Home · 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd · Complaints

What 96 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 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 (96)Crash / fire / injury (7)Airbags (37)Electrical system (27)Steering (12)Engine (10)Body & structure (6)Fuel system (6)Brakes (3)Speed control (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Visibility & wipers (3)

Newest first · 96 complaints · page 3 of 4

Jan 7, 2022BrakesDriver assistance

Parking Brake locks up and renders vehicle immobile- has occurred twice and parking switch has been replaced three times.

NHTSA ODI 11446570

Nov 3, 2021Airbags

I own a 2016 VW Tiguan.I bought in mid 2018 w/30k miles.The clock spring,which controls the drivers airbag,horn & all steering controls has broken 3 times.It has broken once per year since I have had.This is obviously due to a faulty part that keeps being reinstalled.I see years ago that over 1.2 million people w/VW's were affected.This issue should have been fixed the FIRST time when I brought it in w/74,000 miles on 12/18/2019 or perhaps fixed the SECOND time I brought it in w/95,000 miles on 7/31/2020.Now, it is broken AGAIN, a THIRD time and now I'm told too bad, its over 120,000 miles & no longer covered,when I came to bring in on 11/3/2021 (contacted you originally on 9/30/21).No one ever informed me of there being an extended warranty that only lasts until 120,000 miles. I drive 2.5 hours to make my appt & when I email you to notify you that I am going to be 15 minutes late,only then do I get a call from the service rep when I am down the block from the dealership. He proceeds to tell me that he doesn't have the part for the clock spring.That they are using something "new".I said why couldn't you have told me this earlier?Then the rep says, why don't you take your vehicle somewhere closer?I explained that I live in a rural area & that I have always brought my car to this facility & that this is the 3rd time for the same issue.Only then did he ask me the mileage of my vehicle & then began to say VW no longer covers the part.Well, it should have been fixed properly the 2 previous times.The clock ring has broken every year I have had the vehicle.If VW is indeed using a "new" part as the rep stated, then there must be a reason why. This is a safety issue.Due to reinstallation of a faulty part the clock spring continually breaks each year.VW & the dealership are aware that the part is faulty & this is why VW created an extended warranty on just the clock spring.When I stated this to the VW rep he stated that they cannot do anything about bad parts.Shame on VW

NHTSA ODI 11439276

Oct 26, 2021Engine

2016 volkswagen tiguan 2.0 L combination timing chain and timing chain tensioner failure as diagnosed by the Volkswagen dealership. Caused the car to lose power immediately and misfire

NHTSA ODI 11438297

Sep 20, 2021Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the sunroof exploded and shattered inside the vehicle. There were no injuries sustained from the falling glass. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11433622

Jul 11, 2021Electrical system

Unknown Water leaking from sunroof affecting the electrical components and now sunroof won’t open or close at all.

NHTSA ODI 11424295

Jun 22, 2021Electrical system

2016 Tiguan - 75k Miles. Steering wheel starting making clicking noises when taking sharper turns, a few days later, the airbag light came on along with an airbag "error" message. That same day, all buttons on the steering wheel stopped working, along with the horn. I took the car into the dealership and they IMMEDIATELY knew what was wrong. The clockspring. Quite frankly, this is absurd... If this is a known issue why isn't this a recall? I was told by the service representative that they see 2-3 CASES OF THIS A DAY... What the heck? Comeon.... This is a serious safety issue... Do something about it.

NHTSA ODI 11421925

Apr 27, 2021Speed control

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, DECREASING THE SET SPEED USING CRUISE CONTROL MULTIPLE TIMES IN SUCCESSION LED TO AN INCREASE IN THE SET SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11414180

Apr 19, 2021CrashFire1 injury

WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. THE ONLY INJURY SUSTAINED WAS A BROKEN HEEL BY THE DRIVER, ALL OTHER PARTY'S DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ONLY COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THEIR VEHICLES. MOMENTS AFTER THE COLLISION, THE TIGUAN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE BRAKE PETAL HAD TRAPPED THE DRIVERS FOOT AND THE DOOR WAS JAMMED. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER PARTY WAS ABLE TO JERK THE DOOR UNTIL IT OPENED TO FREE THE DRIVER. THE TIGUAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS, BECOMING COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11412860

