What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2010 Volkswagen Tiguan

Typical pattern

8.2% of complaints about the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2010 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (50 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 86,000 miles.

Complaints
159
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
66,539 n=134
Crash / fire / tow
9.4% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
50 reports · 86,000 mi
7.8 yr
6%
Electrical system
31 reports · 52,000 mi
4.3 yr
6.5%
Exterior lighting
19 reports · 42,746 mi
4.2 yr
5.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V441000 2014-07-21
Fuel system

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.

A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

13V569000 2013-11-22
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.

If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 12 mi 10 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING UNIT AIR RE-CIRCULATOR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE OPERATED WITH THE RE-CIRCULATOR CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND DID NOT OFFER A REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system 9,800 mi 1.3 yr in service
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN READS 3% SLOWER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BASED ON COMPARISONS WITH MULTIPLE GPS UNITS. VOLKSWAGEN IS UNWILLING TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR
Electrical system 27,400 mi 4.0 yr in service
INTERMITTENT ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF SEVERAL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS, BLINKING, REAR BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT). DANGEROUS FOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. AFTER INVESTIGATION TURNED OUT TO BE A PARTIALLY MELTED 30 A FUSE IN THE FUSEBOX (30A FUSE AT THE BACK OF THE BOX). THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER VW TIGUAN OWNERS ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORA, THUS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MAY EASILY CAUSE MORE SEVERE DAMAGE BECAUSE OF SHORT-CIRCUITING OR ARCING OF 30 AM CIRCUIT. *TR
Engine 47,730 mi 4.9 yr in service
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSE CAME MISFIRE FROM CYLINDER 2. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A CARBON BUILT UP ON THE VALVES AND IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

Other Tiguan model years

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