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.
Of the 2014 reports, 2 involved a crash.
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
84 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Aug 5, 2022
Airbag and horn doesn't work the clock spring is out there is a recall on other 2014 Volkswagen Tiguans but not this one. it's unsafe to drive with these conditions. The airbag error went off when I started the car.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 1, 2022
This is the second time my Volkswagen Tiguan's spring clock has broken. As a result I have lost access to my airbags and horn. I also can't contact my driver electrical from the steering wheel. I am being told there is no way of knowing when the dealership may be able to get the part. I will be driving in an extremely unsafe care with my one-year old son. This is terrifying.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2022
The clock spring in my vehicle went out. There is a backorder of upwards of 1 yr for part to replace. VW stated its a known issue. Until the clock spring gets fixed, I have no drivers side airbag, no horn, all lights on dash are on. With them all on, I am not alerted to any issues that may be occurring with any system in my vehicle.
Air bags, Jun 10, 2022
My clock spring was diagnosed to be faulty and covered under the manufacturers extended warranty. I was told that the part was on back order and could take a few weeks to get in. That was on November 9, 2021. I have now driven for over 7 months in a car that does have a functioning air bag and have spent hours on the phone with Volkswagen USA and in different dealerships trying to find a remedy. My VIN number currently says there are no open recalls but fits perfectly under NHTSA Recall #15V483000. According to the NHTSA when it comes to recalled vehicles, "Manufacturers are required to fix the problem the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund, or in rare cases repurchasing the vehicle" (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). The part is not available for this car so dealerships are unable to repair this issue. According to the NHTSA, this issue needs to be resolved in on e of the ways listed above and so far my safety has been neglected by not only the local dealerships but also by Volkswagen USA. I now have 2 months until my inspection expires and I will not be able to legally drive a car due to the negligence of the manufacturer.
Electrical system, Air bags, May 3, 2022
Clock spring failed in the steering wheel after having the part replaced 2 years ago under a VW warranty. Now that the clock spring failed a second I am told that there is no ETA to get the vehicle fixed and there are over 10k people waiting for the part needed to fix the vehicle. The wait is likely over 9 months. With a failed clock spring the airbags do not work. The horn also doesn't work. 2 key safety features are no longer working in my vehicle because of a manufactures defect that is highly known. VW taking no responsibility and will not expedite parts replacement or offer an alternate vehicle. Because of VW a vehicle that would fail a safety inspection in most states will be on the road. They are not offering a loaner vehicle and are instead allowing cars to be on the road without horns and airbags. This should be a recall and VW should have to pay for damaged vehicles that are unsafe to drive.
Air bags, Apr 24, 2022
Took car to shop with a noise in the steering column and the SRS light is on. Automotive shop (attachment) diagnosed vehicle needs a new clock spring for the SRS system but the part is on back order with no release date as of now. This part has been unfindable for over five months, leaving the vehicle unable to be safely driven or sold/traded-in as the VW dealerships will not pay what vehicle is worth because of VW's own part issue. This leaves the consumer in a really bad position. There is no functioning airbag and VW can't come up with the part. This is a persistent issue, including a previous NHTSA investigation, see these links: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen/2017/11/17/feds-investigate-volkswagens-reluctant-recall/?sh=53b9719e3b77 http://www.vwproblems.com/clock-spring-failure/ We had this fixed initially under the first recall, but the issues persists for who knows how many car owners.
Suspension, Mar 14, 2022
We were driving on a highway and all of a sudden felt/heard a loud bang causing the car to swerve. We slowed down and there was a continuous loud rattling sound. We brought the car to the dealership and they told us the coil springs were fractured. Had to pay for the replacement- $2,825.73. Then we learned that the later models were recalled, but not this one. Then I heard that there was a recall from 2019 onwards, but nothing for our model year. We asked them to talk to Volkswagen and they said it was not worth it as they would not do anything about it. Something is not right.
