NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO GROUND IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED A PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE LEAK. REAR MAIN SEAL WAS REPLACED AND TEST DRIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE PRIMARY LEAK SOURCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, TWO OTHER MINOR LEAKS WERE FOUND AND REPAIRED TO THE OIL RETURN LINE O-RING AND THE ENGINE VACUUM PUMP GASKET RESPECTIVELY. *TR
AT SLOWER SPEEDS, IDLE, COMING TO A STOP AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE SPUTTERS CAUSING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THIS IS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. VW HAS CREATED IMPROVED REPLACEMENT PARTS BUT HAS NOT INFORMED ANY CUSTOMERS. ALSO THE VW TIGUAN OWNERS MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THE TENSIONER IS LIFETIME AND NEED NO MAINTENANCE. EVENTUALLY THE SPROCKET WHEELS BECOME SO WORN THAT THE CHAIN JUMPS AND DESTROYS THE PISTONS/HEADER/ENGINE. FAILURE USUALLY HAPPENS ABOVE THE 60,000 MILE POWERTRAIN LIMITED WARRANTY. VW AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CLAIMS "LIKE ANY COMPONENT ON ANY VEHICLE, IT'S STILL POSSIBLE FOR IT TO FAIL". THEY KNOW THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD, THEY HAVE A FIX AND THEY DO NOT INFORM CUSTOMERS. *TR
PCV VALVE IS DEFECTIVE AND TEARS ON 100 PERCENT OF ALL TIGUANS. THIS OVER PRESSURIZES THE CRANKCASE CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AS PRESSURIZED AIR PASSES OVER THE FRONT AND REAR MAIN SEAL DAMAGING THE SEALS. EXSESSIVE OIL LEAKS FROM THE REAR MAIN SEAL ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING IN MANY CASES, A FIRE. *TR
REAR MAIN SEAL FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ON TO HOT ENGINE. EVERY 2.0 TSI ENGINE IN TIGUAN, CC, GTI, JETTA AND EOS EXPERIENCES THE SAME FAILURE AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. THE REAR MAIN SEAL IS NOT A WEARING PART AND SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE IF WELL DESIGNED. THIS FORUM THREAD SHOWS MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?6907215-REAR-MAIN-SEAL-FAILURE-AT-80K-MILES-DUE-TO-PCV-DEFECT-ON-2-0-TSI&P=85203838#POST85203838 THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $1,500 AND VWOA REFUSES TO ADMIT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT OR HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
STEERING GOT VERY HEAVY AND THEN THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING IS AT ABOUT HALF POWER. HAVE NOT GONE TO VW YET. SEARCH THE WEB SHOWS ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON - I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM WAS OUT. I WENT BACK INTO THE CAR TO HEAD HOME (ONLY ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY 0 BUT AT NIGHT), AND THE OTHER LIGHT WENT OUT AS WELL - BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) STOPPED WORKING - I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING. I HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS AGO TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT - WAS TOLD IT WAS TAKEN CARED OF BUT EXPERIENCED ISSUES THERE AFTER. I JUST WANTED THIS INFORMATION RECORDED AND MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS DO NOT FAIL BECAUSE OF A RECALL ISSUE AND SAFETY CONCERNS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAMILY. *TR
I HAD JUST STARTED GOING UP THE HILL I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. IT STARTED SHAKING AND DID NOT WANT TO GO ANY FASTER. IN THE MEAN WHILE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. AFTER THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AS LONG I DID NOT ACCELERATED IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE COIL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND CAUSING LACK OF POWER. I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER 5 DAYS AGO BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RECALL ABOUT THE FUSE AND THE FUSE PANEL. THEY CHANGED THE FUSE AND THE FUSE PANEL AND GAVE ME A PAPER WORK SAYING THAT MY CAR CHECKED OUT GOOD. AND THIS