2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 161 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 4 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontalAug 4, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 15V483000 on NHTSA.gov
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: engine
63 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Feb 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK CASE BREATHER VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Engine, Feb 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL, WHICH WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Engine, Oct 7, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT TWO OF THE IGNITION COILS WERE NOT FIRING WELL. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE COILS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,407.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 29, 2015
I WAS TURNING LEFT OFF OF A HWY. I ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO 40 MILES AND THE CAR HESITATED LIKE IT WAS SWITCHING GEARS, DECREASED IN SPEED AND STARTED SHAKING. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE GAS CAP, - IT WAS CLOSED. TURN CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED, CAR STILL SHAKING. I DROVE THE CAR TO SAFE PLACE OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MILES HOURS. I PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON, BUT THEY KEPT GOING OFF. THEN I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. THE CAR HAD RECEIVED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE INCLUDING SPARK PLUG CHANGES TWO DAYS AGO, BUT THEN THIS HAPPENED. VOLKSWAGON DEALER SERVICE FOLKS SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL MISFIRED. ORIGINALLY CHARGED 300 TO HAVE IT FIX, THEN DISCOUNTED AND PAID 200. I SEE THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE IGNITION COILS IN THE YEARS AROUND MY MODEL YEAR, AND VOLKSWAGON RECALLED THE IGNITION COIL A FEW YEARS AGO FOR OLDER MODELS. I THINK THEY NEED TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO COVER THE 2011 YEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I REPORTED IT TO VOLKSWAGON. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME IN THE BACK. A BLOCK FURTHER I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR. I LOVE MY VOLKSWAGON, BUT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Engine, Jun 7, 2015
PROBLEMS STARTED AT 15,822 MILES. PARKING BRAKE SWITCH JAMMING. AT 44,690 MILES ENGINE AND EPC. LIGHTS COMES ON, ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. FOUND 2 FAULTS SET INECM FOR RANDOM CYLINDER MISS FIRES (P0300) AND MISS FIRES ON CYL 2 (P0302). CHECKED FREEZE FROM DATA AND FOUND FAULT WERE SET AT ENGINE START UP. PERFORMED DE-CARBAN SERVICE, AT 45,400 OIL LEAK FROM DRAIN PLUG WASHER. LONG-LIFE WASHER ON DRAIN PLUG LEAKING. BLUETOOTH MALFUNCTIONING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 49,084. ALSO PROBLEM AND FOUND INTERNAL MALFUNCTION IN NEW MODEL. AT 50,011 MILES, FOUND FAULTS FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH CIRCUIT RANGE PERFORMANCE. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND RESEAL FUEL INJECTORS. AT 54,618 MILES, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACED. FOUND VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. AT 54,902 MILES FOUND VALVE COVER AND UPPER CHAIN COVER GASKET LEAKING. REPLACED VALVE COVER SEALANT, UPPER TIMING CHAIN COVER AND VACUUM PUMP GASKET. AT 63,186 MILES. FUEL RAIL PRESSURE TOO LOW, DETERMINED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP INTERNALLY FAULTY. AT 68.222 MILES DRIVER DOOR HINGES LOOSE. AT 68,222 MILES FUSE PROBLEMS. F16 BURNED AS WELL AS PANEL. HAD ALSO REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FUSE. PROBLEMS ARE ON GOING. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT STILL LOOSES POWER AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE AND EPC LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VW USA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DECLARE THE CAR UNSAFE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES OCCUR.
Engine, Mar 8, 2015
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SHAKE, LOSE SPEED--THE ECM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON--WAS DETERMINED THAT AN IGNITION COIL HAD FAILED--HAVE HAD A ANOTHER IGNITION COIL FAILURE IN FEB. 2015. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 22, 2014
WE BOUGHT 2011 VW TIGUAN SE IN MAY 2011, AND THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION-COIL ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE TO US ALREADY. BELOW IS THE TIMELINE & DETAILS. ON 4/19/2014, WE FINISHED THE LAST MANUFACTURER-COVERED-SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP (3 YEARS/36K MILES), AND WE WERE TOLD OUR CAR IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ON 5/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED. ON 5/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #1 & #2 IGNITION COILS WERE DEAD. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. ON 9/13/2014, WE FINISHED THE RECALL SERVICE FOR THE CAR REGARDING TO THE FUEL BUBBLES ISSUE. ACCORDING TO THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE, THE SOFTWARE RELATED TO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED WAS OK. ON 9/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED AGAIN! IT BEHAVED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS IT DID IN MAY. WE HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE. ON 9/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #4 IGNITION COIL WAS DEAD. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE BOTH #3 AND #4 IGNITION COILS THIS TIME. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. I ALSO ASKED THE STAFF, "IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE THIS IGNITION COIL SO OFTEN FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR? HOW FREQUENTLY WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL? I DON'T WANT MY WIFE AND BABY STUCK IN TRAFFIC LIKE THIS TIME.". HOWEVER, NO ANSWER OR SUGGESTION WAS GIVEN SINCE THE STAFF CLAIMED HE'S NOT A MECHANICS. THIS TIME, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWING SERVICE, PARTS, AND THE LABOR COST (1.5 HOURS?!). THE STAFF SUGGESTED US TO SAVE THE RECEIPT FOR FUTURE JUST IN CASE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE VW IGNITION COIL ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND OTHER RESOURCES TO FILE THE COMPLAINTS. THEN I REALIZED THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION COIL ISSUE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE WITH VW CARS. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 22, 2014
