What 152 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BEEPED INCESSANTLY AND THERE WERE NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. OURISMAN VOLKSWAGEN IN LAUREL, MARYLAND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

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TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN BLEW AND SHREDDED OUR ENGINE AT 65,000 MILES. METAL PIECES WERE FOUND IN THE OIL PAN. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO START - THANKFULLY NOT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. VW SERVICE TRIED TO INSINUATE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OIL OFTEN ENOUGH, WHICH IS LOW CONSIDERING WE HAVE ALL RECORDS SHOWING WE CHANGED THE OIL EXACTLY WHEN PRESCRIBED BY VW, AS THE SERVICE GUY LATER ADMITTED. THE REAL ISSUE IS THE TENSIONER CHAIN IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. THIS IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS (I.E. IF THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON A HIGHWAY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK) BUT EXPENSIVE, AND IT IS INFURIATING THAT VW DID NOT RECOMMEND A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

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AIR BAR CLICK SPRING FAILED ON VEHICLE ON OR ABOUT 12/6/17. RECALL (15V483000- CLOCK SPRING) INCLUDED 2010-14 TIGUANS BUT WAS TOLD BY VW OF AMERICA THAT OUR 2012 VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. VW SERVICE AGENT AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE RECALL 'EXPIRED'. VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF 'BUMPER TO BUMPER' AND POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP CHARGED $669 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. THE SPRING FAILED FROM ROUTINE, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE SPRING FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND THE VEHICLE'S HORN THUS COMPRISING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. CLOCK SPRING FAILURE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR VW. VW HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED OR PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE HEFTY REPAIR BILL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

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WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, I HEARD A CRACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AN ERROR: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THIS PART, AND IT WAS PROBABLY REPLACED UNDER PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP. WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ASAP.

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IN JAN 2018 WITH LESS THEN 58K MILES ON IT MY 2012 TIGUAN STARTED LOSING COOLANT. I WAS DRIVING AND THE THERMOSTAT SENSOR WENT OFF, I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS VERY LOW. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LEAKING WATER PUMP WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT THE SAME TIME THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED VW AND THEY SAID BECAUSE MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY BOUGHT IN 2011 THAT THE 5 YEAR / 60K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS NO LONGER APPLIED (E.G. BECAUSE IT WAS AFTER 5 YEARS FROM SALE) AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO FOR ME (E.G. I WAS ON MY OWN TO FIX IT). THE REPAIR WAS ~$1300 WHICH IS VERY FRUSTRATING ON A CAR WITH LOW MILES THAT IS DRIVEN CAREFULLY AND WELL CARED FOR. THE MORE FRUSTRATING THING IS THAT VW HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON THEIR GTI MODELS FROM THESE EXACT SAME YEARS AND ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE WATER PUMPS ( SEE: HTTPS://HUMBLEMECHANIC.COM/WATER-PUMP-RECALL-MK6-GTI-PODCAST-EPISODE-88/ ) BUT WERE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME WHEN I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TIGUAN.

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I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND VIBRATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE REPORTED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS BAD.

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IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING REAR HIT, WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH APPROX. 8 FEET DEEP, WITH AN IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO HOSPITALIZE THE FRONT SEAT PASENGER WITH FRACTURED STERNUM AN INTERNAL BLEEDING CAUSED BY A SEAT BELT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . PER THE DOTOR, INJURY COULD BE AVOIDED IF FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

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FUEL DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THEREFORE, I CANNOT REFUEL THE VEHICLE.

