2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 110 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 5 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 5 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
Representative owner complaints
110 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Structure, Jul 22, 2018
THE SUNROOF OF THE CAR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS OR SNOWS. ANY PRECIPITATION WILL GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DRAINS ARE CLEARED AND VOLKSWAGEN HAS SAID THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBS DETERIORATE AND WATER DOES NOT MAKE IT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, ALL THE WATER LEAKS INTO THE FOOT WELL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS CAUSED MOLD AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED US $3,650 TO FIX THE ISSUE OF PUTTING IN NEW TUBES AND REPLACING THE CARPETS. HOWEVER, NOT THE ENTIRE CAR HAS MOLD AND NEEDS THE SEATS REPLACED AS WELL.
Steering, Jul 10, 2018
WHILE MERGING ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC - ON THE FREEWAY, TAKING A TURN, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY CAR WAS HEADING STRAIGHT INTO A CURVED CONCRETE WALL. I MANAGED TO SLIGHTLY TURN THE WHEEL JUST ENOUGH TO NOT HIT THE BARRIER. A RED LIGHT IN THE SHAPE OF A STEERING WHEEL COMES ON. ACCORDING TO VOLKSWAGEN THIS IS THE POWER STEERING RACK'S SCANNER. THE SCANNER JUST FAILS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE, IT JUST FAILS.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 8, 2018
PURCHASED OCTOBER 2017 AND IN JANUARY STARTED TO HEAR RATTLING SOUNDS. TOOK BACK TO SUBARU SERVICE WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. IN JUNE 2018 CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER AND MAKE SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT ADJUST RPMS WHEN DRIVING. COULD NOT GO FASTER WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL ON THE HIGHWAY. THREE DAYS LATER, CAR WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. MECHANIC GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $6,000 BECAUSE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND ENGINE FAILED. ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT GONE ON BEFORE THAT INCIDENT. POSSIBLE DEFECT BY VOLKSWAGEN WHEN LEARNING ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND MY CAR IS SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF ONES IN LAWSUIT.
Engine, Jun 19, 2018
MY CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A RESTAURANT AND PARKED. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND RUINED THE ENGINE BY BENDING PARTS OF THE VALVES. THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AND USED ENGINES HAVE A STARTING PRICE AROUND $6000.00.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 13, 2018
DEALERSHIP INFORMED US TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND MANIFOLD WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER REPLACING TIMING CHAIN, THEY NOTIFIED US MANIFOLD WAS ALREADY REPLACED ON VEHICLE AND IT ALSO NEEDED NEW VALVES DUE TO BEING BENT FROM BAD TIMING CHAIN. MANY OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. THESE ISSUES STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WHILE DRIVING LED TO EXTREME SHAKING AND NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. VEHICLE FELT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS PROMPTLY TAKEN TO DEALER.
Power train, May 29, 2018
LEAKAGE OF FLUID AROUND TRANSFER CASE NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT . MILEAGE ONLY 43000
Exterior lighting, Mar 23, 2018
2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEADLIGHTS NOT BEING ALIGNED. *LD *JS
Air bags, Mar 12, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP. THE CONTACT CALLED FREMONT VOLKSWAGEN CASPER AT (307) 462-5509 (6001 E 2ND ST, CASPER, WY 82609). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.
Engine, Mar 3, 2018
AT 37,500 MILES THE WATER PUMP ON MY VEHICLE CRACKED AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF COOLANT REQUIRING TOW FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP ON 04/19/17. ON 2/28/18 AT 42,770 MILES A BROKEN MANIFOLD PLUG CLIP RESULTED IN DISPLACEMENT OF COOLANT TEMP SENSOR, AGAIN WITH LOSS OF COOLANT AND TOW FOR REPAIR. BOTH OF THESE EPISODES WERE NOTED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A SHORT CITY DRIVE.
Seats, Feb 20, 2018, fire
THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVERHEATED, BURNED THE DRIVER'S SKIN AND BURNED A HOLE IN A COAT. A BURNING SMELL WAS CLEARLY NOTICED.
Engine, Feb 14, 2018
WHEN DRIVING CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN, HAD TO COAST TO A STOP BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER FOUND OUT MOTOR WAS BLOW DUE TO TIMING BELT ISSUE
Engine, Jan 26, 2018
ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON
Engine, Jan 10, 2018
ON DECEMBER 7 2017 THE ENGINE STARTED MISS-FIRING, ON NEXT RESTART THE ENGINE DESTROYED ITSELF, CAUSED BY 'JUMPED TIMING' DO TOO A DEFECTIVE CHAIN TENSIONER.
