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: steering
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Sep 22, 2026
Steering column keeps locking up. I’ve replaced a fuse and it fixed it initially but problem returned. Upon my research apparently this is a common problem in these vehicles.
Steering, Feb 14, 2023
Power steering goes out randomly after cold weather, even while driving. There is no warning before the power steering goes out. I have almost crashed into another car several times because of this. Many people have had this exact problem with this make and model.
Steering, Sep 19, 2020
THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING GETS HARD AND IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING WHILE MY WIFE DRIVES IT. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE HAPPENING OR IF U GUYS CAN LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. I KNOW YOUR BUSY BUT PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN
Steering, Air bags, Engine, Jun 28, 2020
AIR BAG LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN CAME WITHOUT BUMPING - THE ENGINE IDLE WERE NOT NORMAL HIGH AND LOW - ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM THE STEERING
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 25, 2020
I WAS APPROACHING MY DRIVEWAY IN MY 09 VW TIGUAN WHEN THE RED POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST OR I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AND ACCIDENT OR WORSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE YELLOW LIGHT, THE RED CAME ON AND THAT WAS IT. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE FEATURE ON THE VOLKSWAGEN THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE. I HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, WAITING TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 25, 2018
THE TIMING CHAIN JUMPED THE SAFETY AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND STEERING. THE WIRING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS IS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 7, 2017
CAR WAS DRIVEN TO FROM FRIENDS HOUSE TO GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE AND SHUT CAR OFF AND WAS VISITING FAMILY FOR 1 HOUR TO 1 1/2 HOURS. THEN GOT IN CAR AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND THE TIMING JUMPED AND MADE A LOAD GRINDING NOISE AND WOULDN'T START. IT BENT THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE RAN INTO THE PISTONS. AN RUINED THE MOTOR. (111778 MILES) HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR PUT IN COST $7801.54.
Steering, Jun 17, 2015
I HAVE A 09 TIGUAN. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE FIRST HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING FROM SEATTLE TO SPOKANE, WA. IT'S A 300-MILE, 5-HOUR DRIVE. I STOPPED ABOUT HALF WAY AT A REST STOP AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY BACK AND FORTH. THEN THE RED LIGHT OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE CAME ON. I RESTARTED THE CAR SEVERAL MORE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. SO I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY THE ROAD IS PRETTY MUCH STRAIGHT FROM THAT POINT ON. JUST IMAGINE WHAT IF THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN THE CAR'S STILL RUNNING. WHEN I REACHED SPOKANE, IT WAS KINDS LATE. MY PLAN WAS TO GET THE CAR TO A DEALER FIRST THING NEXT DAY, BUT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY, THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN DURING MY 5-DAY STAY IN SPOKANE. HOWEVER, WHEN I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO SEATTLE, THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED AGAIN. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM STORED IN STEERING RACK AND IN ORDER TO FIX THIS, THE WHOLE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE JOB WAS QUOTED ABOUT $1,900. ALSO THE DEALER THINKS VW NEEDS TO AT LEAST COVER PART OF THE FIX, SO THEY FILED THE PAPERWORK. BUT VW DENIED ANY KIND OF COVERAGE. I ENDED UP PAYING FOR EVERYTHING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER TIGUAN OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M NO CAR EXPERT, BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TIGUAN AND CAN EVEN BE A DESIGN FLAW FROM VW. VW NEEDS TO PUT THIS PROBLEM INTO ITS RECALL LIST ASAP! P.S. I FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=7DZ-1U8TWVC. . . .UPDATED 07-16-15 *BF UPDATED 9/21/2015*JS
Steering, Jan 30, 2015
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND SHARPLY TURNED RIGHT BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL AND ALL INDICATIONS OF FAILURE SUBSIDED. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING IN ONE YEARS WORTH OF TIME.
