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

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

Typical pattern

0.8% of complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2011 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (63 complaints), typically at 6.9 yr or about 77,000 miles.

Complaints
241
Median age at failure
5.8 yr
Median mileage
56,000 n=200
Crash / fire / tow
5% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
63 reports · 77,000 mi
6.9 yr
3.2%
Electrical system
48 reports · 45,116 mi
3.3 yr
4.2%
Exterior lighting
39 reports · 43,000 mi
3.2 yr
5.1%
Air bags
30 reports · 82,300 mi
7.7 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V483000 2015-08-04
Air bags:frontal

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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 36,000 mi 2.5 yr in service
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. VW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MELTED FUSE BOX. FUSE BOX REPLACED AND ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
Electrical system 37,000 mi 2.6 yr in service
THE PARKING BRAKE SETS ITSELF WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. ALSO, WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND COME TO A STOP, IT WILL NOT ROLL FORWARD OR MOVE UNTIL THE GAS IS PRESSED. THE NECESSITY OF PRESSING THE GAS TO MOVE AT ALL IS ALSO THE CASE IN REVERSE. *TR
Electrical system 30,000 mi 2.8 yr in service
INTERMITTENT CHECK LIGHTS CYCLES THROUGH AND SHOWS HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, THEN BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN I TAKE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHECK THE COMPUTER AND SAY THAT THERE IS NO HARD RECORDED ERROR. THE DANGER IS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND ONCE AT NIGHT TO WHERE MY CAR WAS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE BLINKING ON AND OFF. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED WHEN BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING CAN BE FOUND. *TR
Exterior lighting 36,000 mi 2.5 yr in service
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. VW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MELTED FUSE BOX. FUSE BOX REPLACED AND ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR

Other Tiguan model years

20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009

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