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2012 TIGUAN WAS RECALLED FOR THE AIR BAG DUE TO THE CLOCK SPRINGS BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER OCT 2014 APRIL 2017 AND AGAIN TODAY NOV 17 I HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN DUE TO THE AIR BAG ( CLOCK SPRINGS) I HAD TO PAY IN 14 AND APRIL 17 TODAY I DID NOT SINCE IT HAPPENED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE LAST REPAIR I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW . I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR 2014 AND APRIL 2017. ALL 3X WHERE DONE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRIGGERED CODE REFLECTING MISFIRES. DEALERSHIP CHECKED OUT AND IT IS A CARBON BUILDUP ON INTAKE VALVES. I AM TOLD THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DIRECT INJECTION SYTEMS ESPECIALLY ON VOLKSWAGENS, BMWS, AUDIS. THE SUGGESTED FIX IS TO HAVE A SHOP OR DEALER REMOVE MANIFOLD AND USE A MEDIA BLAST OF WALNUT SHELLS TO REMOVE THE CARBON. THIS WILL ONLY LAST UNTIL THE BUILDUP COMES BACK. THIS SUV HAS APPROX 62,000 MILES ON IT. THE COST OF GETTING THE VALVES CLEANED RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $400 TO 1200. THIS PROBLEM IS AN INHERENT ISSUE WITH DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING A CONSUMEER CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. AS ONE REPAIR SHOP SAID, IT IS INEVITABLE AND ALL DIRECT INJECTION ENGINES WILL SUFFER THIS PROBLEM. I AM APPALLED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND WHEN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A MAINTENANCE TYPE ITEM IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. PROPER MAINTENANCE SHOULD NEVER INCLUDE WALNUT BLASTING OF CARBON DEPOSITS ON VALVES!!! MANUFACTURERS NEED TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD WHEN PURCHASING THE CAR THAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE MEDIA BLASTING AT 60K, I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE PURCHASE.

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING CODE P0341. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF. TWO DRIVES LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON, AND WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT WHEN A NASTY RATTLE BECAME AUDIBLE. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENED UPON ACCELERATION, NEAR 2K RPM. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT OVER 30 MPH SINCE THIS ISSUE STARTED, ONLY ACCELERATING VERY GINGERLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE MECHANIC, AT WHICH POINT THEY INFORMED ME THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDES HAD FAILED OR WERE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT REPAIRING THE TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS WOULD COST $4000, BUT THAT THE ENGINE IS ALSO BURNING OIL. THEY RECOMMENDED A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $5400. I PURCHASED THE TIGUAN USED FROM LARSON VW IN TACOMA, WA NOVEMBER 2015 (JUST UNDER 2 YEARS AGO) WITH 59000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS ~89000 MILES.

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AIRBAG MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE HORN FROM WORKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH IS LIT .

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TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE AT 80,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO HELP ME. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I SEE THERE ARE MANY VW OWNERS WITH THIS VERY SAME ISSUE.

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ON THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND I OPENED USED MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF AS I HAVE NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE SUNSHADE I HEARD A WEIRD NOISE COME FROM THE TRACK AND THE FABRIC RETRACTED BACK INTO THE OPEN POSITION. I ONCE MORE PUSHED THE CLOSE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE SUNSHADE AND WHILE MOVING FORWARD THE FABRIC RIPPED AND THE COIL RETRACTED SLIGHTLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ONTARIO VOLKSWAGEN IN ONTARIO, CA) WHO STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN 2016. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,928.

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I'VE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES FOR A COUPLE YEARS...BUT WAS ALWAYS BRUSHED OFF BY THE DEALER BEING TOLD IT'S 'WITHIN VW SPECK' UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (THEY ALSO NEVER DOCUMENTED THESE VISITS). THEN MIRACULOUSLY THEY FOUND AN ISSUE WHICH WAS NOW A $3000 FIX. I TOOK IT FOR A 2ND OPINION TO ANOTHER VW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TURBO DIDN'T NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETE FAILURE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN SKIPPING AND ALSO FIRED ALL THE PISTONS AT ONCE. NOW IT'S A $7500 REPAIR TO FIX THE TURBO AND THE ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON; NO OIL LIGHT; NO ISSUES DRIVING IT. IT WORKED PERFECTLY UNTIL I TRIED TO START IT TO LEAVE. NEITHER ONE OF THE DEALERS WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO HELP WITH THIS 'WARRANTY ISSUE'. (I HAVE MY ENTIRE SERVICE RECORD)

