There are 14 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Activates while driving on a flat road at random
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE (4Motion) has approximately 75,000 miles on it. The rear driver-side brake lines failed, snapping in half, which resulted in a complete loss of brake fluid. Consequently, the vehicle was unable to stop unless the emergency brake was engaged.
ABS Control Module failed resulted in Emergency Brakes to be applied and locking indiscriminately resulting in loss of control as well as safe use of the vehicle. Parts to replace ABS Control system are reportedly unavailable/backordered with no estimate of availability. VW of America refuses to provide any information how to proceed.
• Vehicle purchased new • First brake service • Mileage: 46,700 Over a 1-week period, I noticed an increasing grinding noise at driver side front wheel. I suspected brakes. Took vehicle to VW dealership who performed an inspection then reported (first explanation) that unknown material/debris had worked its way between rotor and pad resulting in significant wear & scoring of driver front rotor. Dealership advised replacement of all 4 rotors and pads ($ 1,700+)! When I questioned the replacement of ALL brakes, I was told (2nd explanation) the debris in the driver front brake had reduced braking efficiency such that the passenger front brake had to compensate, which subsequently resulted in excessive pad and rotor wear/scoring at that site. Okay, but then why the rear? I was told (3rd explanation), that due to the decreased braking efficiency of BOTH front brakes, the rear brakes had to compensate and that the rear pads were at 5mm, and the rear rotors were warped beyond specifications. I requested all parts be retained for my inspection. Upon my later inspection, I saw that one pad from EACH side of the respective front calipers was substantially worn beyond the other pad. I was told (4th explanation) the caliper pins may not have had sufficient lubrication thus one (inner) side of EACH front caliper was getting hung up - thus the excessive wear to only the inner pad on EACH front brake. Similarly, the inner side of each rotor showed substantially more wear and “deep grooving”. Despite the clear evidence of caliper malfunction, warranty coverage declined - EVEN THOUGH the full factory warranty was still in full effect! Outcome: Paid for all new rotors & pads (no other feasible option). Service manager recommended returning after 5000 miles to verify proper function of calipers. But Service Manager advised that if the caliper issue IS found, at that time, “(T)he calipers may need replacement manufacturer’s warranty may apply.”
The vehicle has had multiple issues with uneven and premature wearing of the brakes. Brake shop determined it was possibly the result of defective calipers. The inside and outside pads wore completely differently on every axle. Brakes wore out prematurely at 35k. I am suspicious that this also may have been caused by the forward collision warning system's proclivity to errantly activate, thus forcefully slamming on the brakes.
MY FRONT ASSIST FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ALMOST CHOKED ME, AND THE SUDDEN STOP JARRED ME. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN TERRIFIED EVERY SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS THIRD TIME WAS THE WORST. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTACTED VW, AND TOOK MY CAR IN. THEY TEST DROVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND TO COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS WRONG. I SUGGESTED THEM DO MORE DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THEY DID NOT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY DID DOCUMENT MY CLAIM AND GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER. IN THE MEANTIME I STARTED DOING SOME INVESTIGATIONS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVESTIGATION GOING ON. I ALSO FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING ON ANOTHER VEHICLE.
WHEN IN MOTION, IN THE CITY, CAR HAD APPLIED BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY UNEXPECTEDLY, WITHOUT A REASON, WITHOUT CARS OR OBSTRUCTIONS ON FRONT. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 40 MPH.
