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2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age — inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

57 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (32% of complaints, typically reported near 3k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor — almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)86
Severity (30%)89
Recall load (20%)100
Trend (10%)57

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20232026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~3k mi · 18 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (10) · Transmission & drivetrain (7) · Driver assistance (7) · Fuel system (6)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

32%

18 complaints · typically near 3k mi · 14 in the last 2 years

When I’m stopped, the car sometimes shuts off. The horn works intermittently. When I start the car, it feels like it’s going to stall. At times, all of the dashboard w…

Electrical system

18%

10 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years

Rear view camera constantly faults, and fails to work, also accelerating issue, surges on take offs. Started in 2024, dealership will tell me they could not replicate,…

Transmission & drivetrain

12%

7 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years

Rear view camera constantly faults, and fails to work, also accelerating issue, surges on take offs. Started in 2024, dealership will tell me they could not replicate,…

Driver assistance

12%

7 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years

When I’m stopped, the car sometimes shuts off. The horn works intermittently. When I start the car, it feels like it’s going to stall. At times, all of the dashboard w…

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Back Over Prevention · 25V082000

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners April 3, 2024, and Volkswagen owners November 18, 2025.Volkswagen owners will receive a second notice once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Volkswagen) 91NY and (Audi) 90AV.

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2023? See how every Tiguan model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.