Electrical system, Jan 3, 2018
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ABOUT EVERY MONTH AND NEED REPLACING. ONE GOES OUT, IS REPLACED AND THEN THE OTHER. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 TIMES.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 26, 2017
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGON RUATUAN ----VEHICLE DOES HAVE RECALL BUT CONTACT STATED VOLKSWAGON STATED VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL... CONTACT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALERSHIP STATED EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ... ENGINE TURNS OFF WITH KEY IN IGNITION AND IGNITION BECOMES LOOSE KEY TURNS TO OFF POSITION AND CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING..CONTACT GIVEN NUMBER TO VOLKSWAGON. CB .0RECALLSASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN
Power train, Engine, Dec 20, 2017
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 77,000 MILES. A NEWER MODEL OF TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAS BEEN USED SINCE DECEMBER 2011. EST. $5000 REPAIR BILL.
Engine, Oct 16, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER (MOLLE VOLKSWAGEN, 808 W 103RD ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114, (816) 941-9500) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TURBO CHARGER TO BE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Engine, Sep 23, 2017
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED, AND PRONE TO FAILURE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER
Engine, Aug 16, 2017
I PURCHASED MY 2010 VW TIGUAN A YEAR AGO. AT 10K MILES AS REQUESTED I DID THE OIL CHANGE. A MONTH LATER OR SO OIL STARTED TO LEAK. ONE DAY I DROVE MY CAR TO A STORE AND LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING BECAUSE I WAS ONLY THERE FOR A FEW MINS. CAME BACK AND MY ENGINE DIED. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AND STATED IT WAS THE TIMING BELT THAT WENT. A LOT OF OF PEOPLE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT OIL LEAK IN GENERAL WITH THIS VEHICLE. WISH I KNEW SOONER I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS CAR.
Engine, Jul 27, 2017
TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILURE WITHOUT NOTICE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING FROM PARKING LOT CHAIN SKIPPED BECAUSE OF CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING CHAIN TO SKIP A TOOTH MAKING THE TIMING ISSUES. TOWED TO MECHANIC
Engine, Jul 14, 2017
OUR TIGUAN STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN OUR 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO START DRIVING. SHE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY ROAD- PRESENTING A DANGER TO HER AS SHE COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AND WAS NOT IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER WERE BAD SO THEY WERE REPLACED. AFTER THIS REPAIR THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT RUN SO IT WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THEY TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST AT THE FIRST REPAIR SHOP WAS NEARLY $1600 AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS NEARLY $9000.
Engine, Jul 7, 2017
CAR HAD 90,000 MILES AND STARTED HAVING TICKING ENGINE NOISES. VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A TURBO WASTE GATE NOISE ("NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AT THIS TIME"). TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT'S MISFIRING ALMOST BUCKING THEN WITHIN MINUTES THE ENGINE GOES(WON'T START, TRYING TO START ENGINE JUST 'SPINS'). TOWED BACK TO SERVICE. INTERNAL INSPECTION FROM THEIR TECHNICIANS CONFIRMED BENT PARTS, ETC - $8,000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE 2.0T TSI TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN #TB-15-12-01 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10045560. CERTAINLY THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT WAS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE TSB IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS MANY VW MODELS/YEARS. WHY OWNERS ARE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO TAKE ACTION TO FIX IT BEFORE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS IS DISHEARTENING.
Engine, Jun 28, 2017
TIMING CHAIN FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING HOME. TIGUAN WOULD NOT RESTART ONCE PARKED AND TURNED OFF.
Engine, Jun 26, 2017
THE TIMING CHAIN SKIPPED OR BROKE WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE FIRST TO FAIL OR IF SOMETHING ELSE (TENSIONER FAILURE) CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AS A RESULT. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS LUCKY THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A TURN LANE. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING RATHER VIOLENTLY FORE/AFT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE.
Power train, Engine, Jun 20, 2017
FROM MECHANIC AT VW ROSEVILLE. CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING SLACK IN TIMING CHAINS, WHICH CAUSED CHAINS TO JUMP TIME AND CAUSED UPPER CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGE. CAR HAS 87,702 MILES