Home · 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited · Complaints

What 185 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited

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 (185)Crash / fire / injury (10)Electrical system (55)Engine (37)Brakes (24)Driver assistance (24)Transmission & drivetrain (17)Speed control (12)Fuel system (10)Lights (10)Body & structure (9)Visibility & wipers (9)

Newest first · 185 complaints · page 7 of 8

Mar 5, 2020Brakes

DRIVING IN WINDY CONDITIONS, 4 SEPARATE TIMES ON ONE DAY, SENSOR WENT OFF. RED CAR GRAPHIC ON MY SCREEN WITH "SIDE IMPACT" WAVE LINES ON THE SIDES AND CAR AUTOMATICALLY BRAKED SUDDENLY. HAPPENED IN CITY, WHILE IN MOTION. NO OTHER CARS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AT TIME OF SENSOR WARNING AND BRAKING. 3 OF 4 TIMES HAPPENED AS WAS DRIVING NORTH INTO A STRONG NORTH WIND. NEVER HAD THIS WARNING THROWN BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 11316480

Feb 4, 2020Electrical systemEngineFuel system

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED. CAR STALLS AND DOES NOT RESTART.

NHTSA ODI 11306980

Feb 3, 2020Fuel system

I HAD A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE AND AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK IT DIDN'T START AND WAS LEAKING GASOLINE MASSIVELY.

NHTSA ODI 11306861

Dec 27, 2019SteeringSpeed controlEngine

I HAVE BEEN HAVING SERIOUS STALLING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR...SINCE THE 1ST DAY I RECEIVED IT. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR WOULD REFUSE TO ACCELERATE LIKE GETTING ON AND OFF EXITS ON EXPRESSWAY...CHANGING LANES ETC...IT ALSO STALLS AND THE ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING..THE CAR HAS A LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST WHICH PULLS THE CAR FROM 1 LANE INTO THE OTHER VIOLENTLY...I AM HOPING TO GET THIS CAR REPLACED WITH ANOTHER LINE FROM VW ONLY BECAUSE MY LEASE IS 5 MNTHS OLD...THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP ME BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, MAYBE IF SOMEONE DIES THEY WILL GIVE A RAT'S [XXX] ABOUT THIS ISSUE...AN ISSUE THEY HAD I. 2014....EASE LOOK INTO THIS..FAMILIES CAN DIE FROM THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11291461

Dec 23, 2019

PURCHASED CAR IN JULY 2019 AND THE CARNET HAS NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AFTER CALLING CUSTOMER CARE AND CARNET I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER TWO SEPARATE VISITS AND LEAVING MY CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS I WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH CUSTOMER CARE SINCE AUGUST 2019 AND FOLLOW UP EVERY FEW WEEKS, AS THEY TYPICALLY FORGET TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PROMISED UPDATE EVERY TWO WEEKS. EACH UPDATE IS THE EXACT SAME --- THERE ARE NO UPDATES AT THIS TIME AND NO TIMELINE FOR A FIX. THEY ALSO WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. THE CARNET APP HAS NOT WORKED CORRECTLY -- KICKS ME OUT REGULARLY, SAYS MY CAR IS UNLOCKED WHEN IT IS LOCKED, UNABLE TO SEND DESTINATIONS FROM THE APP TO MY CAR, ETC. THE BUTTONS IN THE CAR ALSO DO NOT WORK WHEN PRESSED, WHICH MEANS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IT WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11290941

Dec 21, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS. #1 ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CARS EMERGENCY SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITH NO CARS OR ANYTHING IN PROXIMITY. VW JUST CLEANED SENSORS . IT HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THAT WHILE PARKING THE CAR. #2 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THE BRAKES PULSE WHEN APPLIED. WE WERE TOLD JUST WAIT FOR 1 YEAR SERVICE AND IT WILL BE LOOKED AT. THE TIGUAN WENT IN FRIDAY MORNING AND WE WERE INFORMED THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. VW NORTH AMERICA RECOMMEND ROTORS AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TROUBLESOME ISSUE WITH ONLY 10000 MILES LES THAN I YEAR OLD.

