Volkswagen · Tiguan · 2021
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
5
Recalls
115
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan has 5 recalls and 115 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (24 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 24 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Compare the recall list with the complaint mix to see whether the most reported issues overlap with formal NHTSA safety campaigns.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan currently shows 5 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 115 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (24), unknown or other (19), structure (7).
- Vehicle
- 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Recalls
- 5
- Complaints
- 115
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
0.0% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: NoLane Departure Warning: Optional
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 22V514000July 20, 2022
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy Status
Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
NHTSA ID: 22V226000April 06, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Remedy Status
Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
NHTSA ID: 22V176000March 23, 2022
SUSPENSION
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.
Remedy Status
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear suspension knuckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42L8.
NHTSA ID: 21V038000February 01, 2021
SEATS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
Remedy Status
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.
NHTSA ID: 20V716000November 18, 2020
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy Status
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
Owner Complaints
115 totalSTRUCTURE
Apr 19, 2026
On April 19, 2026, my 2021 VW Tiguan experienced a sudden loud gunshot-like sounding noise and my sunroof exploded. I fortunately had the screen closed, but large pieces of glass fell and were caught by the screen. It endangered me and my 3 children in the car. It was extremely s...
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ENGINE
Apr 10, 2026
Engine has excessive oil consumption. Low oil indicator light will come on and Engine oil needs to be topped and added about every 2500 miles sometimes more often depending on driving conditions.
ENGINE
Mar 29, 2026
Oil consumption issue. The vehicle is experiencing blue / white smoke from tailpipe when starting also lost of oil due to a valve seal issue with engine that requires dealers to remove head and service it
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Mar 16, 2026
Here is a quick description of the issue from our Volkswagon of Huntington service report. We have had this ongoing issue for a few months now. the check engine light will come on. We get it checked, we replace a sensor, and all is good for a day or week. Then we do it again,...
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ENGINE
Mar 9, 2026
After oil changes (always maintained at dealerships) it would require a quart of oil with in 2 days. Random starts will blow smoke out the rear. random sluggish behavior. Dealership confirmed PCV valve is causing a buildup in engine pressure which caused a premature oil pan gask...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Feb 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his wife was driving slowly in traffic, several unknown warning lights illuminated orange, and the speedometer and RPM went to zero. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing...
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VISIBILITY/WIPER
Jan 2, 2026
Wipers randomly start when switch is turned off. Wipers will randomly not start when wipers are turned on. Safety of others is affected due to visibility being obscured due to wipers not turning on. Injuries can occur when wipers randomly start. There was no warning prior to the ...
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FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Dec 15, 2025
My fuel system level indicator does not work properly when the tank is below 1/2 full, and the check engine light comes on. It does not correctly deplete, instead leaving me with no gas when it shows it still has gas available. This has left me stranded in various locations as my...
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ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Dec 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's dad who was following behind the vehicle noticed oil splashing onto the front windshield of his vehicle. The contact's dad then noticed while the contact was dr...
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ENGINE
Nov 29, 2025
The 2021 Tiguan, R-Line that I own now requires a new engine after roughly 70,000. The engine is no longer under warranty, According to the VW Dealership, this is what is wrong with the engine - Based on our observations and diagnostic review, we have determined that damage t...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 115 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Volkswagen models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Volkswagen Tiguan Years
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA has received 115 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan are engine (24 reports), unknown or other (19 reports), structure (7 reports).
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.