Mar 17, 2021Electrical system

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS WARM OR HOT. ALSO WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS COLD BUT THE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR IS BEING USED. IF IT STOPS WORKING WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPEN I CAN CLOSE IT BUT IT WILL NOT ROLL BACK DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11403565

Feb 19, 2021Engine

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH OLDER VERSION VW INTAKE MANIFOLDS. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTENDED WARRANTY APPLIED TO VW INTAKE MANIFOLDS WHICH I HAVE ADDED AS A DOCUMENT BELOW. VW CLAIMS THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS THE SAME CCTA ENGINE AND SAME INTAKE MANIFOLD AS THE ONES DESCRIBED IN THE NOTICE. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD APPLY TO ANY OF THE VW VEHICLES THAT HAVE AFFECTED INTAKE MANIFOLDS. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED BY VW IN 2017 TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH THE OLDER VERSION OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AS DESCRIBED IN THIS VIDEO DONE BY A VW EXPERT AND DOCUMENTED UNIVERSALLY. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE DATE AND RECORDS, THIS UPDATE WAS RELEASED AFTER MY 2016 VW TIGUAN WAS BUILT, SO MY CAR HAS THE OLD VERSION OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE OLD VERSION SKU IS 06J133201BD AND THE NEW VERSION SKU IS 06J133201BH WHICH I HAVE LINKED BELOW WHICH ADDITIONALLY SUPPORTS MY CLAIM. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BY VW WAS TOO NARROWLY APPLIED SINCE THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE VW TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 2016 VW TIGUAN. VIDEO OF INTAKE MANIFOLD UPDATE - HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=5IVXPQRIZKK&T VIDEO DETAILING ISSUES OF VW INTAKE MANIFOLD - HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YVFVUKUPY0K&T OLD VERSION INTAKE MANIFOLD - HTTPS://PARTS.VW.COM/P/VOLKSWAGEN__/MANIFOLD/54564237/06J133201BD.HTML NEW VERSION INTAKE MANIFOLD - HTTPS://PARTS.VW.COM/P/VOLKSWAGEN__/ENGINE-INTAKE-MANIFOLD/67801038/06J133201BH.HTML

NHTSA ODI 11397026

Dec 5, 2020Airbags

AIRBAG ERROR MESSAGE POPPED UP IN CAR. NONE OF THE BUTTONS NOR HORN WORKS.

NHTSA ODI 11378039

Jul 5, 2020Body & structure

THE MOON ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED WHILE DRIVING ON THE I-95 WHILE IN MOTION TRAVELING FROM NY TO FLA. I BELIEVE DUE TO EXTENSIVE HEAT, THEN A SMALL 3 MINUTE EAST COAST RAIN STORM. NOTHING HIT IT, IT WAS NOT IN USE, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE MOONROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED INTO A GAZILLION LITTLE GLASS PIECES SENDING SHARDS OF GLASS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING EMBEDDED IN MY ARMS, NECK, BACK, HANDS, LEGS, AND FEET AND COVERING MY SCALP AND COVERING EVERY SURFACE AND CREVICE WITH TINY SHARDS OF GLASS. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF SC WITH NO SUPPORT FROM VW, AND NEEDED TO PURCHASE A HOTEL FOR 2 NIGHTS STAY. I ALSO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT I HAVE IN THE VEHICLE OFTEN WHO LUCKILY DURING THIS TRIP WE'RE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO DONE FURTHER RESEARCH THAT VW HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS SPONTANEOUS EXPLODING MOONROOF DEFECT AND HAS NOT RECALLED THESE MODELS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS AS VW IS AWARE OF THIS AND NEGLECTED TO TELL ME UPON PURCHASE 6 MONTHS AGO. AS OF RIGHT NOW VW CORPORATE HAS NOT MADE URGENCY OF THIS DEVASTATING AND TRAUMATIC MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11337583