NHTSA ODI 11290649

Dec 12, 2019Engine

THE PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE OF MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2.0T STARTED LEAKING WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, NEARLY STRANDING MY FAMILY. IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE ANY VEHICLE USING A FRAGILE, UNPROTECTED PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY THE TIGUAN, WHICH IS MARKETED AS A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11288668

Dec 4, 2019

I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND THE CAR-NET IN MY CAR HASN'T WORKED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VW MULTIPLE TIMES AND I JUST KEEP GETTING THE 'THEY'RE WORKING ON IT ' WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SITE.

NHTSA ODI 11286851

Nov 17, 2019Brakes

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NO ONE IN BACK OF ME. SUDDENLY THE CAR BRAKED AND THREW ME FORWARD. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY HAD NO ANSWER AND TOLD ME TO DISABLE THE BRAKING SENSOR WHICH I DID. I FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE SINCE I FELT THIS WAS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SENSOR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. AGAIN THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE SUDDEN BRAKING. THIS IS A LEASED CAR AND WHEN I TURN IT IN I JUST WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SENSOR IS TURNED OFF FOR THE NEXT PERSON WHO LEASES IT AND HAS NO IDEA IT IS TURNED OFF. IN SUMMARY, I WAS GOING AROUND 35-40 MPH WHEN THIS BRAKING OCCURRED WITH NO REASON WHATSOVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11280610

Oct 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK SWIFTLY. DEFINITELY A LAG GOING ON THAT IS FELT IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. EVERYTHING ELSE IS GREAT WITH THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11276937

Oct 15, 2019Engine

OUR 2019 VW TIGUAN WITH 2 LITER TURBO MOTOR HAS A RANDOM AND REPEATED ENGINE "STALL" ISSUE. THE ENGINE DOES NOT DIE BUT REMAINS AT IDLE (1000 RPM), IN EITHER D OR S AUTO TRANS MODE, BUT THERE IS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL IS AGAINST FLOOR BOARD AND THEN THERE IS A RUSH OF POWER, THIS DELAY LASTS FROM 1 TO 5 SECONDS, JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE TRAFFIC MERGING ISSUES. THIS PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS FROM STANDING START WHEN DRIVEN STRAIGHT AHEAD OR TURNING. SO FAR HAS NOT OCCURRED ABOVE 50MPH WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS DELIVERED NEW WITH 40 MILES ON ODOMETER AND CONTINUES NOW AT 1200 MILES AND USUALLY AT SPEEDS FROM 0 - 25 MPH AND UNDER 2000 RPM. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL VW SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SUGGESTED IT WAS JUST TURBO LAG. I HAVE OWNED TURBO CARS IN PAST AND THIS IS NOT TURBO LAG, IT IS A LOSS OF "SIGNAL" DUE TO DRIVE BY WIRE TECHNOLOGY WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED ON A VEHICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OTHERWISE THE MOTOR OPERATES FINE, PROVIDING DECENT GAS MILEAGE AND POWER WHEN ON-BOOST ABOVE 2000 RPM. OUR LAST NEW CAR A 2016 GMC TERRAIN WAS ALSO DRIVE BY WIRE BUT NEVER EXHIBITED THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE DUPLICATING THIS PROBLEM WHICH I HAD HOPED WAS CLEARED UP IN OLDER VERSIONS, EVIDENTLY NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11268473

Sep 23, 2019

TERRIBLE WIND VIBRATION NOISE / THUMBING THAT CAUSES PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT IN EARS THE MOMENT ONLY 1 WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN IN THE CAR. FRONT WINDOW DOWN REQUIRES TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS TO BALANCE; CANNOT LOWER A REAR WINDOW WITHOUT AT LEAST OPENING 1 FRONT WINDOW / USUALLY REQUIRES OPENING BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. IF ONLY ONE REAR WINDOW IS OPEN PLUS FRONT WINDOW(S) THE WIND MOVEMENT RESULTS IN ITEMS IN THE LOADING AREA IN THE TRUNK BEING LIFTED UP AND IF LIGHTS EVEN SUCKED TO THE BACK SEAT. APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW ON VEHICLE. WHEN CLOSING WINDOWS HAVE TO CLOSE REAR WINDOWS FIRST BEFORE CLOSING FRONT WINDOWS, OTHERWISE THE AIR PRESSURE ON THE EAR CANAL IS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSES EAR DISCOMFORT.

