Volkswagen Tiguan
Owners filed 2,270 complaints across 18 model years of the Volkswagen Tiguan. The 2018 drew the most (282); the 2026 the fewest (27).
Model years18
Complaints2,270
Recalls65
Fires26
Deaths1
Every Volkswagen Tiguan model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 0 | 1 | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2025 | 47 | 3 | — | 1 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2024 | 67 | 2 | 4 | 3 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2023 | 64 | 1 | — | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2022 | 266 | 5 | 1 | 3 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2021 | 140 | 5 | — | 2 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2020 | 140 | 3 | — | 5 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2019 | 191 | 5 | 1 | 6 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2018 | 282 | 14 | 3 | 5 | Engine | Do not drive | |
| 2017 | 75 | 4 | — | 6 | Air Bags | Fatalities reported | |
| 2016 | 96 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2015 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2014 | 84 | 3 | — | 2 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2013 | 139 | 3 | 1 | 2 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2012 | 152 | 3 | — | 10 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2011 | 161 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2010 | 110 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2009 | 167 | 3 | 6 | 5 | Engine | Routine |
Which Volkswagen Tiguan years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2018 is the weakest year on record, with 282 complaints concentrated in the engine. It carries 14 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.