Apr 28, 2020Fuel system

I PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT ON NHTSA (ID 11310178). SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS NOT STARTED TWICE AND LEFT ME STRANDED HAVING TO TOW TO VW DEALERSHIP AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES. AFTER THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN IN MARCH, I OPENED A CLAIM WITH VW CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC. THE CLAIM WAS DENIED WITH A GENERIC RESPONSE AND VW BLATANTLY IGNORED MY CONCERNS OF SAFTEY WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. APRIL 24TH THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AGAIN AND IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT, AT THE VW DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED THE VW CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC. CASE MANAGER AGAIN AND AGREED TO OPEN A CLAIM OF RETRIBUTION ON THE VEHICLE AFTER THEY CONFIRM THE FAILURE TO START FOR THIS INSTANCE. THIS VEHICLE DISPLAY SEVERAL CONCERNS WITH SAFETY FOR THE OWNER AND CANNOT BE USED AS RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION BUT VW CONTINUES TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF THE SITUATION THAT CAN ARISE FROM THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11322540

Mar 23, 2020Body & structure

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO WORK, WITHOUT ANY OTHER VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, WHEN MY GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED SUDDENLY. THE NOISE OF IT SHATTERING WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF IN THE CABIN. I HAD MY CLOTH CEILING LINER EXTENDED SO I DIDN'T GET HIT BY THE FALLING GLASS SHARDS BUT IT STILL SPOOKED ME. I DIDN'T END UP FINDING ANYTHING THAT WOULD SUGGEST IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN OBJECT HITTING ME.

NHTSA ODI 11319025

Feb 19, 2020Electrical systemFuel system

I BOUGHT THIS CPO VEHICLE JULY 2018 WITH APPROX. 32,000 MILES. DROVE PERFECTLY WITHOUT ANY MAINTENANCE OUTSIDE OF TYPICAL OIL CHANGE, TIRE SWAPS, ROTATIONS, ALIGNMENTS, ETC. MID-NOVEMBER 2019 I LEAVE HOME AROUND LUNCH TIME, BACK OUT OF GARAGE AND PULL UP TO TURN ON TO THE ROAD, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND I CAN'T ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. TRY JUMPING IT, STILL WON'T START. TOW IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON VW/AUDIS TURNS OUT IT IS A FUEL PUMP MODULE FAILURE. GETS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE IN ORDER. END OF JANUARY 2020, TRY TO LEAVE FOR WORK, BATTERY AND EPC LIGHT COME ON. TRY TO JUMP THE BATTERY,NOTHING. GET THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT TESTED GOOD. TOWED IT TO VW DEALERSHIP, AGAIN, FUEL PUMP MODULE. THIS TIGUAN IS A CPO BUT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO MAINTENANCE OUTSIDE OF VW DEALERSHIP. GET THE TIGUAN BACK, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO AGAIN BE IN ORDER BUT TOOK EXTRA PRECAUTIONS DRIVING AND THE LOCATIONS I DRIVE TO DUE TO LIVING IN ALASKA (AKA A VERY REMOTE PLACE) BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITHOUT CELL SERVICE, WHICH OCCURS FREQUENTLY. NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS LATER, LEAVING WORK TO GO HOME AND AS I BACK OUT, THE VEHICLE BATTERY LIGHT AGAIN COMES ON AND I CAN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE. TRY JUMPING THE BATTERY, NOTHING. TOWED IT TO VW DEALERSHIP YET AGAIN (CLOSEST VW DEALERSHIP IS APPROX. 50 MILES, SO TOWING BECOMES PRICEY THIRD TIME AROUND) AND IS CURRENTLY BEING FIXED FOR THE FUEL PUMP WITHIN THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS APPARENTLY SEPARATE FROM THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. I AM NEARING A POTENTIAL $2,000 IN MAINTENANCE (TWO FUEL PUMPS AND LABOR + POTENTIAL MAINTENANCE AND LABOR FOR FUEL PUMP IN FUEL TANK IF NOT COVERED UNDER CPO WARRANTY). THIS VEHICLE QUICKLY BECAME UNRELIABLE AND HAVE HAD TO ALTER MY LIFESTYLE FOR MY OWN PEACE OF MIND/SAFETY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11310178

Feb 18, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A DEALER FOR AN ACCIDENT REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT RODENTS HAD EATEN AWAY THE BODY CONTROL WIRES DUE TO THE SOY BASE OF THE WIRING. VOLKSWAGEN SANTA MONICA LOCATED AT (2440 SANTA MONICA BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90404) DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATE 28,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER HAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *AS