NHTSA ODI 11257315

Sep 4, 2019Speed controlEngine

I LEASED MY 2019 TIGUAN IN MARCH 2019. SHORTLY AFTER (~1,500 MILES), I EXPERIENCE MY 1ST ACCELERATION FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC (WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT), MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER MULTIPLE SECONDS AND MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON, PUT IN DRIVE, AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLES COMING TOWARDS ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION AND HALTED, OR IT WOULD'VE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES SHORTLY AFTER, 1 OF THE THEM OCCURRING WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. WHILE GETTING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, 1 OF THE VW EMPLOYEES MENTIONED THEY RECEIVE CALLS REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES EVERY DAY. A 2ND VW EMPLOYEE MENTIONED THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL ON THIS FAILURE FOR MY VEHICLE. ????. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A 26M1 SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT 'SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.' CONCERNED FOR NOT ONLY THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, BUT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AROUND ME, I FILED A CLAIM WITH VW CORPORATE AND ASKED TO BE REMOVED FROM MY LEASE DUE TO THE FAILURES ALMOST RESULTING IN MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS. THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE AS MY EXPERIENCED FAILURES 'DO NOT WARRANT THE ABILITY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.' SHORTLY AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE 3 MORE TIMES (1 OF THEM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE). HERE WE ARE AGAIN' I HAVE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR 09/10 AND OPENED MY VW CORPORATE CLAIM BACK UP.

NHTSA ODI 11253151

Aug 30, 2019Suspension

VEHICLE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS BOTTOMING OUT WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES OR SMALL DIPS AT ANY SPEED. NOISE IS MOSTLY IN THE FRONT WITH HEAVY CONCENTRATION ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. PARTICULARLY AROUND 30-40 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN (AFTER 3 DAYS OF OWNING IT 03/09/2019 FOR A REAR SHOCK REPLACEMENT ON THE DRIVERS REAR). AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN 08/17/2019 AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. I TOOK THE TECH ON A LONG TEST DRIVE ON THE ROADS (PARKWAY) I TRAVEL DAILY MAX SPEED IS 45. HE HEARD THE NOISE AND STATED I WAS MAXING OUT MY SUSPENSION (THIS WAS AT 30MPH) AND THE NOISE I WAS HEARING WAS THE SUSPENSION HITTING THE BUMPERS UNDERNEATH AND NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE, THIS WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL.NOISE CAN ALSO BE HEARD GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS AND DRIVEWAY CURBS AT EVEN LOWER SPEEDS). I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER TIGUANS AND VOLKSWAGON MODELS ON THE SAME ROADS AND THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAPPEN. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY DOES NOT SHOW UNDER THE ANY CURRENT COIL RECALLS. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO PLEASE REVISIT THIS VIN TO SEE IF THIS VEHICLE COULD ALSO BE PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11252384

Aug 28, 2019Brakes

THE VEHICLES BRAKE LINE THAT WENT INTO THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BE FELT WHILE DRIVING, AND EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE NOT STOPPING. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND HAD 185MILES ON IT WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 11252098

