2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 167 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 4 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasolineJul 21, 2014
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
Campaign 14V441000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiring, fuses and circuit breakersNov 22, 2013
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.
If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.
Campaign 13V569000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingMay 28, 2008
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 4,079 MY 2008 PASSAT AND 2,500 MY 2009 TIGUAN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0T FSI ULEV II ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CONTAINING SOFTWARE THAT MAY NOT PROPERLY CONTROL ENGINE IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON. IN RARE CASES, THE ECM MAY UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ENGINE RPM.
AN ENGINE SURGE CAUSED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM MAY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND CAN RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND UPDATE THE ECM SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.
Campaign 08V235000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
10 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V235000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Aug 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and a message to stop the vehicle immediately was displayed. AAA arrived on the scene and diagnosed the vehicle with oil sensor failure. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was vibrating while driving back to the residence. The vehicle stalled upon arrival at the residence in the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and diagnosed with timing chain and timing sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,092. The contact stated that VW of America was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for a second opinion and all of the issues were confirmed. It was strongly recommended that the engine be replaced as well.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 5, 2014, fire
I WAS DRIVING ON ROLLING ROAD (NORTH) TOWARD OLD KEEN MILL ROAD IN SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA AROUND 4:05 PM ON NOVEMBER 4, 2014 (TUESDAY). I SAW THE SMOKE COMING OUT NEAR THE HOOD IN THE FRONT WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT, SO I PULLED OVER TO THE PARKING LOT NEAR A GAS STATION. I SAW PEOPLE WAVED TO ME, AND YELLED AT ME TO STOP, I GOT OFF MY CAR AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AT THE BOTTOM, WE BEND DOWN AND LOOKED THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THE FIRE BURNING ON THE MATERIAL HANGING DOWN. FORTUNATELY, A DRIVER RAN OVER CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM HIS CAR, AND A PERSON FROM THE GAS STATION ALSO BROUGHT ANOTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THEY SPREAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I COULD NOT WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK, SO I CAREFULLY DROVE THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA. THE MECHANIC LIFTED UP THE CAR AND TOOK DOWN THE BURNED LOWER ENGINE COVER, AND FIGURED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE MANY DRIED LEAVES STUCK NEAR THE ENGINE AND THE HIGH HEAT NEAR THE ENGINE CAUSING THE LEAVES TO FIRE UP AND BURN THE LOWER ENGINE COVER. I'VE SAVED THIS LOWER ENGINE COVER IN MY TRUNK, AND HAVE REPORTED THIS SAFETY INCIDENT TO THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CASE WAS DOCUMENTED AND A CASE # [XXX] WAS ASSIGNED. I REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THIS NON-FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIAL CAN CAUSE THE LIFE OF THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 1, 2012, fire
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
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Oct 10, 2011, fire
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 16, 2011
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 17, 2010
I HAVE A 2009 TIGUAN I BOUGHT IN APRIL 2009. I ALSO FIRST NOTICED A REALLY BAD SMELL COMING OUT OF THE VENTS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN IT'S VERY HUMID. I DIDN'T TAKE IT UNTIL THE FALL OF 2009 TO THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED MATTER. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY PERFORMING A FILTER CHANGE AND APPARENTLY SANITIZING THE CHAMBER. IT SEEMED TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN WARM THIS SUMMER IN THE NORTHEAST AND I'VE HAD THE A/C ON MOST OF THE TIME SINCE JUNE. I'VE NOTICED THE SMELL RETURNING SLIGHTLY, THOUGH NOT AS BAD AS LAST YEAR. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM DEVELOPS FULL BLOWN WHEN I WILL NEED TO RETURN IT FOR ANOTHER SANITIZING TREATMENT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Jul 10, 2010
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
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 6, 2010
ECM FAILURE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO TRAVEL A MAXIMUM OF 15MPH. ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND WILL NOT RESTART FOR A MINUTE AFTER YOU TURN OFF IGNITION. DASH BOARD LIGHTS COME ON, AND INFORMATION CENTER INDICATES "ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP". *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 23, 2010
MY MOTHER HAS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN AND THE CAR BURNS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL EVERY 5,000 MILES. VW REQUIRES THE CAR TO BE SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE BY 10,000 MILES BUT AT THE 8000 MILE MARK MY MOM'S VW TIGUAN HAD LOST ALMOST 2 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL. FOR A NEW CAR THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH OIL TO BE BURNED. THIS IS UNSAFE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR A BRAND NEW CAR I HAVE A FEELING THESE CARS WILL NOT LAST LONG. I HAD TO FILL MY MOMS CAR WITH ONE QUART OF OIL AFTER THE DIP STICK WAS SHOWING NO OIL AT ALL AFTER 8,000 MILES AND THE DIP STICK BARELY STARTED SHOWING SOME OIL ON LOW. IF I WERE TO LEAVE IT FOR THE REST 2,000 MILES LIKE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS RECOMMEND MY MOTOR WOULD SEIZE UP. *TR