2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 153 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 10 involved a crash. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Other or unspecifiedMay 16, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Campaign 18V329000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Representative owner complaints: air bags
33 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jul 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ONTARIO VOLKSWAGEN IN ONTARIO, CA) WHO STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN 2016. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,928.
Steering, Air bags, Apr 26, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE STEERING CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED PER A PREVIOUS RECALL VIA THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FAILED AND IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND WOULD NOT BE DONE A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
Air bags, Service brakes, Engine, Mar 7, 2016
MY CAR HAD TWO RECALLS AND I BROUGHT IT IN AS VW OF AMERICA RECOMMENDED AND I DID HAVE OIL CHANGE AT THE SAME TIME ON 2/19/2016. I WENT ON VACATION AND WHEN I CAME BACK I NOTICE THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHER THEN BEFORE THIS SERVICE. ON WEDNESDAY 03/02/2016, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICE MY CAR LOST BRAKE FUNCTION, I TRY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TRY DOWN SHIFT NOTHING WORK. I FEEL BLESS THAT I MANAGE TO AVOID TWO CAR ACCIDENT AND IT WOULD OF BEEN MY FAULT. I MANAGE TO HIT THE CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY. LOTS OF ICONS INDICATOR WAS ON (AIRBAG, ABS, ENGINE...) AND I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE DASH. I THEN CALL MY INSURANCE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER SERVICE. NEXT MORNING I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3K+ TO FIX ALL THE STUFF THEY TELLING ME THE FOUND AND CLAIM IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALLS OR OIL CHANGED THEY DID, PRIOR TO SERVICE I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AMERICA THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND HAVE CALLED THEM A FEW TIME NOW AND NOTHING WORD ON WHAT THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO GET BACK IN MY VEHICLE AND ALSO NOT SURE THEY ENSURE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE PLUS THEY ASKING FOR $3K+ TO ADDRESS SOMETHING CLEARING DEFECTIVE.
Air bags, Dec 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ
Air bags, Dec 4, 2015, crash
DAUGHTER DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 50MPH WHEN INVOLVED IN 8 CAR CHAIN REACTION COLLISION. SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. DAUGHTER INJURED WHEN SHE STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. DESPITE SPEED AND DEGREE OF DECELERATION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS OR SIDE CURTAINS.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2015, crash
THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THREE PASSENGERSAND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING AIRBAG DYSFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE INFORMATION THAT VW PROVIDED ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL SEEMS INCOMPLETE AND TO UNDERSTATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE.
Air bags, Service brakes, Nov 4, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, INJURIES ON THE LEFT LEG, AND NECK PAIN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 29, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND ARMS. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURING SYMBOL WAS PERMANENTLY BRANDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM. THERE WERE NO FURTHER INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.