Aug 27, 2019EngineFuel system

NEW CAR, 2 MONTHS OLD, 3,000 MILES. ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 4X. FIRST ISTANCE, TURNING LEFT ONTO A MAJOR 3 LANE ROAD, CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND THEN CHUGS TO CATCH SPEED LEAVING YOU POWERLESS WITH THE FOOT PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR. SECOND INSTANCE, EXITING A SHOPPING CENTER, LIGHT TURNED GREEN, STEPPED ON GAS PEDDLE AND CAR BOGGED AND SPUTTERED AS IF OUT OF GAS AND STALLED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. ONCE I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN IT MOVED FORWARD. AT NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT IT SPUTTERED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT GO EVEN AFTER PUMPING GAS PEDDLE. CREEPS TO A ROLLING RUN AND THEN GOES. THIRD INSTANCE WAS ENTERING AN ON-RAMP FROM A STOP LIGHT, CAR SPUTTERED AS IF OUT OF FUEL AGAIN AND BARELY MADE IT OUT OF INTERSECTION WHERE I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET THE CAR GOING. 4X SAME AS ABOVE. I'M NOW AT DEALER FOR SECOND TIME- NO REPAIR AND THEY SAY VW IS AWARE OF SOME CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE NO FIX AT THIS TIME. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON ATLANTA CITY STREETS. I'M NERVOUS TO PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11246675

Aug 27, 2019Suspension

THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON DOWNWARDS ROAD BUMPS (DOES NOT HAPPEN ON SPEED BUMPS). HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE IS, THE LOUDER THE NOISE BECOMES. DEALER IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS 11K MILES AT THE MOMENT, AND ISSUES IS THERE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. DEALER SUGGESTED WE WAIT UNTIL PROBLEM GETS WORSE SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY IT EASIER. DOCUMENTED IN THE PAPERWORK THAT A COMPLAINT WAS ENTERED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO "REPLICATE". I HAVE MANY INSTANCES RECORDED ON MY DASHCAM, HOWEVER NHTSA DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO UPLOAD A VIDEO.

NHTSA ODI 11246709

Aug 19, 2019

TWO TIMES MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN HAS EXPLODED. THE FIRST TIME WAS FEB. 13, 2019, JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. THE SECOND TIME WAS A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ON AUG. 8, 2019. BOTH TIMES THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TO WORK AND DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. IT SOUNDED BOTH TIMES LIKE A GUN SHOT GOING OFF IN MY CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING EITHER TIME, IT JUST HAPPENED AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED I WAS FAR ENOUGH BACK FROM OTHER VEHICLES. THE MOST RECENT EXPLOSION WAS WORSE. A HUGE HOLE WAS LEFT AND PIECES WERE FLYING OFF BEHIND MY VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I HAD THE MESH SCREEN CLOSED, SO NONE OF THE GLASS CAME INTO THE VEHICLE ON ME. THE HOLE THAT WAS LEFT THE SECOND TIME WAS HUGE AND FLARED OUTWARDS, WHICH INDICATES A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE GLASS. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK. THANKFULLY BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT I WORRY IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THANKFULLY IT WASN'T RAINING EITHER TIME, IF IT WAS I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE RAIN COMING IN ON ME AND KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN PANORAMIC SUNROOF.

NHTSA ODI 11245075

Aug 19, 2019

TWO TIMES MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN HAS EXPLODED. THE FIRST TIME WAS FEB. 13, 2019, JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. THE SECOND TIME WAS A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ON AUG. 8, 2019. BOTH TIMES THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TO WORK AND DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. IT SOUNDED BOTH TIMES LIKE A GUN SHOT GOING OFF IN MY CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING EITHER TIME, IT JUST HAPPENED AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED I WAS FAR ENOUGH BACK FROM OTHER VEHICLES. THE MOST RECENT EXPLOSION WAS WORSE. A HUGE HOLE WAS LEFT AND PIECES WERE FLYING OFF BEHIND MY VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I HAD THE MESH SCREEN CLOSED, SO NONE OF THE GLASS CAME INTO THE VEHICLE ON ME. THE HOLE THAT WAS LEFT THE SECOND TIME WAS HUGE AND FLARED OUTWARDS, WHICH INDICATES A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE GLASS. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK. THANKFULLY BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT I WORRY IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THANKFULLY IT WASN'T RAINING EITHER TIME, IF IT WAS I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE RAIN COMING IN ON ME AND KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN PANORAMIC SUNROOF.