BACK CALIPERS GETTING STUCK AND CAUSED PREMATURE WEARING OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. HAD TO REPLACE ONE SIDE WHILE THE OTHER WAS FINE BECAUSE PISTON WAS STUCK OUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE. *TR
I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IAT THE END OF 2018. AT THE END OF 2019 THE CAR NOW NEEDS NEW BRAKES AND HAS LESS THAN 19,000 MILES. THE CAR SHAKES WHEN YOU BREAK. THE DEALERSHIP STATED USUALLY BRAKES AND ROTORS LAST 30,000 AND CITED "COMMON CAUSES" FOR NEEDING NEW BREAKS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY WOULD COVER LABOR AT GOOD WILL TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS AND THEN CAME BACK THAT WOULD COVER 60% AND PROVIDED ME 3 DIFFERENT AMOUNTS FOR A TOTAL. ADDITIONALLY, IN DECEMBER 2019, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT THE CAR STARTED TO STUTTER AND WAS SHAKING, AFTER THEY REVIEWED IT, THEY STATED THAT THE CAR HAD "MISFIRED" AND NOT ALL 4 ENGINES STARTED AT THE SAME TIME, ONLY 3 OF THE ENGINES DID. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE CAR BE REVIEWED FOR COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY REGARDING THE BRAKES AND ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, I AM REQUESTING THAT VOLKSWAGEN COVER THE COST AND LABOR OF REPLACING BRAKES AND ROTORS.
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED LESS THAN 5MPH THE EMERGENCY BRAKING WILL ENGAGE FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE STARTING TO PROCEED FORWARD AFTER SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AS WELL AS SLOWLY TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT WITH NO CARS NEAR TO CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AT THIS POINT, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THE CAR WAS MOVING FASTER.
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING IN OUR TIGUAN WITH OUR 7 MONTH OLD AND 3 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK. WE WERE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET DURING THE DAY WITH GOOD VISIBILITY. AS WE APPROACHED A METAL PLATE OVER THE ROAD (FOR A ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT) THE TIGUAN'S "FRONT ASSIST" SYSTEM CAUSED THE CAR TO NEARLY SKID TO A STOP. THE CAR BEHIND US LUCKILY DID NOT REAR END US BUT HAD WE BEEN GOING FASTER AND THE CAR BEHIND US HAD BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSER, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THIS IS A WORRYING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE METAL PLATE WAS NO MORE THAN AN INCH HIGHER THAN THE PAVEMENT AND IS A VERY STANDARD THING TO SEE IN CONSTRUCTION SITES. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FRONT ASSIST TO ACTIVATE.
DRIVING ON A SATURDAY MORNING TO MY HOME. NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME, BEHIND ME OR IN THE OPPOSITE LANE (2 LANE ROAD). WITHIN 1/4 MILE FROM HOME, THE AUTOMATIC FRONT BRAKE ASSIST WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON THIS EXACT ROAD 100'S OF TIMES AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. THE GROCERIES IN THE BACK SEAT FLEW TO THE FRONT SEAT AND I EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH. I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR! IT WAS SCARY AND COMPLETELY UNPROMPTED. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DISENGAGED THE FRONT ASSIST. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL VW OWNER FOR 25 YEARS BUT THIS IS SO UNSETTLING! THE CAR JUST HAD ITS FIRST SERVICE (10,000 MILES) 4 DAYS PRIOR AT A VW DEALERSHIP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE FILLING THE TIRES WITH AIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE VOLKSWAGEN (3520 WESTON RD, WESTON, FL 33331) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE EATING UP THE BRAKE ROTORS AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,900.
ON 7/13/2018 WE ARE ON A FAMILY TRIP WHEN WE STOP THE VEHICLE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES THE CAR ON PARKING, START TO MAKE HIGH AND LOW ACELERATION WITH VIBRATIONS AND THEN A LIGHT WITH EPC SHOW ON DASHBOARD. I TURN OFF THE CAR FOR A MINUTE AND THEN TURN ON, THE EPC LIGHT DISAPPEAR, BUT THE VIBRATIONS CONTINUED. THE NEXT DAY (7/14/2018) WE ARE ON THE ROAD AND THE VEHICULE STARTS THE VIBRATIONS , THEN SHOW THE CHECKENGINE PICTURE ON THE DASHBOARD, RAPIDLY 2 ERRORS APPEARED ON THE SCREEN 'ERROR: START-STOP' AND 'ENGINE ON DUE TO SYSTEM ERROR'. WE CALL VW CENTER AND WE HAVE A INSPECCION OF THE VEHICLE THIS WEEK. ALSO WITH LESS OF 4,000MI WE SAW THAT THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS HAVE PROBLEMS. THEY SHOW A BIG MARK WITH DITCH. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE PADS OR WITH THE STOP SYSTEM
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