2013 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 139 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 2 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 1 person was 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
63 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Oct 14, 2017
VW RECALLED THIS VEHICLE FOR A DEFECT IN THE CLOCKSPRING WHICH CONTROLS THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS REPAIR WAS MADE IN JULY 2016. JUST 15 MONTHS LATER AND LESS THAN 3000 MILES LATER THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AGAIN IN THE EXACT SAME FASHION. THE SAME CLASSIC CLOCKSPRING FAILURE MODE AS REPORTED BY VW. I HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN THIS MORNING.
Air bags, Aug 11, 2017
OUR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2013 WAS RECALLED LAST YEAR FOR A FAULTY AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING WHICH, IF IT WENT OUT, CAUSED A LOSS OF THE DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG AND ALSO USE OF THE HORN. OUR AIRBAG AND HORN FULLY WENT OUT AT THAT TIME, AND WE TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. NOW, JUST MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED -- THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE OUT, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK NOR DO ANY OF THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE CALLED OUR LOCAL VW DEALER IN STAMFORD CT ABOUT THIS-- THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL CHARGE US FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT RECALLED, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS ADDRESSED UNDER THE RECALL LAST YEAR. IN ADDITION, THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT THEY ARE OFFERING US IS 30 AUG -- TWO AND A HALF WEEKS FROM TODAY. THEY HAVE SAID WE COULD ALSO BRING THE CAR IN NOW, BUT THAT IT WILL TAKE THEM A WEEK OR MORE TO GET TO IT.
Air bags, Jul 19, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE OSTIEN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
Steering, Air bags, Jun 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. AFTERWARDS, WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEITH BMW (5609 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH NC 27616 (844) 261-4301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND THAT THE CONTACT WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Steering, Air bags, Jun 20, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PALMETTO 57 VOLKSWAGEN IN OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Jun 6, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. AFTER DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (PARAMOUNT AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LOCATED AT 1234 S CENTER ST, HICKORY, NC 28602) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Air bags, Apr 26, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERN, THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE ON APRIL 4, 2017. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT THEY WOULD SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE A RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,200.
Steering, Air bags, Mar 20, 2017
MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. SHORTLY AFTER THAT HAPPENED, I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND I FELT A SLIGHT TENSION AT THE WHEEL AND THEN A POP AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE AIR BACK CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE, I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN'S FOR THIS SPECIFIC ITEM BUT THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ONE OF THE VEHICLES LISTED IN THE RECALL. SO NOW I'M FACING AN $800.00 REPAIR BILL FOR AN ITEM THAT'S ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR A RECALL, BUT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH.
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 27, 2016
MY 2013 VW TIGUAN SUDDENLY HAD A SNAPPING AND CRINKLY SOUND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS TURNING IN MY DRIVEWAY VERY SLOWLY. HOURS LATER AND "ERROR:AIRBAG" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH AND ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING, INCLUDING THE HORN.
Air bags, Mar 23, 2016
WHILE MAKING A NORMAL-RADIUS LEFT-HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A SOFT POPPING SOUND. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAG, DRIVER STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, AND HORN WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING HAD TORN, AND WAS THEREFORE REPLACED. A RECALL (15V483000) WAS ISSUED IN AUG 2015 FOR VW TIGUAN 2013S, BUT THIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHEN CONTACTING VW'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM, THEY INDICATED THAT THIS VIN WAS INTENTIONALLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER EVIDENCE INDICATES OTHERWISE. THIS VIN, AND LIKELY OTHERS WITH THE SAME TRIM, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A NEW RECALL FOR THE SAME, AS THE PROBLEM EXTENDS BEYOND THE VINS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, 15V483000.
Air bags, Feb 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE HORN AND THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,560.
Steering, Air bags, Nov 6, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO WORK, INCLUDING THE HORN, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Air bags, Service brakes, Sep 23, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 10/29/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. THE CONSUMER FELT THE REPAIRS WERE TAKING TOO LONG TO BE COMPLETED. UPDATED 04/23/2015 *JS