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IN OUR 2012 VW TIGUAN SEL, THE DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT WOULD REMAIN AND/OR ENGAGE IN A LOCKED POSITION INCORRECTLY. THIS WOULD CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR US. IT WOULD PREVENT US FROM BEING ABLE TO STRAP IN (WHICH IS ALSO A LAW IN OUR STATE). WE WOULD PULL ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND IT WOULD LOCK'MAYBE GETTING A FEW INCHES OF SLACK AND CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH TO STRAP YOURSELF IN. THE VEHICLE COULD EITHER BE ON OR OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. IN ADDITION, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO FINAGLE THE SEAT BELT OUT, SLOWLY AND PATIENTLY WHILE IT CONTINUALLY LOCKS AND GAINING ENOUGH SLACK TO STRAP YOURSELF IN AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, IT COULD INCORRECTLY LOCK WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING PREVENTING YOU FROM MOVING YOUR TORSO AROUND TO PROPERLY CHECK BLIND SPOTS, MIRRORS, ETC. OUR SITUATION QUICKLY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULDN'T EVEN GET ENOUGH SLACK TO STRAP OURSELVES IN AND WERE FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THIS FIXED AND PAYED THE DEALERSHIP OVER $600. WE WAITED SEVERAL DAYS FOR THE 'FAULTY PIN MECHANISM/ASSEMBLY' AND PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S NOT A COMMON PART THEY KEEP IN STOCK AS IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY TYPICALLY HAVE TO FIX. THIS IS CORRECT, A SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY/DESIGN SHOULD NEVER FAIL! I'VE VISITED FORUMS ONLINE AND READ ABOUT OTHER 2012 VW TIGUAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE RECALL THIS TO AVOID ANYONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN SKIPPED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND GOT A PART REPAIRED. AFTERWARDS I WAS ALERTED TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IN THE CAR (HAVING TO FILL OIL EVERY WEEK) AT NO POINT IS THERE A WARNING ABOUT THE OIL BURNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEN WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, MY TENSIONER BELT SLIPS CAUSING MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE AND THE ENGINE NOW NEEDS REPLACED ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS LAWSUITS CURRENTLY PENDING AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO SAFETY WARNING BEING ISSUED. INDIVIDUALS ARE AT RISK BOTH SAFETY-WISE AND FINANCIALLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE STEERING CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED PER A PREVIOUS RECALL VIA THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FAILED AND IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND WOULD NOT BE DONE A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

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WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE AMBIENT AIR IS APPROXIMATELY 65F, OR HIGHER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE/EXTEND NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. I HAVE TRIED WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, WITH AND WITHOUT THE E BREAK ON, AND MOVING FORWARD BUT THE BELT WILL NOT EXTEND, AFTER EXTENSIVE TRIES IT WILL EXTEND A SHORT DISTANCE AT A TIME UNTIL I CAN FINALLY FASTEN IT. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS WITH MUCH LESS SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY WHEN THE AIR IS COOLER.

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WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE AMBIENT AIR IS APPROXIMATELY 65F, OR HIGHER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE/EXTEND NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. I HAVE TRIED WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, WITH AND WITHOUT THE E BREAK ON, AND MOVING FORWARD BUT THE BELT WILL NOT EXTEND, AFTER EXTENSIVE TRIES IT WILL EXTEND A SHORT DISTANCE AT A TIME UNTIL I CAN FINALLY FASTEN IT. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS WITH MUCH LESS SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY WHEN THE AIR IS COOLER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A FUEL STATION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, AFTER PLACING FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT SLIPPED AND CAME OUT OF TIMING. THE FAILURE CAUSED ALL THE PISTONS TO FIRE AT ONCE AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN

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THE REAR DOOR (TAILGATE) DOES NOT LATCH NOR LOCK. WHEN IT IS CLOSED, THE CATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THERE IS NO NOISE FROM THE LOCKING MOTOR. SO THE DOOR REMAINS OPEN WHEN DRIVING OR PARKING. THIS IS THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND FAULT REPORTS FROM OTHER VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

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