HAPPENS! I GOT DONE THE 60K CHECK UP 5 MONTHS AGO AND 3 WEEKS AFTER THAT THE AUXILIARY FAN GOT BROKEN. I BOUGHT THE CAR 9 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER A THOUSAND DOLLAR ON IT. I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH VW TIGUAN! *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND GOT THE LAMP OUT WARNING. MORE THAN A FEW LIGHTS WERE OUT. WENT TO THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND A BAD FUSE AND MELTING FUSE BLOCK. I REPLACED THE FUSE WITH A STORE BOUGHT REPLACEMENT. THE BLOCK STILL IS SOME WHAT MELTED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD NOT TO MENTION UNSAFE SITUATION AT NIGHT. *TR
2009 VW TIGUAN. THE WIRING TO BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS IS FAULTY. THE INSULATION AROUND THE COPPER WIRING TO ALL LIGHTS HAS CRACKED OFF EXPOSING THE COPPER WIRING. AS A RESULT THE LIGHTS FREQUENTLY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY LEAVING ME WITH A HEADLIGHT THAT DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIPS FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. WHICH LEADS ONE TO THINK THAT VW AMERICAN FAILS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM BUT WIDESPREAD. REPLACING THE BULB IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY, CRACKING WIRE INSULATION. VW WILL CHARGE $800. TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHT SYSTEMS. THEIR REASON FOR THE HIGH COST IS THE LABOR INVOLVED. THEY SAY THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF TO COMPLETE THE HEADLIGHT LAMP REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. WIRE INSULATION IS NOT SUPPOSE TO CRACK MAKING THE LIGHT INOPERABLE. YET THE DEALERSHIP EXPLANATION SAYS IT'S "DUE TO WEAR". WELL, WHY AREN'T ANY OF THE OTHER WIRING SYSTEMS UNDER THE HOOD CRACKING? BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO. THAT'S WHY. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT I HAVE TO PAY AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEMS. SOMEONE PLEASE INITIATE SOME ACTION.
EXTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY FUSE UNDER THE HOOD WAS MELTED AND PANEL ALSO SHOWS SIGNS OF MELTING. *TR
SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. PASSENGER NOTICED THEIR SEAT WAS HOT. DISCOVERED BURN SPOTS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN DARK, SNOWY, AND ICY CONDITIONS WITH MEDIUM TRAFFIC, SOME OF THE VEHICLE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND VW WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON SAYING MULTIPLE LIGHTS WERE OUT. AFTER PULLING OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION, FOUND RIGHT HIGH BEAM, RIGHT LOW BEAM, RIGHT FRONT BLINKER, RIGHT FOG LAMP, RIGHT REAR BLINKER, AND TAILLIGHT OUT. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH AND TROUBLESHOOTING, FOUND 30 AMP LIGHTING FUSE IN UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX SEVERELY MELTED. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON VW PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
HELLO - I STARTED MY 2009 VW TIGUAN ON NOV. 9, 2013. AFTER PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE, ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS FOR "LIGHTING FAILURES" CAME ON, A TOTAL OF 8 DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGES - LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAILLIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, FRONT HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS. AT THIS POINT I WAS ON THE ROAD, AND QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT I COULD FIND. I WAS ABOUT TO HEAD ON THE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND DROVE HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH. I OPENED THE INTERIOR FUSE PANEL, BUT THAT WAS OK. I WENT IN UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW THE 30 AMP FUSE WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. (I TOOK A PICTURE, AND HAVE IT FOR REFERENCE.) THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER HOW THAT FUSE HAS IMPACT THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OVERALL IN MY TIGUAN.
