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: other or unspecified
20 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2022
The front headlight does not work on one side but the high beam and running lights still work on both sides. Might be an issue with the ballast or electrical system. A few days later my car would not start in the morning. The engine would crank but never start. There were no warning lights or signs of anything not working correctly. Seems like it might be because of the timing system either the belt/chain or the tensioner. Have to get cared towed to shop to have inspected and prices for repairs are very high. I've owned this vehicle for only 3 months.
Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2021
Our daughter's veh. has mold in the rt front & rt rear seat flooring. The inside of the windshield has water to the point that it is very hard to see out of it at night and the pano. glass roof also has water inside of the suv as well. We have taken the veh. to (2) glass shops & a body shop & they are saying this is a safety & defect issue with this model. We researched on this & there are thousand of consumers who have the same complaints & concerns about the mold that this has caused & also many cases electrical issues inside this model suv. no matter what year same issues. We also know of a relative same thing same model & leakage as well and luckily hers so far no mold as of yet. Our daughter cannot use this suv due to the mold & is forced to use another veh. to get to college. We have video and photos showing the water in the veh & inside the rt windows during the night & day time. We have tried getting this resolved & have done all we could in so far as also going to the dealership but they did not want to hear it nor their VW "Care" dept. as well they just stated to contact NHTSA as our veh. could be included as again there are numerous complaints on this issue. Please let us know what is needed from us to investigate this. I can be reached at [XXX] or email us at [XXX]. ***Thank you so very much for any assistance you can provide us on this.*** Sincerely concerned parent INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 21, 2020
I'VE ONLY OWNED THE VW TIGUAN 2012 FOR 6 MONTHS, JANUARY 2020 AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, ALL POWER LOST AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 8 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS, 2 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, IT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND YESTERDAY JULY 20,2020 WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.
Other or unspecified, May 1, 2020
I WOKE UP AND THERE WAS WATER ON THE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGERS' SIDE FLOOR. YET IT HASN'T RAINED IN ALMOST A MONTH. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS THERE BUT MADE THE DISCOVERY AFTER CARRYING A PASSENGER AT THE FRONT AND BACK SEAT.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 20, 2019
AFTER RAIN DRIVERS SIDE FRONT & REAR CARPET IS SOAKED
Other or unspecified, Jun 10, 2019
WAS DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON I5 HEADING TOWARDS CHEHALIS FROM WHERE I LIVE GOING 65 MPH DRIVING IN THE FAST LAST LISTENING TO MUSIC AND MY FRONT HALF OF THE SUNROOF SHATTERED DROPPING GLASS ON TO ME AND THE FRONT SEATS RIGHT BEFORE THE TROSPER ROAD EXIT IN TUMWATER WASHINGTON .
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 28, 2019
FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, INTERMITTENTLY BUT CONSISTENTLY, THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER AFTER A WARM START. IGNITION TURNS OVER APPROPRIATELY AND STARTS, BUT AFTER PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPOT IN A LOT OR INTO TRAFFIC, THE CAR JUST LOSES POWER. BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON AND YOU HAVE TO PUT CAR BACK IN PARK AND START IT AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME IT STARTS IT STRUGGLES BUT RESTARTS AND TYPICALLY DOES NOT LOSE POWER OR STALL AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL START TO LOSE POWER AND AS YOU PREPARE FOR IT TO STALL IT REGAINS POWER AND SHOOTS FORWARD REGARDLESS OF HOW LIGHTLY YOU'RE GASSING IT. I HAVE GONE FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY RULED OUT BATTERY, CONNECTIONS, ALTERNATOR, ETC. AND SAY THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER KEEPING THE CAR FOR DAYS AND DRIVING IT AROUND, YET IT HAS LITERALLY HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE BEEN LEAVING THE DEALER. SOMETIMES THE EPC LIGHT GOES ON AFTER THIS OCCURS BUT NEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS MILD AND WHEN THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME TIME. NEVER HESITATES ON A COLD START.
Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2019
AT 36,100 MILES MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TURBO UNIT AT THE VW DEALER/SERVICE CENTER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I COULDN'T AFFORD IT SO WENT HOME AND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND SPOKE WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER VW MECHANIC FOLKS, INCLUDING ONE OF THE LOCAL DEALER'S MECHANICS WHO OFF LINE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND TO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY WOULD JUST RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. AT 47,773 THE RESETTING WOULDN'T WORK AND WHEN INSPECTED, IT DIDN'T PASS AND I AM ONCE AGAIN TOLD I NEED A NEW TURBO UNIT. FROM WHAT THE SERVICE TECH SAYS, THE WASTE GATE IS WORN OUT. THIS HADN'T COME UP BEFORE. I'M NOW IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT REPAIRED. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR WHICH IS $2,200 OR MORE. IN ADDITION, IN AUGUST 2016, I HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. THE PART HAD TO BE MADE IN GERMANY. VW RENTED A CAR FOR ME FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEY ALSO PAID THE ENTIRE BILL. AT ONE POINT THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME A NEW CAR WITH A REDUCED PRICE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I GREATLY APPRECIATED THIS AND I KEPT THE CAR. I LOVE THE CAR MAKE AND MODEL, IT HAS NOT BEEN A SMOOTH ROAD, HOWEVER. THE CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD WITH 47,773 MILES. OBVIOUSLY, THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AFTER THREE YEARS OR 30,000. I HAD MY LAST CAR, A HONDA ACCORD COUPE FOR 13 YEARS, OVER 125,000 MILES, WITH NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. IN ANY EVENT, IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING QUOTES ON REPLACING THE TURBO UNIT, I HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY LOCAL FOREIGN CAR SERVICE CENTERS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY REPLACING OTHER TIGUAN OWNERS' TURBOS! SOUNDS LIKE VW SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE LONG AGO!
Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2018
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXCEEDING 45 MPH OR HARD ACCELERATION THE BODY PITCHES AND ROLLS IN A JERKING MOTION. AS THE SPEED INCREASES OR THE DRIVING SURFACE BECOME ROUGH, THE BODY FEELS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. AS A A RESULT, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS MARGINAL UNTIL THE SPEED IS REDUCED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY VISIBLE PHYSICAL DEFECTS BY THE LOCAL VW DEALER. VW TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT CV AXLES, WHICH WAS DONE. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE HANDLING. BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND 81000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, VW OF AMERICA HAS SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO A DEALER OCT. OF 2012. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 17, 2018
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ON A CITY STREET WITH A LITTLE OVER 40K MILES ON VEHICLE. THIS VIN NUMBER DID NOT APPEAR ON 15V-483 RECALL. RECOMMEND INCLUSION OF THIS COMPLAINT ON THE RQ 17-009 INVESTIGATION TO WIDEN THE RECALLED VIN'S. REPAIR DONE BY OKC VOLKSWAGEN AT A COST OF $600
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2018
THERE WAS WATER LEAKING AND I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A VW DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. THEY INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THAT WATER LEAKS FROM THE SUNROOF FRAME. THEY STATED THAT THE LEAK IS IN A LOCATION THAT CANNOT BE FOUND AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THUS I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRAME. THE SUNROOF FRAME IS FAULT EVEN I HAD NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT ON MY VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATED SINCE WATER LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOF MAY CAUSE MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, May 29, 2018
PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODING AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING, BROKEN PIECES OF GLASS FALLING INTO DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S CABIN.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Apr 5, 2018
I HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL AND SINCE THEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND MY HORN DOES NOT WORK ON MY VEHICLE. I SAW THE RECALL FOR THE CLOCK WHEEL SPRING IN 2015 AND THEY CLAIM IT HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT I HAVE SINCE SEEN FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT VW ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I STILL HEAR CLICKING NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN.
Other or unspecified, Mar 31, 2018
SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH A LOUD BOMB-LIKE SOUND. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 IN WEST SACRAMENTO, CA TOWARD DOWNTOWN. THE SUNSHADE WAS CLOSED AND CAUGHT THE GRAVEL-LIKE PIECES OF GLASS. AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, THE GLASS CONTINUED TO CRACK INTO MORE PIECES AND COLLAPSE INTO THE SHADE. 75% OF THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS GONE, LEAVING A LARGE WHOLE IN THE ROOF WHEN I STOPPED, INSPECTED, AND CALLED FOR A TOW HOME.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 8, 2018
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND VIBRATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE REPORTED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS BAD.
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2017
ON THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND I OPENED USED MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF AS I HAVE NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE SUNSHADE I HEARD A WEIRD NOISE COME FROM THE TRACK AND THE FABRIC RETRACTED BACK INTO THE OPEN POSITION. I ONCE MORE PUSHED THE CLOSE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE SUNSHADE AND WHILE MOVING FORWARD THE FABRIC RIPPED AND THE COIL RETRACTED SLIGHTLY.
Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2016
THE CAR SHIFTS GEAR VERY EARLY AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING A LAG IN MAINTAINING SPEED. THIS IS DONE IN THE NORMAL "D" SELECT MODE, AND DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN DRIVING IN SPORT "S" MODE.
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2016
THE BLUETOOTH IN MY 2012 VW TIGUAN HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. VW SAID THAT THE BLUETOOTH IS FAULTY AND THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $700 TO FIX MY BLUETOOTH.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 25, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE AND IT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE CAME TO FULL STOP. IT TOOK A WHILE TO RE-START THE ENGINE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPAIRED BY A VW DEALER, BUT I NEVER GOT A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST SUNDAY ON A HIGH TRAFFIC LOCAL ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND AGAIN CAME TO A FULL STOP. IT WILL NOT RE-START.
Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2015
THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. HAVING COME TO A MOMENTARY STOP, FOR EXAMPLE IN AN INTERSECTION AWAITING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR BEFORE PROCEEDING TO TURN LEFT, WHEN AGAIN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR LAGS FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE. VERY UNNERVING WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS BEARING DOWN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS ENDEMIC, A DESIGN ISSUE, AND VERY UNSAFE.