2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Air Bags & Restraints Problems

The clockspring has failed and there are recalls on similar models of Tiguans of the same year.

Water pump melted and needed to be replaced, car won't start, airbag light is on and clock spring needed to be replaced, heated seat gets extremely hot on driver's side when turned on.

Pulling out of parking space with steering wheel turned to the left. Heard and felt a "click/grind" in steering wheel and airbag error light illuminated on dash.Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn does not work. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring defective. Problem was confirmed with independent service center and dealership. VW of America notified. Clock spring is covered under warranty but is on an indefinite national back order, could be months, years or eternity. Car is unsafe to drive without resolution from dealer or Volkswagen.

Bought vehicle used--had apparently been taken in at some point prior to our purchase for clock spring recall. Clock spring has failed and cannot find replacement part at any US-based source. Driver's airbag now deactivated.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYS FAULT: ABS/STABILIZATION CONTROL. TIRE PRESSURE ERROR AND AIRBAG ERROR WHEN DRIVING AND CAR BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. *TR

MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON. BOTH ON THE DASHBOARD AND ON THE SCREEN. IT SAYS AIRBAGS: ERROR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGEND VOLKSWAGEN (SIDE A, 158 MERRICK RD, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION (POD) UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

IN DECEMBER 2015, AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS CEASED TO WORK. THIS WAS NOT A VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. JUST THIS WEEK, THE PART AGAIN FAILED, WITH A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AGAIN, AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITH NO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL WORKING. THE CAR NOR PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG ERROR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNRISE VOLKSWAGEN (931 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 11563, 516-596-5970) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

THERE WAS NO CRASH OR PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW, "ERROR: AIRBAG" MESSAGE IS SHOWN UP ON DASHBOARD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON. IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVEN I BUCKLED UP, WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT TURN SEAT BELT ALARM IS BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LIGHT HAS TURNED ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM CONCERNING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM DRIVING MY CAR EVERYDAY WITH POTENTIAL THREAT OF ACCIDENT WITHOUT AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED.

AIRBAG INFIGHTER CLOCK SPRING FAILS EVEN AFTER INSTALLING RECALL 15V483000. THIS IS A $664+TAX REPAIR AT TH VW DEALER. IN THE M A TIME, NO HORN, AIRBAG OR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORK. ERROR CODE 00588 IS THROWN. AIRBAG IDIOT LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WHEN YOU START THE CAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

AIR BAR CLICK SPRING FAILED ON VEHICLE ON OR ABOUT 12/6/17. RECALL (15V483000- CLOCK SPRING) INCLUDED 2010-14 TIGUANS BUT WAS TOLD BY VW OF AMERICA THAT OUR 2012 VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. VW SERVICE AGENT AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE RECALL 'EXPIRED'. VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF 'BUMPER TO BUMPER' AND POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP CHARGED $669 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. THE SPRING FAILED FROM ROUTINE, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE SPRING FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND THE VEHICLE'S HORN THUS COMPRISING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. CLOCK SPRING FAILURE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR VW. VW HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED OR PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE HEFTY REPAIR BILL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

I HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL AND SINCE THEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND MY HORN DOES NOT WORK ON MY VEHICLE. I SAW THE RECALL FOR THE CLOCK WHEEL SPRING IN 2015 AND THEY CLAIM IT HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT I HAVE SINCE SEEN FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT VW ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I STILL HEAR CLICKING NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN.

2012 TIGUAN WAS RECALLED FOR THE AIR BAG DUE TO THE CLOCK SPRINGS BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER OCT 2014 APRIL 2017 AND AGAIN TODAY NOV 17 I HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN DUE TO THE AIR BAG ( CLOCK SPRINGS) I HAD TO PAY IN 14 AND APRIL 17 TODAY I DID NOT SINCE IT HAPPENED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE LAST REPAIR I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW . I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR 2014 AND APRIL 2017. ALL 3X WHERE DONE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP

IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING REAR HIT, WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH APPROX. 8 FEET DEEP, WITH AN IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO HOSPITALIZE THE FRONT SEAT PASENGER WITH FRACTURED STERNUM AN INTERNAL BLEEDING CAUSED BY A SEAT BELT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . PER THE DOTOR, INJURY COULD BE AVOIDED IF FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ONTARIO VOLKSWAGEN IN ONTARIO, CA) WHO STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN 2016. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,928.

IN OUR 2012 VW TIGUAN SEL, THE DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT WOULD REMAIN AND/OR ENGAGE IN A LOCKED POSITION INCORRECTLY. THIS WOULD CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR US. IT WOULD PREVENT US FROM BEING ABLE TO STRAP IN (WHICH IS ALSO A LAW IN OUR STATE). WE WOULD PULL ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND IT WOULD LOCK'MAYBE GETTING A FEW INCHES OF SLACK AND CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH TO STRAP YOURSELF IN. THE VEHICLE COULD EITHER BE ON OR OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. IN ADDITION, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO FINAGLE THE SEAT BELT OUT, SLOWLY AND PATIENTLY WHILE IT CONTINUALLY LOCKS AND GAINING ENOUGH SLACK TO STRAP YOURSELF IN AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, IT COULD INCORRECTLY LOCK WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING PREVENTING YOU FROM MOVING YOUR TORSO AROUND TO PROPERLY CHECK BLIND SPOTS, MIRRORS, ETC. OUR SITUATION QUICKLY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULDN'T EVEN GET ENOUGH SLACK TO STRAP OURSELVES IN AND WERE FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THIS FIXED AND PAYED THE DEALERSHIP OVER $600. WE WAITED SEVERAL DAYS FOR THE 'FAULTY PIN MECHANISM/ASSEMBLY' AND PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S NOT A COMMON PART THEY KEEP IN STOCK AS IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY TYPICALLY HAVE TO FIX. THIS IS CORRECT, A SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY/DESIGN SHOULD NEVER FAIL! I'VE VISITED FORUMS ONLINE AND READ ABOUT OTHER 2012 VW TIGUAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE RECALL THIS TO AVOID ANYONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE AMBIENT AIR IS APPROXIMATELY 65F, OR HIGHER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE/EXTEND NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. I HAVE TRIED WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, WITH AND WITHOUT THE E BREAK ON, AND MOVING FORWARD BUT THE BELT WILL NOT EXTEND, AFTER EXTENSIVE TRIES IT WILL EXTEND A SHORT DISTANCE AT A TIME UNTIL I CAN FINALLY FASTEN IT. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS WITH MUCH LESS SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY WHEN THE AIR IS COOLER.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE AMBIENT AIR IS APPROXIMATELY 65F, OR HIGHER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE/EXTEND NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. I HAVE TRIED WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, WITH AND WITHOUT THE E BREAK ON, AND MOVING FORWARD BUT THE BELT WILL NOT EXTEND, AFTER EXTENSIVE TRIES IT WILL EXTEND A SHORT DISTANCE AT A TIME UNTIL I CAN FINALLY FASTEN IT. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS WITH MUCH LESS SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY WHEN THE AIR IS COOLER.