Engine, Mar 11, 2022
Took to dealer 11/16/2021 For Service Engine Light. Found Faulty Turbo. The exhaust Manifold and Turbo come as one part. A valve inside seizes open or closed and cause a code to set. Open code is low boost. If it is seized Closed it is a over boost Code. This effects emissions! This car low mileage and turbo failed at 11/16/2021 at 40,000 Miles. This is common issue in 2.0 TSI engine.
Air bags, Mar 11, 2022
Took car to dealer for Air bag Light On, No controls in steering wheel worked. Including Radio control, Tire pressure reset, Inspection reset and oil change reset. Faulty Clock Spring Diagnosed. Clock spring was not replaced at date of invoice ,and still waiting on part as of 03/11/2022. VW Number One Back Ordered Part. With no Air Bag in Steering wheel is a safety concern.
Suspension, Feb 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that upon servicing his vehicle at an independent mechanic, he was informed that both rear springs had developed severe corrosion that needed replacement. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that rain and snow had collected inside the springs causing the corrosion. The contact had the driver’s side lower control arm and both rear springs replaced by the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure online but offered no assistance. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Feb 15, 2022
When turning the car, I heard a sound in the steering wheel and then lost functioning of the horn and all other steering wheel controls and buttons; The air bag light also came on - indicating the driver's side airbag is not functioning. Based on research believe it is identical problem others that have reported with defective steering wheel clock spring. Cannot find evidence that this vehicle was subject to or repaired under the previous recall on this issue. 1) it is available for inspection 2) safety risk because driver side airbag is now malfunctioning 3) not inspected by dealer or service center yet 4) not inspected by any others 5) no, no other warning lamps, message or symptoms appeared prior to the failure - airbag malfunction light went on at the same time the car lost other electrical functioning in the steering wheel. Unable to view any other messages because button to toggle through info system on dash is not working as well.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 31, 2022
One day I noticed that my horn wasn't working. Then a few days later I noticed that I couldn't connect to my phone from the steering wheel. The the airbag light came on. Garage said it is malfunctioning of electrical parts in the steering wheel column.
Air bags, Service brakes, Oct 8, 2021
i Was Driving my Vehicle and suddenly the Air Bag and ABS lights went on my dashboard
Air bags, May 20, 2021
We purchased the car pre-owned and after having the car for only a year the driver’s side airbag failed and horns need to be replaced. There have been so many repairs in this car. We have invested more than $5,000 in repairs in only a year. We looked up other recalls on this car and have been seeing the same information about the airbags failing.
Suspension, Feb 4, 2021
THE SWAY BAR LINKS ON THIS VEHICLE WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. ALL WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER AND WITH OEM REPLACEMENTS. THE FIRST ONE WAS AROUND 18,540 MILES AND THEN ABOUT EVERY 25K MILES AFTER THAT.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 13, 2021
POWER TO THE AIRBAG HAS FAILED, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. SEE VW DEALERS STATEMENT OF FACT WITH REMARKS.