THERE IS A PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEAKAGE. WHICH HAS POSSIBLY CAUSE ELECTRICAL LIGHTING OUTAGE. THE LEAKAGE HAS ALSO CAUSED EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION, CAUSING VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WHEN DRIVING. *TR
FOR THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR, WE HAD A FRONT HEADLIGHT GO OUT, THE BULB WASN'T BAD BUT THE FUSE WAS. THE FIRST TIME THE FUSE WAS BLOWN AND LOOKED LIKE IT HAD SLIGHTLY BEEN MELTED. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED ON 10/19/13 THE FUSE WAS ALMOST TOTALLY MELTED AND ALSO SLIGHTLY DAMAGED THE FUSE NEXT TO IT. THIS IS A 2009 MODEL AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR, ACCELERATOR COIL AND NOW TWO FUSES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR
WARNINGS AND ERRORS SHOWED UP ON THE DASH BOARD CONCERNING HEADLIGHT, BLINKER AND BRAKE-LIGHT OUTAGES. RESEARCHED ONLINE, TURNS OUT THE FUSE BOX STARTED MELTING CAUSING ONE OF THE FUSES TO MELT WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE LIGHTS. THIS CAN APPARENTLY CAUSE A FIRE. *TR
DRIVING ON THE HWY ,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND EPC LIGHT ,ENGINE STARTS TO RUN VERY ROUGH,TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ,THEY SAID IT IS A COIL,REPLACED IT,A WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE HWY DOING 70 WITH FAMILY ,TOOK IT TO THE DEALER,THEY SAID ALL THE OTHER 3 COILS WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!! I AM REALLY AFRAID TO TAKE THIS CAR FOR A LONG TRIP ,THE OTHER ISSUE : THE FUSE MELTED CAUSING THE LICENSE BRAKE LIGHT HARNESS AND TRUNK OPENING TO FAIL TWICE . *TR
TODAY IS THE 17TH OF DECEMBER AND FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 4 MONTHS THE COOLANT LIGHT HAS GONE OFF IN THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS TOWARDS THE END OF AUGUST (I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS EARLIER). WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WATER PUMP WENT BAD. AFTER THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS STILL COVER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REPLACED IT. TODAY THE COOLANT LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN, SAME ISSUE HAS BEFORE. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR FAX THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THIS IS THE 5TH WATER PUMP REPLACED IN THE CAR IN 2 YEARS. TODAY CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THERE ARE QUITE FEW TIGUANS THAT HAVE COME IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE THE LAST FEW WEEKS. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEMATIC ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART ONLY COVERS A YEAR AND 12000 MILES. *TR
MY WIFE'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED YES SHE SPILLED WATER ON THAT AREA, THANK GOD IT WAS PARKED. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR E BRAKES THEY SEEM A VERY BAD DESIGN. I KNEW WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2009 JUST KNOWING AUTOS THIS WAS A TERRIBLE DESIGN AND FEATURE ESPECIALLY THE PLACEMENT. I READ ENOUGH ONLINE AFTER TODAY THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS RECALLS ON BOTH MY VW SEAT BELTS, MISC. SENSORS BOTH A COUPLE OF TIMES EACH YES VW TOOK CARE OF IT BUT THIS SITUATION IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX WAS MELTING AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WE DID SO THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT CATCH ON FIRE AT A COST OF OVER $500.00. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
ON JULY 2013 I WAS DRIVING ON TURNPIKE THE CAR START MAKING LOUD NOISE AND WHEN I USE THE BRAKE THE NOISE WAS LOUDLY, I SLOW DOWN THE NOISE DECREES STEADY THAT WAS OIL SEPARATOR LEAKING VACUUM. ON 12-2013 EPC LIGHT WHEN ON. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR START SLOW DOWN W/ WARNING ,VW SAID IGNITION COIL. ON MARCH 2014 EPC AGAIN . ON MAY 2014 EPC AGAIN ," THIS TIME I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT", CAR COULD NOT GO. I PULL OUT AND RE STARTED CAR AGAIN. MY CAR STILL THE WV SERVICES, AND PAID AGAIN. I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN SAID YOU HAVE EXTENDED GUARANTEED, THAT WILL COVER FOR ANY REPAIR, THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY CUSTOMER GET KILL. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS TO HAVE ANY UNSAFE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IS ONE THE BEST, THE FIRST 3 YEARS WAS FINE, BUT NOW I 'DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I STILL OWED $ 12,000. *TR