NHTSA ODI 11309926

Dec 25, 2019Airbags

I BEEN SENDING MESSAGES TO EXECUTIVEVOLKSWAGENOFNORTHHAVEN ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL OF MY 2016 VW TIGUAN. FOR SOME REASON IT'S BEEN A MONTH NOW AND STILL NO UPDATE ON THERE PART. I GAVE THEM THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 69Z5 FOR THE FAULTY CAPACITOR IN THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. THEY BEEN TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL CONTACT ME OR EMAIL ME BUT I NEVER RECEIVE OR GET ANY CALLS FROM THEM. I JUST WANT THIS RECALL TO BE FIX BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I WILL BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAD DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11291178

Nov 17, 2019

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A STRAIGHTAWAY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILE TO THE FRONT OR REAR AND ALSO WITH NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE OTHER LANE, MY SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPLODED. VISIBLE INSPECTION SHOWED THE CORNERS OF THE TEMPERED GLASS WERE ANGLED UPWARD INDICATING THAT THE GLASS BLEW OUTWARD AND NOT INWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11280642

Oct 30, 2019Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V535000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF PERKIN AT (805)-642-6707 (LOCATED AT 3270 PERKIN AVE, VENTURA, CA 93003) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11277166

Oct 18, 2019Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V535000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN OF LAKE CHARLES (3850 GERSTNER MEMORIAL BLVD, LAKE CHARLES, LA 70607, (337) 419-1818) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11269364

Oct 14, 2019SteeringElectrical systemAirbags

STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE EVERY TIME I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. THEN THE VOLUME AND SKIP BUTTONS STOPPED WORKING ON THE STEERING WHEEL, LEFT SIDE ONLY, THE RIGHT SIDE CONTROL BUTTONS ARE WORKING JUST FINE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS STILL CLICKING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M ON THE FREEWAY OR IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, IT CLICKS NO MATTER WHAT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE.

NHTSA ODI 11268359

Oct 8, 2019Body & structureCrash

I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE YMCA PARKING . I TURNED OFF THE PUSH BUTTON KEYLESS ENTRY.I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM AND ENTERED THE YMCA. I COMPLETED MY BUSINESS AND EXITED THE Y APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES LATER. MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED LEFT STRIKING THE REAR CORNER OF A PARKED VEHICLE,THEN EXITED THE PARKING LOT AND STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED ON THE STREET. IF WE ASSUME I LEFT MY VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION,THERE IS NO ALARM,BELL,WHISTLE OR SAFETY SYSTEM IN PLACE ON A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN TO PREVENT DRIVERS FROM A SIMILAR ACCIDENT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS A RECALL ON 679,000 VEHICLES WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 2016 TIGUAN SHOULD BE ,BUT IS NOT ON THIS RECALL LIST. A PERSON FROM VW INFORMED ME THAT RECALL WAS FAIRLY NEW AND THE TIGUAN COULD END UP UNDER RECALL YET . SHOULD THEY WAIT UNTIL MORE TIGUANS HAVE ACCIDENTS? MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY MAKES AND MODEL VEHICLES HAVE LIGHTS OR ALARMS IN PLACE,INCLUDING SOME WHEN THE VEHICLE DOOR IS OPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11267054

Sep 10, 2019Crash

CAR DOES NOT GIVE WARNING IF THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK SO IT ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVE INTIO THE STREET. HIT NEIGHBORS FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY PARKED IN MY DRIVE THE ENGINE WAS OFFF. I REMOVE ITEMS THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT MOVING WENT INSIDE TO GET MY DOG CAME OUT AND MY CAR WAS ACCROSS THE STREET AND HAD TO HIT A FENCE. ALSO THE CAR SLIDES ON WET PAVEMENT. L

NHTSA ODI 11254567

Jul 29, 2019Airbags

I BROUGHT MY TIGUAN USED. DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT.

NHTSA ODI 11240254

Jul 23, 2019Airbags

TURNING WHEEL TO PARK HEARD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL AND THEN AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO DISCOVERED THAT CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING INCLUDING HORN.

NHTSA ODI 11234179

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Working with the data? Download all 96 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 2026

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 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan Ltd verdict →