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF SEVERAL ITEMS OF BELONGINGS ON THE GROUND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE VEHICLE USING THE KEYFOB HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR REMAINED UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT USED THE INTERNAL DOOR LOCK FUNCTION TO LOCK THE DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES TO THE DOOR BEING AJAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK HANNAH VOLKSWAGEN OF PORTLAND LOCATED AT (12345 E BURNSIDE ST, PORTLAND, OR 97233) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 9, 2019
A CLICKING SOUNDS STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING, AT ONE POINT THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON, AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORK, INCLUDING THE HORN. THE CLICKING SOUNDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL PRESENT WHILE TURNING. I CALLED A PLACE THAT SPECIALIZES IN VW AND THEY SUGGESTED I CALL VW DEALER INSTEAD BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HIGHLY LIKELY A RECALL. I CALLED VW AND THEY STATED IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT PART OF AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY", WHICH MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR DUE TO THE MILES ON THE CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH VW, AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR $160 TO SIMPLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS CLEAR TO THEM WHAT THE ISSUE IS, AND NOT NEW TO THEM. IT IS NOT DUE TO THE AGE OR MILEAGE ON THE CAR, BUT A SAFETY MISS FROM THEIR END.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2019
WHILE TURNING MY 2014 TIGUAN I NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE. ABOUT A DAY LATER MY AIRBAG ELECTRICAL ALERT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND ALL MY ELECTRICAL ON MY STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS MY HORN. I CHECKED ALL MY FUSES AND THEN SAW THAT IT MIGHT BE THE CLOCK SPRING DUE TO COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY CARS VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND MANY OTHER 2014 TIGUAN VOLKSWAGEN ARE HAVING TO COVER THESE COST THEMSELVES DUE TO NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO HAVE ITS RECALL EXPANDED BECAUSE THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO MAKE CONSUMERS PAY OUT OF POCKET OVER A MANUFACTURED MALFUNCTION. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR NOW KNOWING MY AIRBAGS OR HORN WILL NOT WORK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION FURTHER AND NOT ALLOW VOLKSWAGEN TO GET AWAY WITH THIS.
Service brakes, Aug 17, 2019, crash
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH IN TRAFFIC, BRINGING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON IS LOCATED NEXT THE TO CUP HOLDER IN THE CENTER CONSOLE BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. THE DRIVER PUT A COFFEE MUG WITH AN OPEN HANDLE IN THE CUP HOLDER WHILE DRIVING. THE MUG HANDLE PRESSED ON THE BUTTON WHEN IT WAS PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER (WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP IN THE CENTER LANE OF INTERSTATE 91. THE ONLY REASON WE SURVIVED IS THAT THE PERSON BEHIND US WAS DRIVING A VOLVO AND WAS FOLLOWING AT SAFE DISTANCE. IF A TRACTOR TRAILER HAD BEEN BEHIND US WE WOULD BE DEAD.
Other or unspecified, Jun 2, 2019
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TURBO I WAS DRIVING AND CAR JUST SHUT OFF I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE TURBO NOT EVEN 2 YEARS GO BY AND I STARTED TO DRIVE AND CAR WAS JERKY AND IDLING FUNNY TOOK IT TO ADVANCED AUTO FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TURBO. IM TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER TOMORRW WITH 3 MORE YEARS OF PAYMENTS LEFT
Visibility, Dec 31, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE MOON ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND GLASS FELL INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EMICH VOLKSWAGEN (1260 S. COLORADO BLVD, DENVER, CO) AND THE MOON ROOF WAS REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2018
ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2018 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION LOAD ENOUGH TO MAKE MY EARS RING. I LOOKED UP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED AND FINE PARTICLES OF GLASS WERE RAINING DOWN ON ME THROUGH THE SUNROOF SUNSHADE. NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF TO CAUSE THIS AS THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC, OVERPASSES OR CONSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. THE ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THAT THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 65 MPH. WE ARE PUTTING THE REPAIR THROUGH OUR INSURANCE WITH A $500 DEDUCTABLE AND AS YET WE DO NOT KNOW THE FINAL COST OF REPAIR AS IT IS STILL BEING WORKED ON. DAMAGE BEING REPAIRED IS THE SUNROOF GLASS, SUNSHADE AND THE ROOF HAD TO BE REPAINTED BECAUSE IT WAS SCRATCHED BY BROKEN GLASS.
Steering, Air bags, Dec 5, 2018
AIR BAG RECALL - AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DO NOT WORK INCLUDING HORN. TOOK CAR IN AND DEALER SHOWED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE/MODEL BUT NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 4, 2018
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN I HEARD SOME CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. SUDDENLY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. THE HORN AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, SUCH AS, VOLUME, STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED ON THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY CAR DETAILS(YEAR, MODEL, PROBLEM) FIT. I HAVE HAD VOLKSWAGEN FOR EVER 9 YEARS AND I AM SO FRUSTRATED. MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. NO DOUBT.