TAKING OFF AFTER GETTING FUEL CAR START TO IDLE ROUGH WHEN SLOWING DOWN. DROVE DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A MILE WHERE THE CAR BARELY MADE IT INTO THE SERVICE AREA AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND BLEW ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PERFECTLY MAINTAINED BY DEALER. IT APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AS NORMAL AT THAT TIME OF DAY. *TR
A 30 AMP FUSE MELTED INSIDE THE FUSE BOX, CAUSING MY RIGHT SIDE HIGH AND LOW BEAM, FOG LIGHT, AND TURN SIGNAL, ALONG WITH THE RIGHT HALF OF ALL MY TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. *TR UPDATED 09/17/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUSE BOX WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AND WAS BEING CAREFULLY MONITORED TO ENSURE IT WAS NOT MELTING. *JS
BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. *TR
MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SUFFERED A TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTION APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES BELOW ITS MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT DATE. THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE (BENT VALVES). *TR
OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS: FIRST-CHECK ENGINE AND EPC LIGHTS ON AND ENGINE PERFORMANCE LOW. SECOND-FUEL RAIL/SYSTEM PRESSURE TOO LOW. THIRD-BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE NORMAL POWER (BATTERY BRAND NEW OCT12). FOURTH-HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT MULTIPLE TIME OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD (BULBS BRAND NEW APR13). CAR IS WITH VW NOW FOR MELTED FUSE AND MELTED FUSE BOX. *TR UPDATED 09/17/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DTCS. THE FUSE BURNT AT THE CONNECTION AND BOTH RELAYS DUE TO AN OVERHEATED CONDITION. *JS
I WAS TAKING MY VEHICLE IN FOR IT'S 40K SERVICE AND THE SERVICE TECH'S NOTICED SEVERAL TROUBLE CODES. ONE OF THESE CODES WAS AN OPEN-CIRCUIT FRONT HEADLIGHT WARNING. WHEN THEY CHECKED THE HEADLIGHT (WHICH I HAD RECENTLY REPLACED) OTHER LIGHTS STARTED SHORTING OUT. TURNS OUT THE MAIN FUSE FOR ALL LIGHTS HAD SHORTED AND THAT THE FUSE BOX ITSELF HAD STARTED TO MELT. THIS SHORTING AND MELTING WOULD HAVE CAUSED ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR TO FAIL OR INCORRECTLY FUNCTION INCLUDING BRAKE LIGHTS. LUCKILY I DID NOT FIND THIS OUT WHEN SOMEONE RAN INTO ME, BUT INSTEAD LUCKILY DURING A SERVICE CHECK. RESEARCHING ON THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS APPEARS NOT TO BE UNCOMMON. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLE THREADS: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5927373-FUSE-BOX-LEFT-LOW-BEAM-HEADLIGHT HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5618907-BLOWN-FUSE-CAUSING-RANDOM-EXT-LIGHTS-OUT-2009-TIGUAN HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5891263-2009-TIGUAN-REPLACED-ENGINE-FUSE-BOX-NO-ESP-OR-WINDSHIELD-WIPERS HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5940918-MELTING-FUSE-BOX-STRIKES-AGAIN!-%28THE-40K-CLUB..%29. *TR *UPDATED 09-18-13 *BF
FIRST, THIS EXACT SAME SCENARIO ALSO HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 2010. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND NOW THIS TIME, WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BOTH OF US, EACH HAVE 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND NEITHER OF US HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF LOSS OF CONTROL IN A VEHICLE, EVER. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 15 MPH IN APPROXIMATELY 1- 3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW. THE CAR SLID WITH TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES, SMASHING INTO THE CURB, BREAKING THE AXLE, CONTROL ARM, STEERING KNUCKLE, ETC... THERE WAS NO CONTROL WHATSOVER. THIS WAS NOT ICE. THIS HAS NEVER EVER HAPPENED BEFORE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE WE HAVE EVER DRIVEN. THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT ITSELF EVEN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RELEASED. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFICIENCY IN THE ESP MONITORING SYSTEM. THE ESP SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED WHILE TURNING. THE ESP SENSORS DID NOT DETECT THE SITUATION AND DID NOT REACT AT ALL INDEPENDENT OF THE DRIVER. THE ESP SYSTEM DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM TO "STEER" THE VEHICLE BACK ON TRACK. THE ESP DID NOT INITIATE ANY BRAKING INTERVENTION AT ALL. IT WAS LIKE ALL SYSTEMS JUST TOTALLY MALFUNCTIONED. HORRIBLE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM THANKFUL ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON WAS IN THE AREA. *TR
