWAGEN LATER AGREED TO REIMBURSE COST OF THE IGNITION COILS BUT REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RELATED LABOR CHARGES STATING NO OUTSTANDING RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THE IGNITION COILS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10584815

Apr 14, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE ENGINES REAR MAIN OIL SEAL STARTED LEAKING. BROUGHT IT TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT AND STATED THAT THERE WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN OIL LEAK AND WHILE THE OIL CHANGE WAS DONE IF THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. NOW AT 65000 MILES AND 5000 OVER THE FACTORY WARRANTY THEY FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ARE WANTING OVER $1500 TO FIX IT. THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR IS SOAKED IN OIL AND MY ONCE NICE DRIVEWAY LOOKS LIKE A TRUCK STOP. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO WORK WITH US. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT SUCH A NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE WITH SO LITTLE MILES. MY WORK TRUCK HAS 300K MILES AND HAS YET TO DRIP EVEN A DROP OF OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY... AND ITS OVER 10 YEARS OLD. THE BIGGEST KICKER IS THE DEALERS LACK TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM TILL WELL AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS PASSED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579502

Mar 29, 2014EngineFuel system

THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR HAS JUST STOPPED. STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STARTED TO GO AND CAR JUST DIED. NO LIGHTS, NO WARNING. I START UP THE CAR, MOVE FORWARD AND GET READY TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND CAR JUST DIES. VW SAID THEY NEED TO HAVE WARNING LIGHTS OR SOMETHING SO THEY CAN GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE COMPUTER AND SINCE THERE ARE NONE, IT WON'T TELL THEM ANYTHING. EVEN IN HIGH-SPEED DRIVING IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LULL OR THAT FUEL IS NOT BE INJECTED. CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. I ONLY USE PREMIUM GAS AND KEEP IT ABOVE 1/4 OF A TANK AS WELL. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT CHANGE IT OUT AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10575523

Jan 11, 2014Electrical systemLights

WE HAD A PARTIAL LOSS OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING ON OUR 2011 VW TIGUAN AT ROUGHLY 61,000 MILES. WE LOST PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, REAR DRIVER SIDE BLINKER, FRONT PASSENGER BLINKER, REVERSE LIGHTS, AND TAG LIGHTS. WE TRIED TO REPLACE THE BULBS BUT BULBS WERE FINE. I ALSO CHECKED ALL FUSES AND ALL WERE OK NONE WERE BLOWN. WE THEN TOOK THE CAR TO AN IMPORT SPECIALIST SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY FOUND A CIRCUIT UNDER THE FUSEBOX THAT OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THEY REPLACED THE CIRCUIT AND THE LIGHTING WAS RESTORED, HOWEVER THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN. THE REPLACED CIRCUIT ONLY LASTED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AND NOW WE HAVE LOST THE SAME EXTERIOR LIGHTING AS BEFORE. WE CONTACTED VW SERVICE AND THEY SAID BASED ON OUR VIN # THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559447

Jan 6, 2014SteeringElectrical system

THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS -10F TODAY. I STARTED THE CAR AND ALLOWED IT TO WARM UP FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING IT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES ON AN ERRAND. I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED AND STARTED THE CAR, THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST FOR STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND I WILL BE HAVING IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. ** A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SO I THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO FILE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558704

Jan 2, 2014Lights

RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP, TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT INOPERATIVE. 30 AMP FUSE ONE BLADE BURNT BUT FUSE NOT BLOWN. FUSE BOX MELTED AROUND CONTACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558239

Dec 20, 2013Electrical systemFuel system

WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT, CAR STALLED. WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND A FUEL SENDING RELAY WAS REPLACED. HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 6 MONTHS PRIOR FOR THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS MODEL. DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN. CAR RETURNED TO SHOP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. THANKFULLY THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON HIGHWAY AS OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT NOW DON'T HAVE FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. VW WOULD NOT HELP REPAIR COSTS AS CAR IS NOW (THIRD INCIDENT) OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. WOULD NOT PURCHASE AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10556781