NHTSA ODI 11245078

Aug 7, 2019Electrical system

CARNET IN-CAR SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. BROUGHT HOME THE NEW 2019 TIGUAN WITH ONLY 5 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I PUSHED THE CARNET BUTTONS....NOTHING. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK TWO DAYS TO TRY TO FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO FIX. IT'S A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND VW MUST COME UP WITH A FIX. OVER 2 MONTHS LATER, STILL FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND VERY FRUSTRATED WITH VW.

NHTSA ODI 11242396

Jul 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system1 injury

VEHICLE FREQUENTLY SHAKES/SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY UNDER LIGHT/NORMAL ACCELERATION IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD AND EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING SITUATION. I PURCHASED IT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1300 MILES ON IT - THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY. UNDER LOAD, SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND AS THE VEHICLE REACHES APPROXIMATELY 9-11 MPH AT 2000RPM, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AS IF THE ENGINE IS BEING LUGGED OR IS MISFIRING. THIS REALLY ONLY OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO WARM UP AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SOME TIME IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ON. THE SHAKING/SHUDDERING HAS MADE ME EXTREMELY DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE ALREADY BECOME PHYSICALLY SICK TO MY STOMACH ONCE. I HAD TO CUT OFF 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH THE SHOULDER SO I COULD AVOID GETTING SICK IN THE CAR - THIS WAS ON 7/8/2019, A WEEK AGO TODAY. SEVERAL PASSENGERS WILL NO LONGER RIDE IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER TWICE OVER THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH THEIR EFFORTS TO DIAGNOSE IT WERE MADE IN GOOD FAITH, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE IT. I HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS OF THIS ISSUE THAT I ATTEMPTED TO SHARE WITH THE DEALERSHIP UPON DROPPING IT OFF THE SECOND TIME, WHICH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME HE DID NOT VIEW AFTER I PICKED THE CAR UP. I ALSO RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION/AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (CAR-NET), IS COMPLETELY NON-FUNCTIONAL DUE TO A SOFTWARE BUG AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL UNTIL VOLKSWAGEN COMES UP WITH AN UPDATE FOR IT (PER THE DEALER). I AM EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR THESE REASONS AND CONTINUE TO FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH EVERY TIME I USE IT TO COMMUTE TO OR FROM MY JOB, WHICH IS JUST OVER 30 MILES FROM MY HOME.

NHTSA ODI 11232134

Jul 9, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlBrakes

THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING SENSORS WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. CAR STARTED BREAKING ON IT'S OWN. LUCKILY NO CAR BEHIND ME. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A 35 MPH PART OF ROUTE 30 IN INDIANA WHEN IT STARTED TO BREAK SUDDENLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. I SENT VOLKSWAGEN A MESSAGE AND THEY DIDN'T REPLY.

NHTSA ODI 11230520

Jul 8, 2019Brakes

MY WIFE WASDRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET NO CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND. THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKES ACTIVATED AND BROUGHT CAR TO FULL STOP FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI 11229998

Jul 5, 2019Speed controlBrakes

THE CARS BREAKING ASSISTANCE BRINGS THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AT ANY SPEED. IT WILL BREAK WHEN NOTHING IS AROUND, WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, AND PULLING OUT ONTO THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11229635

Jul 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

PURCHASED CAR JUNE 30, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON WAY HOME FROM DEALER. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, BRAKE POWER BOOST FAILURE FLICKER ON SCREEN, AUTO START/STOP NOT FUNCTIONING, RESTART CAR ALL GONE. NEXT TRIP TIRE PRESSURE WARNING, UNABLE TO RESET. HAD TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS HEADING TO DEALER ON THE WAY HOME, CAR WENT BLACK, LOST ACCELERATION, NO RESPONSE FROM THROTTLE WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON BUSY FREEWAY. HAD TO COAST ACROSS FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO BE SAFE. RESTART CAR, DROVE TO DEALER. TOTAL AMOUNT OF MILES ON CAR 152. PURCHASED SUNDAY EVENING 6:30 PM IN REPAIR AFTER NEAR COLLISION TUESDAY EVENING 5:00 PM.

NHTSA ODI 11229296

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Working with the data? Download all 185 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 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited verdict →