LIGHTING FUSES MELTED - HAD THE VEHICLE IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR LIGHT BULB ISSUES, ETC AND HAD THE RADIO SWAPPED OUT AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO GO OFF AND ON. LIGHTS WORKED HERE AND THERE BUT SEEMED TO ALWAYS GO OUT AFTER DRIVING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND USUALLY AT NIGHT AND THEN AFTER SITTING WOULD WORK AGAIN IN THE MORNING *UNTIL IT WAS DRIVEN A BIT* - LIGHTING MELTED TO THE ENGINE AND WAS TOLD ALL FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP - A SECOND DEALERSHIP AND THEN CORPORATE OFFICE AND NO ONE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING - COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THESE CARS. *TR
AFTER TAKING CAR IN TO BE SERVICED FOR AN OUT TAIL LIGHT IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTING AND CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER AND INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM THAT VW IS AWARE OF. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 03/18/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE PAST 2 YEARS, SHE EXPERIENCED 5-6 EPISODES, IN WHICH THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IN TRAFFIC OR AT A STOP SIGN. SHE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, BY SHIFTING TO PARK. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS ON 11/09/13 WHICH OCCURRED WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS. THE LOCAL VW DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. UPDATED 03/31/14
I HAVE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS ONE OF THE 4 ENGINE COILS GO OUT ON MY CAR RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED. MY CAR HAD 41K MILES WHEN THE FIRST WENT OUT AND NOW THE THIRD IS AT 53K. THE MECHANICS AT VW KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM AND THEY EXPECT IT. THERE IS EVEN A NEW PART WITH A NEW PART NUMBER WHICH INDICATED VW KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND THEY REDESIGNED THE PART. ITS INSANE TO ME THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR
VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE, AND THE ENGINE FAILED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. WHILE ON THE PHONE IT WAS CLEAR THAT I WAS NOT IN A SAFE POSITION, SO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE WAS A BREAK IN TRAFFIC. WE WERE ABLE TO GET ACROSS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, BEHIND A GUARDRAIL. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH 911 SOMEONE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND NO OTHER CARS WERE AFFECTED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. I WAS TOLD BY THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP THAT AN ENGINE COIL BROKE OFF, AND BACKFED INTO THE HARNESS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, I HAD JUST BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE THAT MORNING, AND HAD DRIVEN 8 MILES WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT ENGINE PARTS FAILED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART, AS I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT PUT ME IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION, AND I WANT TO REPORT THIS IN ORDER TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PIECE, SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR
MY HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK AND NOT WORK. SOMETIMES I WOULD TURN MY CAR ON AND ALL OF MY LIGHTS WOULD WORK, AND OTHER TIMES ALL OF THEM WOULD FAIL, OR JUST ONE SIDE. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO ROYAL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY INITIALLY CLAIMED IT WAS BAD BULBS, IT TOOK THEM 2 WEEKS TO WORK OUT IT WAS A FAULTY MAIN FUSE BOX. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I HAVE STILL HAD CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS, INDICATORS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GOING OUT CONSTANTLY DYING OUT AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. *TR
GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING, NOW SEEMS TO HAVE EVOLVED INTO BRAKE FAILURE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE RED LIGHT IT ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS ON, AND WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN DIRECTIONS ARE FOLLOWED TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. YELLOW P LIGHT ON. CAR SEEMS TO LURCH FORWARD AT TIMES OR HESITATE AT OTHERS. WILL HAVE TO TAKE TO LOCAL DEALER. *TR
APPARENTLY, THE TOP PORTION OF MY FUSE BOX MELTED WHEN THE TEMPERATURES IN CHICAGO REACHED 100 DEGREES. THE EFFECTED AREA CONTROLS THE LIGHTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, AND MAY ALSO IMPACT THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE FUSE BOX IS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND NORMAL HOT TEMPERATURES GIVEN THAT THE ENTIRE CAR IS IMPACTED BY THE FUSE BOX, LOSS OF ELECTRONIC CONTROLS IN A CAR WITH COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY THAT CONTROLS ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANKS. *TR...UPDATED 09-18-13 *BF
THE F16 FUSE IN THE ENGINE BAY FUSE BOX IS COMPLETELY MELTED RESULTING IN FAILURE OF REVERSE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TT
I WENT TO TAKE MY CHILD TO GYMNASTICS IN THE MORNING. WHEN I TURNED ON TO THE STREET THAT THE GYM IS OFF OF, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LESS THEN 10TH OF A MILE LATER I PARKED. WE WERE EARLY SO I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT AND GET IN A LITTLE EARLY FOR MY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. WE THEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND ENTERED THE GYM. WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF BEING INSIDE THE GYM, A MAN CAME IN THE BUILDING AND STARTED ASKING WHO'S SUV WAS OUTSIDE BECAUSE IT SMOKING. I RAN OUT SIDE TO SEE MY VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. ITS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. *TR
THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLAMP AND THE REAR RIGHT BACKUP LIGHT ON OUR 2009 TIGUAN HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER SAYS THE FUSE BOX IS MELTING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THEY CCANTGUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. ! THIS IS A FIRE HAZZARD AND RIDICULOUS THAT VW WONT FIX IT !! HELP ! *TR
I OWN A 2009 VW TIGUAN. THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES THIS MORNING AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHILE MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR THIS MORNING. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY VW AND HAD ROUGHLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM EVANSTON AUTOBARN VW IN 2010 AND SERVICED IT AT FLETCHER JONES VW OF CHICAGO. I FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM THIS MORNING AND CONTACTED BOTH VW DEALERSHIPS AND YOUR 24 HOUR HELP LINE. VW HAS BEEN ZERO HELP TO US. EVERYONE SAID TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS IS NOT AN INSURANCE ISSUE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THIS CAR SIMPLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE BEING DRIVEN. CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED AND THE REPORT # IS HT535806. *KB
I STARTED TO HEAR A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. WITH ONLY 40 K ON CAR THE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR FIRST. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE TOTALLY WORN OUT FIRST AND GRINDING METAL TO METAL, RUINING THE REAR ROTORS. *TR