Dec 18, 2013Electrical systemLights

DURING DRIVING ONE HEADLIGHT (LEFT), THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, AND FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL GAVE A BULB OUT FAULT. ALSO, THE BULBS WENT OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTING THE CAR, THE FAULTS WERE GONE AND BULBS WERE FUNCTIONAL. THIS REPEATED THE NEXT DAY WITH BULB OUT FAULTS AND NON-FUNCTIONING BULBS BUT THEN RESET AGAIN AFTER RESTARTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10556475

Dec 11, 2013Lights

IN NOVEMBER MY DRIVERS HEADLIGHT WENT OUT I REPLACED THE BULB THEN IT WAS WORKING BUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE GOES OUT THIS TIME NOT ONLY MY HEADLIGHT MY TURN SIGNAL ALSO GOES OUT FROM THE FRONT. THEN I GET PULLED OVER BECAUSE NOW I DON'T HAVE A DRIVER SIDE BACK SIGNAL LIGHT. I REPLACED ALL OF THE BULBS AND THEY STILL DON'T WORK. I DON'T HAVE WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. IT HAS BECOME A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME NOT ONLY THAT, ITS A HAZARD TO BE ON THE ROADS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I NEED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO COMMUTE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10555727

Dec 6, 2013Lights

A FEW DAYS AGO I GOT A WARNING ON MY CAR SAYING THE FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY SITUATION SINCE THE REAR AND SIDE MIRROR TURN SIGNALS STILL FUNCTIONED. I HAD ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ONLINE, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST TELLING ME I WAS PART OF THE RECALL AND WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT IN SOON. LAST NIGHT, DRIVING IN THE DARK, I LOST A HEADLIGHT, FOG LIGHT, AND THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. IT WAS DECIDED TO MAKE THE 4 HOUR TRIP TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER THIS WEEKEND TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, I LOST VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE REMAINING EXTERIOR LIGHTING. LUCKILY IT WAS A BRIGHT MORNING, AND WORK IS NOT FAR. BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF TWO BRAKE LIGHTS, AND ASSUMING I WOULD LOSE THE OTHER ONE, I HAD VW TOW MY CAR TODAY TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS MY LIST OF LIGHTS LOST AS OF 12.6.13 8:00 AM: FR DIPPED BEAM, FR TURN SIGNAL, FR MAIN BEAM, FR FOG LIGHT, FL SIDE LIGHT, RL TURN SIGNAL, RL BRAKE LIGHT, RR SIDE LIGHT, 3RD BRAKE LIGHT, R REVERSE LIGHT, AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. FORTUNATELY I AM STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO IT WILL BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME REGARDLESS OF AN OFFICIAL RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10555067

Dec 5, 2013Electrical system

WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE IN THE MORNING FOR WORK MY LIGHT-OUT INDICATOR WAS SHOWING AND I DID IN FACT HAVE A FRONT LIGHT OUT, AS IT WAS SUNNY AND NICE, I DECIDED TO REPLACE IT AFTER WORK, HOWEVER ON MY WAY DRIVING TO WORK (40 MILE DRIVE) I HAD INFORMATION ALERTS ON MY CAR DISPLAY THAT I HAD LOST MOST/ ALMOST ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS INCLUDING: LOW. HIGH, FOG, MY BLINKERS WERE INTERMITTENTLY WORKING, AND THEN EVEN MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. I MADE IT TO WORK AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE FUSE BOXES WHICH I FOUND AN ARTICLE ONLINE ABOUT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A WHOLE NEW FUSE BOX AND THE MECHANIC KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL RECALL ON IT, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE. I COULD HAVE LOST BRAKE LIGHTS TOO, IT COULD HAVE BEEN LATE AND DARK AND I COULD HAVE DIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10554890

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd verdict →