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: power train
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 5, 2019
BELT TENSIONER NOISE /MORNING STARTUP ROUGH IDLE AND MISFIRING.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 26, 2018
I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BUT THERE'S PLENTY ON THIS THAT PEOPLE ARE EVEN GOING TO THE TV NEWS STATIONS FOR HELP.THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ,NO LIGHTS,NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE MOTOR STOPS WORKING. I SPOKE WITH THE WARRANTY COMPANY ,THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY AS WELL AS VOLKSWAGEN... NOT ONE OF THEM WILL COVER THE ISSUE NOR HELP WITH THE ISSUE AT ALL. THE CAR WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND ONLY JUST TURNED A MONTH AGO TO ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES. I CAN'T AFFORD ALMOST 8 THOUSAND FOR NEW ENGINE AS WELL AS LABOR COSTS. THE CAR IS NOT VERY OLD FOR IT NOT TO B RUNNING AND MOTOR COMPLETELY STOP.I HAD TWO PAY THREE DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC COSTS AND TWO DIFFERENT TOWS. I NEED HELP,I WOULD ADVISE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT COMPLAINTS FROM 2009-2013 ON THIS VEHICLE WITH MOTOR WITH LOW MILES HAVING THIS ISSUE .IM THINKING OF CONTACTING A LAWYER TO HELP WITH THE ISSUE AS WELL AS THE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COSTS.PRIOR TO THIS I OWNED THE DISEL PASSAT AND HAD TO TURN THAT IN WITH VOLKSWAGEN LYING ON EMISSIONS.DO NOT BUY A VOLKSWAGEN ,NOT WORTH IT.
Power train, Aug 30, 2017
FAULTY PCV LED TO BLOWN REAR MAIN SEAL, TIMING CHAIN COVER, AND OIL SEPARATOR. CO SAID 2011 TIGUANS ARE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT CLAIMED MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED DESPITE BEING A 2011 TIGUAN.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jul 22, 2016
MY TIGUAN ONLY RUNNING 50K MILES BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. WHEN I TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WERE BAD. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER DEFECT CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. I NOW DO NOT HAVE AN ENGINE. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND TALKING TO SOME LAWYERS ALL OVER THE US, IT SEEMS LIKE MANY PEOPLE WITH VW TIGUANS (2.0L ENGINES) HAVE THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE A FEW CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS IN THE US REGARDING THIS MATTER. I SPOKE TO VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. VW DEALERSHIP NOW TELLS ME THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS AROUND $10,000. IF THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS NOT DEFECTIVE, MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE NEVER FAILED. I SHOWED THEM PROOF OF OIL CHANGES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS IN WHICH WERE ALL DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I AM NOW FIGHTING WITH VW OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE CRASHED INTO ME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
Power train, Nov 17, 2015
WHEN I AM AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY TRANSMISSION TENDS TO BUMP LIKE IT IS GOING INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Dec 26, 2014
VEHICLE SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR (IT IS AUTOMATIC), ALMOST KILLING OUR FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. *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
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Apr 23, 2013
THE PARKING BRAKE SETS ITSELF WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. ALSO, WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND COME TO A STOP, IT WILL NOT ROLL FORWARD OR MOVE UNTIL THE GAS IS PRESSED. THE NECESSITY OF PRESSING THE GAS TO MOVE AT ALL IS ALSO THE CASE IN REVERSE. *TR