WE BOUGHT 2011 VW TIGUAN SE IN MAY 2011, AND THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION-COIL ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE TO US ALREADY. BELOW IS THE TIMELINE & DETAILS. ON 4/19/2014, WE FINISHED THE LAST MANUFACTURER-COVERED-SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP (3 YEARS/36K MILES), AND WE WERE TOLD OUR CAR IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ON 5/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED. ON 5/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #1 & #2 IGNITION COILS WERE DEAD. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. ON 9/13/2014, WE FINISHED THE RECALL SERVICE FOR THE CAR REGARDING TO THE FUEL BUBBLES ISSUE. ACCORDING TO THE STAFF OF THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE, THE SOFTWARE RELATED TO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED WAS OK. ON 9/15/2014, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR CANNOT INCREASE ITS SPEED AGAIN! IT BEHAVED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS IT DID IN MAY. WE HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS ABOVE. ON 9/16/2014, THE STAFF OF THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CAR & TOLD US #4 IGNITION COIL WAS DEAD. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE BOTH #3 AND #4 IGNITION COILS THIS TIME. AFTER THEY REPLACED THEM, THE ISSUE HAS GONE. I ALSO ASKED THE STAFF, "IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE THIS IGNITION COIL SO OFTEN FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR? HOW FREQUENTLY WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL? I DON'T WANT MY WIFE AND BABY STUCK IN TRAFFIC LIKE THIS TIME.". HOWEVER, NO ANSWER OR SUGGESTION WAS GIVEN SINCE THE STAFF CLAIMED HE'S NOT A MECHANICS. THIS TIME, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWING SERVICE, PARTS, AND THE LABOR COST (1.5 HOURS?!). THE STAFF SUGGESTED US TO SAVE THE RECEIPT FOR FUTURE JUST IN CASE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE VW IGNITION COIL ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND OTHER RESOURCES TO FILE THE COMPLAINTS. THEN I REALIZED THIS NOTORIOUS IGNITION COIL ISSUE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE WITH VW CARS. *TR
Engine, Aug 2, 2014
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING TO JUMP DESTROYING THE ENGINE. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, May 14, 2014
TWICE WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF. ONCE WHEN LEAVING A PARKING LOT. ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFICK, GOING UNDER 20 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE J519 MODULE. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 25, 2014
VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATED FROM 50 MILES PER HOUR TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. CHECK ENGINE AND EPC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND ACCELERATION ABOVE 35 MILES PER HOUR WAS NOT POSSIBLE. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL FOUR IGNITION COILS. VOLKSWAGEN LATER AGREED TO REIMBURSE COST OF THE IGNITION COILS BUT REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RELATED LABOR CHARGES STATING NO OUTSTANDING RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THE IGNITION COILS. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 14, 2014
THE ENGINES REAR MAIN OIL SEAL STARTED LEAKING. BROUGHT IT TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT AND STATED THAT THERE WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN OIL LEAK AND WHILE THE OIL CHANGE WAS DONE IF THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. NOW AT 65000 MILES AND 5000 OVER THE FACTORY WARRANTY THEY FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ARE WANTING OVER $1500 TO FIX IT. THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR IS SOAKED IN OIL AND MY ONCE NICE DRIVEWAY LOOKS LIKE A TRUCK STOP. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO WORK WITH US. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT SUCH A NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE WITH SO LITTLE MILES. MY WORK TRUCK HAS 300K MILES AND HAS YET TO DRIP EVEN A DROP OF OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY... AND ITS OVER 10 YEARS OLD. THE BIGGEST KICKER IS THE DEALERS LACK TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM TILL WELL AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS PASSED. *JS
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 29, 2014
THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR HAS JUST STOPPED. STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STARTED TO GO AND CAR JUST DIED. NO LIGHTS, NO WARNING. I START UP THE CAR, MOVE FORWARD AND GET READY TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND CAR JUST DIES. VW SAID THEY NEED TO HAVE WARNING LIGHTS OR SOMETHING SO THEY CAN GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE COMPUTER AND SINCE THERE ARE NONE, IT WON'T TELL THEM ANYTHING. EVEN IN HIGH-SPEED DRIVING IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LULL OR THAT FUEL IS NOT BE INJECTED. CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. I ONLY USE PREMIUM GAS AND KEEP IT ABOVE 1/4 OF A TANK AS WELL. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT CHANGE IT OUT AT THIS TIME. *TR