There are 14 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The clock spring is broken in my 2011 VW Tiguan at 114,000 miles. Therefore, the driver airbag on the steering wheel does not work. Therefore, there is a safety issue if one drives the car. The problem is not fixed because there are no parts to fix it. Apparently there is a chip in the clock spring and there are no chips available to manufacture replacement springs. I was told that the part has been on back order since October 2021. I was told that the part may be available in July 2022, but there are no guarantees. Until a replacement part is available, the vehicle is potentially unsafe to drive.
I OWN A 2011 VW TIGUAN AND IS THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. 1. INITIALLY I HAD A BAD TURBO AT 60,000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED AND ENDED UP A BAD TURBO. 2. A BAD OIL LEAK FROM ONE OF THE ENGINE GASKET ONLY HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING 3. A BAD COOLANT LEAK. I WAS DRIVING AND I SAW THE OVERHEATING LIGHT ON I PULLED OVER AND ADDED COOLANT 5 MINUTES LATER WAS EMPTY AGAIN. 4. BAD POWER STEERING PUMP I WAS TURNING AND HEADS SOMETHING MAKING NOISE ON THE STEERING AND HAD TO REPLACE BEFORE SOMETHING MAJOR HAPPENED. AND NEXT I'M GETTING RID OF IT. TO BAD VERY BAD EXPERIENCE OWNING ONE OF THIS. AND I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON IT.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A 4-WAY STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A SECONDARY ASPHALT PAVEMENT ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND AN AUDIBLE BEEPING NOISE CAME FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH NO MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ACTIVATED CAUSING THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR WHICH IS POSSIBLY A RESULT FROM A MALFUNCTION IN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM.
AFTER DRIVING MY 2011 TIGUAN FINE A COUPLE TIMES EARLIER IN THE DAY, I CAME BACK TO MY PARKED CAR, AND TURNED IT ON. WHEN I DID THIS MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH AN "ERROR: AIRBAG" MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I NOTICE THE HORN AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES OF THE WHEEL DIDN'T WORK. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, AND THEIR SAID THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS REPLACED. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER ALL OF THIS THAT I FOUND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL BEFORE. ALTHOUGH THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS REPLACED, THE VW SERVICE CENTER SAID THEY CANNOT GET THE CLOCK SPRING PART TO REPLACE IT. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME A TIME THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN AIR BAG WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRANDON VOLKSWAGEN (9816 E ADAMO DR, TAMPA, FL 33619, (844) 378-9574) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING IN COLD WEATHER. -10 F DEGREES OR COLDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AND HANDS FREE PHONE SERVICE FAILED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DARCARS VOLKSWAGEN SILVER SPRING (12511 PROSPERITY DR, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904, (301) 622-7000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY HAD A COVER ASSEMBLY PLACED OVER THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
FAULTY CLOCK SPRING - CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNED THEN NONE OF THE BUTTONS WOULD WORK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING AND THE AIRBAG WOULDN'T DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). SHORTLY AFTER THE DEALER'S REPAIR, THE RIBBON CABLE SNAPPED INTERNALLY AND CAUSED A FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIBBON CABLE AFFECTED THE FUNCTION OF THE HORN, STEERING, CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, AND CRUISE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,300.
MY VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN FEB 2016 UNDER THE RECALL. MAY 14 2016 I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. I BELIEVE THE CLOCK SPRING HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MILEAGE: 87,000
VEHICLE JUST OVER 45K AND WAS TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING SHORTED WITH NO REAL REASON AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN SO EARLY IN THE VEHICLE LIFE. THE IMPACT OF THE FAILURE FROM WHAT I CAN VISUALLY TELL IS THAT I HAVE NO HORN, THE ELECTRONIC CONSOLE DOES NOT FUNCTION AND ALL BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. THE CONSOLE ALSO DISPLAYS AN AIRBAG ERROR, WHICH THE DEALER CANNOT CONFIRM IF THIS IMPACTS MY ACTUAL AIRBAG SYSTEM. I'M TOLD THE OVER $750+ TO SERVICE. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPACT OF THIS DEVICE, I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT ONE, IT SHORTED, AND TWO, THE COST AND THE DEALERSHIP / VW CORPORATE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN, OTHER THAN TO SAY I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. ITS VERY DANGEROUS NOT KNOWING IF THE CLOCK SPRING IMPACTS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE, LET ALONE NOT HAVING A FUNCTIONING HORN.
THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS -10F TODAY. I STARTED THE CAR AND ALLOWED IT TO WARM UP FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING IT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES ON AN ERRAND. I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED AND STARTED THE CAR, THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST FOR STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND I WILL BE HAVING IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. ** A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SO I THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO FILE THIS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHIN THE LIMITED SPEED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE CAR MOVED LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. I HIT THE BRAKE AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY HIT THE GUARDRAIL AFTER TURNING 180 DEGREE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT WAS ON BUT DISAPPEARED AFTERWARDS. THIS WAS A REALLY SCARING EXPERIENCE. I COULD BE KILLED. AFTER COMPLAINING THE STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM TO VOLKSWAGEN, SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT (ORANGE) DISAPPEARED, THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS ME WHOM CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. I WAS FURIOUS AND INSISTED ON THE ISSUE BY SUGGESTING TO RUN A THOROUGH CHECK. I WAITED FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE I GOT A REPORT FROM VW TECHNICIAN. I WAS EXPECTING A THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE CAR'S STEERING SYSTEM, BUT I ONLY GOT A SHORT PAGE SAYING ABOUT THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND APPARENTLY NOTHING WRONG, EXCEPT A NOISE ( LIKE BEARING NOISE) WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. VW DIDN'T EVEN DO ANY COMPUTER TESTS OR ANY DETAILED TESTS ON THE CAR. THE NOISE PRODUCED BY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ONCE AGAIN CONFIRMED THAT SOMETHING WRONG WITH STEERING. FINALLY, VW CONFIRMED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AND NEEDED TO CHANGE THE STEERING SYSTEM; HOWEVER, VW SAID I CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS COMPLETELY NONSENSE. FIRST, VW SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM; HOWEVER, LATER BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS NOISE, NOW IT ADMITTED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG AND SAID TO NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE STEERING SYSTEM. SINCE THERE WAS ONLY A SLIGHT DAMAGE AT THE LEFT BUMPER AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND IT DIDN'T DAMAGE THE STEERING SYSTEM INSIDE; THUS, IT MUST BE THE MALFUNCTION OF STEERING THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE WAY VOLKSWAGEN DEALT WITH MY COMPLAINT WAS HORRIBLE. VW TRIED TO PUSH ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY ON ME AND OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T SEE THE WHOLE THING FROM MY SIDE. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026