Steering, Feb 3, 2014
STEERING GOT VERY HEAVY AND THEN THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING IS AT ABOUT HALF POWER. HAVE NOT GONE TO VW YET. SEARCH THE WEB SHOWS ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Structure, Service brakes, Jan 2, 2013, crash
FIRST, THIS EXACT SAME SCENARIO ALSO HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 2010. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND NOW THIS TIME, WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BOTH OF US, EACH HAVE 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND NEITHER OF US HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF LOSS OF CONTROL IN A VEHICLE, EVER. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 15 MPH IN APPROXIMATELY 1- 3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW. THE CAR SLID WITH TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES, SMASHING INTO THE CURB, BREAKING THE AXLE, CONTROL ARM, STEERING KNUCKLE, ETC... THERE WAS NO CONTROL WHATSOVER. THIS WAS NOT ICE. THIS HAS NEVER EVER HAPPENED BEFORE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE WE HAVE EVER DRIVEN. THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT ITSELF EVEN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RELEASED. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFICIENCY IN THE ESP MONITORING SYSTEM. THE ESP SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED WHILE TURNING. THE ESP SENSORS DID NOT DETECT THE SITUATION AND DID NOT REACT AT ALL INDEPENDENT OF THE DRIVER. THE ESP SYSTEM DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM TO "STEER" THE VEHICLE BACK ON TRACK. THE ESP DID NOT INITIATE ANY BRAKING INTERVENTION AT ALL. IT WAS LIKE ALL SYSTEMS JUST TOTALLY MALFUNCTIONED. HORRIBLE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM THANKFUL ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON WAS IN THE AREA. *TR
Steering, Jun 27, 2011
SEVERAL RECURRENCES OF POWER STEERING ISSUES IN ADVERSE OR COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT. NOW I GET CONSTANT AND LOUD GRINDING NOISE DURING OPERATION OF ALL STEERING FUNCTIONS. *TR
Steering, May 18, 2011
I OWN A VW 2009 TIGUAN (THIS IS A SPLIT YEAR AND MINE IS THE OLDER VERSION PURCHASED IN 2008). ON 5/19/10 I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. II NOTICED IT WAS STEERING DIFFERENTLY A WEEK OR SO PRIOR TO THIS DATE. I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE IMAGINING THIS UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I LEFT FROM WORK AND WAS ON MY WAY HOME THE CAR LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING ALTOGETHER (COMPLETE LOSS) FOR UNDER 2 SECONDS. I WAS LIKE OH MY GOD WHAT, AND THEN BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS UNDER CONTROL AGAIN. THEN AGAIN THE NEXT DAY I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. ALMOST LIKE OLDER CARS WHO HAVE THE FLUID RUN OUT OF THEM (THIS CAR I WOULD FIND OUT HAS A STEERING HARNESS AND I BELIEVE NO FLUID). THE STEERING WHEEL ICON CAME ON MY DASH BOARD, IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. IT ENDED UP AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE, THEY LOANED ME A RENTAL AND THEY IMMEDIATELY FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS THE STEERING HARNESS. THIS PART TOOK A LONG TIME TO COME IN, I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK ON 6/7/10. *TR
Steering, Oct 7, 2010
VW 2009 TIGUAN STEERING FAILED ON OCTOBER 3RD, LOCKED SOLID, WAS IN A PARKING LOT. VW TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. GOT THE CAR BACK OCTOBER OCTOBER 5TH. WIFE DROVE IT TO AZ THE NEXT DAY AND THE STEERING FROZE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER. *TR
Steering, Jul 29, 2010
1 OUT OF 5 TIMES I START MY 2009 TIGUAN (WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT), MY POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE LIGHT WILL COME ON. TODAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING CUT OUT AND I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. ONCE I RESTART THE ENGINE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE THE INITIAL START ONLY- IF I START IT TWICE I HAVE NO PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THE US AND NOW LIVE IN CANADA, SO MY WARRANTY IS NOT COVERED UNLESS I DRIVE IT TO THE US- SCARY THOUGHT CONSIDERING THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD! *TR