2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 96 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 4 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJul 17, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
Campaign 19V535000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkagesJun 24, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Campaign 16V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Nov 3, 2021
I own a 2016 VW Tiguan.I bought in mid 2018 w/30k miles.The clock spring,which controls the drivers airbag,horn & all steering controls has broken 3 times.It has broken once per year since I have had.This is obviously due to a faulty part that keeps being reinstalled.I see years ago that over 1.2 million people w/VW's were affected.This issue should have been fixed the FIRST time when I brought it in w/74,000 miles on 12/18/2019 or perhaps fixed the SECOND time I brought it in w/95,000 miles on 7/31/2020.Now, it is broken AGAIN, a THIRD time and now I'm told too bad, its over 120,000 miles & no longer covered,when I came to bring in on 11/3/2021 (contacted you originally on 9/30/21).No one ever informed me of there being an extended warranty that only lasts until 120,000 miles. I drive 2.5 hours to make my appt & when I email you to notify you that I am going to be 15 minutes late,only then do I get a call from the service rep when I am down the block from the dealership. He proceeds to tell me that he doesn't have the part for the clock spring.That they are using something "new".I said why couldn't you have told me this earlier?Then the rep says, why don't you take your vehicle somewhere closer?I explained that I live in a rural area & that I have always brought my car to this facility & that this is the 3rd time for the same issue.Only then did he ask me the mileage of my vehicle & then began to say VW no longer covers the part.Well, it should have been fixed properly the 2 previous times.The clock ring has broken every year I have had the vehicle.If VW is indeed using a "new" part as the rep stated, then there must be a reason why. This is a safety issue.Due to reinstallation of a faulty part the clock spring continually breaks each year.VW & the dealership are aware that the part is faulty & this is why VW created an extended warranty on just the clock spring.When I stated this to the VW rep he stated that they cannot do anything about bad parts.Shame on VW
Air bags, Dec 5, 2020
AIRBAG ERROR MESSAGE POPPED UP IN CAR. NONE OF THE BUTTONS NOR HORN WORKS.
Air bags, Dec 25, 2019
I BEEN SENDING MESSAGES TO EXECUTIVEVOLKSWAGENOFNORTHHAVEN ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL OF MY 2016 VW TIGUAN. FOR SOME REASON IT'S BEEN A MONTH NOW AND STILL NO UPDATE ON THERE PART. I GAVE THEM THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 69Z5 FOR THE FAULTY CAPACITOR IN THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. THEY BEEN TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL CONTACT ME OR EMAIL ME BUT I NEVER RECEIVE OR GET ANY CALLS FROM THEM. I JUST WANT THIS RECALL TO BE FIX BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I WILL BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAD DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL.
Air bags, Oct 30, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V535000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF PERKIN AT (805)-642-6707 (LOCATED AT 3270 PERKIN AVE, VENTURA, CA 93003) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Oct 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V535000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN OF LAKE CHARLES (3850 GERSTNER MEMORIAL BLVD, LAKE CHARLES, LA 70607, (337) 419-1818) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Oct 14, 2019
STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE EVERY TIME I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. THEN THE VOLUME AND SKIP BUTTONS STOPPED WORKING ON THE STEERING WHEEL, LEFT SIDE ONLY, THE RIGHT SIDE CONTROL BUTTONS ARE WORKING JUST FINE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS STILL CLICKING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M ON THE FREEWAY OR IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, IT CLICKS NO MATTER WHAT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE.
Air bags, Jul 29, 2019
I BROUGHT MY TIGUAN USED. DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT.
Air bags, Jul 23, 2019
TURNING WHEEL TO PARK HEARD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL AND THEN AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO DISCOVERED THAT CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING INCLUDING HORN.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 27, 2019
CLICKING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. ERROR AIRBAG MESSAGE LATER APPEARED ALONG WITH AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT. FUNCTIONS IN STEERING WHEEL CEASE TO WORK INCLUDING THE HORN. NOTICED IN MOTION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Apr 19, 2019
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. UPON PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED AN AIRBAG ERROR WARNING, HORN CEASED TO FUNCTION, AND ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING.
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Aug 27, 2018
MY VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR VW SINCE 2011 AND THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A CRACKING NOISE THEN STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. AT THAT POINT THE STEERING BUTTON CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2018
WHEN PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A TEARING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. FOLLOWING THE NOISE, MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED PER THE OWNERS MANUAL AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REALIZED LATER ON IN MY DRIVE THAT THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HORN ALSO DO NOT WORK. IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS ANOTHER DRIVER THAT DAY SWERVED INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING AND I HAD NO METHOD OF ALERTING THE DRIVER BECAUSE MY HORN DOESNT WORK NOR DO I HAVE THE PROTECTION OF AN AIRBAG. I GOT MY CAR DIAGNOSED WITH VW AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT CAUSED VW TO RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES UP TO I BELIEVE THE 2012 MODEL YEAR. THIS RECALL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA UP TO I BELIEVE MODEL YEAR 2014 BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION, CLEARLY VW HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS PREVAILING ISSUE OR PROPERLY ENCOMPASSED ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AS MY MODEL IS 2016 AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING.