2014 Volkswagen Tiguan

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 84 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 84

Of the 2014 reports, 2 involved a crash.

Primary concernAir bags46 reports · 55% of complaints
Owner complaints84Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags46
  2. Electrical system22
  3. Steering20
  4. Engine11
  5. Other or unspecified9
  6. Service brakes4
  7. Fuel/propulsion system3
  8. Suspension3

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

46 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 18, 2018

    CLOCK SPRING BROKEN, VIN NOT COVERED IN RECALL.

  2. Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Oct 1, 2018

    STATIONARY, PARKED. STARTED ENGINE AND HEAR CLICKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ERROR MESSAGE AND LIGHT EMERGED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING AIRBAG ERROR. NON-FUNCTIONAL ELECTRONIC CONTROLS AND HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NO AIRBAG FUNCTION AND HORN IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

  3. Air bags, Sep 14, 2018

    I WAS TAKING MY CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT WHEN I HEARD MY STEERING WHEEL CLICKING. SUDDENLY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD, MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND MY HORN STOPPED WORKING. I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND I SAW OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED VW AND THEY SAID MY CAR WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST AND NOT ON THE WARRANTY SO I WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR IT ON MY OWN.

  4. Steering, Air bags, Aug 8, 2018

    TAKATA RECALL / CLOCK SPRING, WHY IS EVERY OTHER MODEL IN THIS YEAR COVERED ACCEPT FOR THE TIGUAN? I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CAN NOT AFFORD THIS PART. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME. ALL I DID WAS TRY TO PARALLEL PARK AND THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED CLICKING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS NO HORN OR AIRBAG OR STEERING CONTROLS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. PLEASE HELP ME!

  5. Air bags, Jul 27, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL'S GAUGE CLUSTER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING, AND THAT THE SOUND BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE WITH EACH TURN. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DISASSEMBLED THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOUND THAT THE RIBBON CABLE HAD FRACTURED INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL'S CLOCKSPRING COMPONENT. WINNER VOLKSWAGEN (1387 NORTH DUPONT HWY, DOVER, DE, 19901) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CITED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT CITED PART NUMBER: 5K0.953.569.L AS, MANUFACTURED ON JULY 9, 2013, AS EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

  6. Air bags, Jul 5, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DEALER (VOLKSWAGEN BILLINGS, 4040 KING AVE W, BILLINGS, MT 59108, (406) 655-7500) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

  7. Steering, Air bags, Jun 19, 2018

    WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A CITY STREET, I HEARD A CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT CAME O. THEN NONE OF THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING. THE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. ABOUT THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. LUCKILY I ONLY HAD TO PAY THE 50 CHARGE BECAUSE I HAD A USED CAR WARRANTY.

  8. Air bags, May 17, 2018

    MY AIRBAG HAS A CLOCK SPRING ISSUE AND NEEDS TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. MY CAR IS NOT CONSIDERED WITH THE RECALL RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE, SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY CAR (2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN).

  9. Electrical system, Air bags, May 16, 2018

    THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THAT THE AIR-BAG ERROR LIGHT WAS ON. WE TOOK IT TOO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW.THE CLOCK SPRING WAS ISOLATED AS BEING DEFECTIVE/NON-FUNCTIONAL. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER AIR-BAG WAS SHOWING AN ERROR, ALSO THE HORN AND THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THIS APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE MODELS FOR WHICH THERE IS A RECALL THAT DOES INCLUDES THE VW TIGUAN 2014 BUT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER (HALLMARK VW OF COOL SPRINGS, TN) INDICATED THAT RECALL WAS NOT FOR THIS SPECIFIC VIN. THEY CHARGED ME $750 FOR PART REPLACEMENT.

  10. Air bags, May 11, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN "AIR BAG SAFETY ALERT" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN SO THE CONTACT VISITED THE SAFERCAR.GOV WEBSITE AND DISCOVERED AN UNKNOWN RECALL LISTED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN LA (1900 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007, (213) 477-7358) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,362.

  11. Steering, Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 9, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, BLUETOOTH, AND HORN FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO EXTEND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

  12. Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 5, 2018

    ALTHOUGH VW HAS HAD RECALLS IN MULTIPLE OF ITS 2010-2014 VEHICLES WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I'M HAVING CURRENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. I WAS PARALLEL PARKING AND I TURNED MY WHEEL ONE WAY AND HEARD A "TICK-TICK-TICK" SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL THE OPPOSITE WAY TO FINISH PARKING IT DID NOT TICK. AFTER THAT I HAD NO POWER IN MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, ALONGSIDE THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNING ON NOTIFYING ME THEY WERE NO LONGER WORKING AND MY HORN DOES NOT WORK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE WHILE DRIVING OR INSIDE THE CAR. WHEN OUTSIDE THE CAR AND I HIT THE LOCK BUTTON THE HORN WORKS NOTIFYING ME IT HAS BEEN LOCKED. I WAS NEARLY RAMMED INTO AFTER ANOTHER CAR TRIED MERGING INTO MY LANE AND I WASN'T ABLE TO HONK MY HORN AS WARNING TO THEM. CONSIDERING THE RECENT RECALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN I DON'T BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WHEN IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE CURRENT RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