THIS IS A SEPARATE INCIDENT (I JUST FILLED A COMPLAINT ODI 10401437. SAME VW TIGUAIN. THE WEEKEND OF 4/30/11 AND 5/1/11 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING WEIRD. I WAS WATCHING THE TACHOMETER AND IT WANTED TO RED LINE, IT WAS SKIPPING GEARS, AND AT TIMES WANTED TO STALL OUT. THIS WAS VERY, VERY SCARY. IF I WENT TO PASS SOMEBODY THE VEHICLE WOULD SKIP GEARS AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, AT TIMES IT WOULD CATCH THE CORRECT GEAR AND WANT TO RED LINE (7,000 RPMS) I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET IT TO SWITCH TO THE CORRECT GEAR. I PULLED OVER TO A REST STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK, IT WAS IDLING UNDER 800 RPMS AND WANTED TO STALL OUT. I SHUT IT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND TURNED IT ON, IN REVERSE IT WAS IDLING UNDER 800 RPMS AND WANTED TO STALL I GAVE IT GAS AND DROVE IT HOME. I BROUGHT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 5/2/11 THEY HAD THE CAR FOR THE DAY AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND TO COME PICK IT UP, NOW THEY CALLED ME AT 4:35 PM THEY CLOSED AT 5:00 PM. I WAS SO UPSET I SAID LETS TAKE A RIDE WITH AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, NOW, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WAS VERY, VERY SCARED THE WEEKEND PRIOR TO THIS, SO I WAS SPEAKING LOUDLY ON THE PHONE AND BASICALLY THROWING A FIT BECAUSE I KNEW THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! SO I GET TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WAS PRESENT WHEN I ARRIVED, I HAD BEEN CRYING BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME IF HE COULD TAKE IT HOME I SAID ABSOLUTELY, AND THE DEALERSHIP SET UP A RENTAL FOR ME FREE OF CHARGE. I GUESS WHEN THEY SPOKE TO ME OVER THE PHONE AND SAW ME IN PERSON THEY WERE CONVINCED I WAS NOT MAKING THIS UP. THE NEXT DAY THEY REPLACED 2 FUEL INJECTORS AND EXPLAINED TO ME IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND I THOUGHT IT STILL WAS NOT CORRECTED, BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND TOLD IT WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE AND BEGUN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF BY THE CONTACT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. PRIOR TO THE SURGING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUSE BOX WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. K
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2009 VW TIGUAN. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS I AM COASTING DOWNHILL THE CAR BEGINS TO ACCELERATES EVEN THOUGH I AM CONTINUOUSLY PRESSING THE BRAKES. AS I AM, PRESSING THE BRAKE THAT CAR BEGINS TO IDLE UP INSTEAD OF DOWN AND THE ENGINE GRINDS. *LN
I HAVE A 2009 VW TIGUAN. THE FRONT SEATS ARE HEATED CLOTH. YESTERDAY, THE PASSENGER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/22/10. *TR
SEVERAL RECURRENCES OF POWER STEERING ISSUES IN ADVERSE OR COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT. NOW I GET CONSTANT AND LOUD GRINDING NOISE DURING OPERATION OF ALL STEERING FUNCTIONS. *TR
VW 2009 TIGUAN STEERING FAILED ON OCTOBER 3RD, LOCKED SOLID, WAS IN A PARKING LOT. VW TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. GOT THE CAR BACK OCTOBER OCTOBER 5TH. WIFE DROVE IT TO AZ THE NEXT DAY AND THE STEERING FROZE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER. *TR
A MAJOR SHORT OCCURRED IN THE FUSE BOX, WHICH CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE MELTING DAMAGE - REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT GREAT COST TO ME. IT ALSO CAUSED MANY OF THE VEHICLE'S LIGHTING SYSTEMS TO BE INOPERATIVE. IN DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A COMMON, RECURRING ISSUE -- COMMON ENOUGH THAT VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE STOCKED UP ON REPLACEMENT FUSE BOXES SO THEY ARE WELL-STOCKED TO REPLACE THEM WHEN THEY COME IN. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, HOWEVER, REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR UPDATED 9/19/13 *CN MOST OF THE LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT, EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT DRIVING LIGHT. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A WARNING ON THE DASH, THAT THE FOG LIGHT, HEADLIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WERE ALL DEAD.
CAR JUST TURNED A YEAR OLD WITH 10,477 GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 65MILES PER HOUR WHEN I THOUGHT MY TIRE WAS GOING FLAT BECAUSE I FELT A JERK IN THE ACCELERATION I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE TIRES I SAW ALL BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO NOTICED A PROBLEM.NO SIGN OF ENGINE LIGHT OR CODES CAME ON UNTIL I WAS IN PARK CHECKING MY TIRES. THE PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED,BROKEN FUEL LINES...AFTER DISCUSSING THIS WITH OTHER THEY INFORMED ME I WAS PRETTY DARN LUCKY DUE TO THE FACT THE ENGINE COULD HAVE IGNITED... *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026