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: electrical system
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CHICO VOLKSWAGEN, 902 MAIN STREET, CHICO, CALIFORNIA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 29, 2018
THE ELECTRONICS IN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED GOING OUT, FINALLY NOTHING ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO DO WITH ELECTRONICS WILL WORK, NO AIRBAG NO HORN NO CRUISE CONTROL NO STEREO BUTTONS NO OTHER CONTROLS THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE CLOCK SPRING, AND SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER . THE DEALER SAID IT HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL DONE , THEY PUT A COVER OVER THE ELECTRONIC CLOCK SPRING, THEY SAID BACK WHEN THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM , WELL IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM , IT MAY DELAY IT , UNTIL THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY . MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR, WITHOUT AN AIRBAG NOW BECAUSE VW AND PIGNATARO VW REFUSE TO PROPERLY DEAL WIT THE PROBLEM. THE COVER DOES NOT WORK , THE CLOCK SPRING WILL BREAK , AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON . LEAVING THE OCCUPANT OPEN TO INJURY OR DEATH IN HEAD ON COLLITION. THIS IS A SHAM THAT THE COMPANY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM . THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN FIXED SO THEY ARE NO LONGER LIABLE . IT IS NOT FIXED !!!! PEOPLE ARE GOING TO , OR ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THIS !!!
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE, THEN THE HORN FAILED, THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION BUTTONS FAILED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 14, 2018
CLOCK SPRING ISSUE. MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED AND MY AIRBAG/STEERING COMPONENTS NO LONGER FUNCTION. VOLKSWAGEN IS CLAIMING MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED ALTHOUGH MY MODEL MAKE AND YEAR FALLS WITHIN THOSE FAILING. MY CLOCK SPRING PART NUMBER ALSO MATCHES THOSE THAT ARE FAILING. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE AIRBAG NO LONGER WORKED. THERE WAS NO THREAT OR DANGER. HOWEVER I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING AIRBAG.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 23, 2018
IN 2015 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CLOCK SPRINGS IN THE 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN WHICH I OWN AND OTHER OF THEIR VEHICLES. MY PREVIOUS OWNER GOT IT REPLACED THEN AND I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2016. I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEELS STOPPED WORKING AND MY HORN STOPPED WORKING ALSO. BEING THAT MY CAR HAS $46000 MILES AND I HAVE EXTENDED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY... I WENT TO VW TO COMPLAIN AS CLEARLY THIS RECALL DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN EVEN THAT LONG FOR IT TO BE BREAKING AGAIN. THEY DENIED TO COVER IT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN FIXED PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE RECALL HAPPENED. THIS CLEARLY IS AN ISSUE THAT WASN'T RESOLVED WITH THE RECALL AS I GOOGLED WHAT THIS WAS WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE NOISE AND THERE ARE SOOOOO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THIS IS A $500 JOB THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY NOW AND IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I TRULY FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND SHOULD BE COVERED.
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Nov 6, 2017
NO ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO STEERING WHEEL, AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON... ALL SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO TAKATA RECALL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME $800 TO FIX IT. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND SWITCHED ON, THERE WAS A TEARING SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL - THEN NOTHING WORKED IN THE STEERING WHEEL, NOT THE HORN OR THE CRUISE CONTROL OR ANYTHING. AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON.
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.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500.
Electrical system, Structure, Apr 11, 2013
WE RENTED THE VEHICLE FROM HERTZ AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WHEN WE PARKED THE CAR TO GO TO A RESTAURANT, WE COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THUS COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. WE PHONED HERTZ AND WERE TOLD WE COULD EXCHANGE THE CAR FOR A DIFFERENT CAR AT THE AIRPORT. ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT, WE KEPT SEEING SPORADIC WARNING SIGNALS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT VARIOUS DOORS WERE OPEN. THEY WERE NOT OPEN. THE ATTENDANTS AT HERTZ HAD TROUBLE UNLOCKING THE DOORS AS WELL. FORTUNATELY, WE CONTACTED OUR DAUGHTER BY CELL PHONE WHO DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE CAR ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A HIDDEN KEYHOLE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THAT WAS COVERED BY A SNAP-ON PIECE OF MOLDING. OUR DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE HOW TO ACCESS THE KEYHOLE TO THE HERTZ ATTENDANTS WHO THEN SUCCEEDED IN OPENING THE DOORS. THE WINDOWS WERE OPERATIVE, BUT WERE TOO SMALL FOR OLDER FOLKS LIKE OURSELVES TO USE AS AN EGRESS, CERTAINLY NOT WITHOUT HELP. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUTATION SINCE IT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTRACT PASSNEGERS FROM A VEHICLE THAT SUFFERS AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, PASSENGERS COULD ARRIVE AT A DESITINATION LATE AT NIGHT AND WITH INSUFFICIENT FUEL, AND FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR OR DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR HELP. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 8, 2013
THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT APPROX. NOV. 26. PROCEEDING UP A STEEP HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL DID NOT RESULT IN INCREASED SPEED. NEEDED TO SHIFT TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON DEC. 27. PROCEEDING DOWN A STEEP HILL AT APPROX. 45 MPH. POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 45MPH. PAVEMENT IS DRY, VISIBILITY IS MILES. SKY IS OVERCAST. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HILL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DECELERATION FROM 45 TO ~ 30MPH. PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT RESULT IN SPEED INCREASE. NEEDED TO SHIFT CAR INTO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR BACK. THIRD INCIDENT ON JAN. 5. PROCEEDING ON CITY STREET AT LESS THAN POSTED SPEED LIMIT. SUDDENLY CAR HAS NO POWER. ALL ELECTRICAL IS OFF. MUST MOVE CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER GETTING THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPED, WAS ABLE TO RESTART. ALL ABOVE INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED TO VW AND CAR IS IN FOR SERVICE. VW REPORTS NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. *TR