  13. Air bags, Feb 7, 2018

    AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, BEING A VW DEALER TECHNICIAN, SCANNED VEHICLE FOUND FAULTS FOR DRIVERS AIRBAG IGNITER ABOVE PERMISSIBLE LIMIT, ALSO NOTICED CRUNCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING, UPLOADED MY VIN TO VW'S ONLINE PORTAL FOUND NO OPEN RECALLS, WHILE SEARCHING TECHNICAL BULLETINS FOUND RECALL 69L7 PERTAINING TO MY EXACT PROBLEM, ALL THE FAULTS AND SYMPTOMS STATED IN THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS WERE MY EXACT PROBLEMS. FIRST I CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN D BECAUSE MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AS WORKING FOR A DEALERSHIP I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT WARRANTIED GOODWILL, I HAD A REPAIR ORDER MADE, AND I DIAGNOSED IT TO BEING A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. AFTER LOG WAS UPLOADED TO VW, MY WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR TOLD ME THAT THE CLAIM HAD BEEN DENIED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE PART TO FIX THE VEHICLE IS 300 DOLLARS WITH ME REPAIRING IT. MY GIRLFRIEND DRIVES THE VEHICLE DAILY AND HAS A 3 YEAR OLD CHILD. I WILL NOT LET HER DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS OFF AS WELL AS NOT HAVING A HORN, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND VW REFUSES TO CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY AND TO WARRANTY THE REPAIR WHEN THE ISSUE IS KNOWN IN OTHER VEHICLES.

  14. Steering, Air bags, Feb 7, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). ARCHER VOLKSWAGEN (10400 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074, (713) 272-1700) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

  15. Air bags, Dec 30, 2017

    AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON, HORN NOT FUNCTIONAL AND CONTROL BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL NOT WORKING. OCCURRED SUDDENLY ON CITY ROAD. BROKEN CLOCK SPRING - EXISTING RECALL BUT MY CARS VIN NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.

  16. Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 23, 2017

    THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN DETERIORATED AND BECAME NONFUNCTIONAL IN A CAR THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND WITH ONLY 17000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS NOT AN OLD CAR, TO SPEND ABOUT $800 TO REPAIR A PART THAT IS STILL THIS NEW IS RIDICULOUS. THERE ARE PAST AND CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS EXACT PART WITH MANY MODELS, INCLUDING VARIATIONS OF OUR OWN.

  17. Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 7, 2017

    TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 2015,USED WITH 35,000 MILES,AND I GOT WARRANTY. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TO TAKE MY LITTLE KIDS -18 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER,AND 2 MONTHS OLD BOY,ON THE DAYCARE,I HEARD NOISE,LIKE CLICKING ,AND LIKE A BROKEN THING.I TRIED TO USE THE HORN.IT DIDN'T WORK.AND ON MY DASHBOARD I SAW THE WARNING LIGHT OF AIRBAGS.AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL WAS NOT WORKING.I STOPPED IN ONESIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED MY HUSBAND.IT WAS REALLY SCARY SITUATION. THE STEERING WHEELS IS TO HARD TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. I PANIC ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I HAVE LITTLE KIDS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE AT DAYCARE EVERYDAY. I START SEARCHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN I SAW THE RECALLS. FOR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN ,2014. I CALLED RECALLS CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED HIS NAME IS [XXX] AND HE TOLD ME I HAD TO GO ,TO DO AN DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING FOR MY VEHICLE. SO I WENT IN A VW DEALER HERE IN AUSTIN. AND THERE THEY FIGURED OUT. THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS BROKEN. AFTER HIM A LADY NAMED [XXX] CALLED ME TO ASK ALSO FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING,TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER I SENT TO HER THE PAPER I GOT FROM VW. SHE CALLED ME AND SAID WE WILL NOT DO THAT. IT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM. I AM REALLY ANXIOUS ABOUT THIS. I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO MOVE. EVERYDAY I AM FACING VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE SITUATIONS. I CAN'T USE THE HORN, WHILE I AM DRIVING AND I FEEL UNSAFE USING THE VOLKSWAGEN. I AM EUROPEAN AND WHILE I WAS LIVING IN EUROPE. I WAS USING ALWAYS VOLKSWAGEN AND FOR ME WAS ON TOP. RIGHT KNOW I CANT BELIEVE HOW UNSAFE IS FOR ME AND MY LITTLE KIDS. I NEED A SOLUTION FOR MY SITUATION. URGENT SOLUTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

  18. Air bags, Jul 10, 2017

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

  19. Air bags, Mar 9, 2017

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

  20. Air bags, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2017

    AFTER TAKING CAR TO VW DEALER I RECEIVED THESE REPAIR ESTIMATES: AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED...SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY 655 RECOMMEND REPLACING RIGHT SEAT BELT....CRANKCASE BREATHER HOSE RECOMMEND REPLACING BREATHER VALVE. WAS PARKED AND IDLE WAS FLUCTUATING ABNORMALLY...AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND SEATBELT WORKS FINE.

  21. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 3, 2016

    TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG STOPPED WORKING THE HORN STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I FOUND OUT THAT THE HORN WASN'T WORKING AS I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY SOMEONE MOVING IN TO MY LANE AND DIRECTLY TOWARD MY CAR. LUCKILY, THEY SAW ME AT THE LAST MINUTE. , ALL COMPUTER COMMUNICATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN STOPPED WORKING. LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW THAT THESE ISSUES WERE CAUSED BY A BAD CLOCK SWITCH. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME 800.00 TO FIX THE CLOCK SPRING.