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: structure
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2024
The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan has a problem with the sunroof leaking and floors being filled with puddles of water in entire car. This have caused the water to cause electrical problems with the vehicle as well as meadow and mold.
Structure, Mar 21, 2023
The sunroof/moonroof glass shattered while my daughter was driving on the highway, causing glass to fall down on her while driving. She stated that it sounded like a gunshot, then glass was breaking while driving. She was upset and crying, which could easily have caused an accident if it weren't that it happened in the evening. The car scheduled to be repaired I contacted the VW dealership and they stated there were no recalls. No warning
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2020
THE MOON ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED WHILE DRIVING ON THE I-95 WHILE IN MOTION TRAVELING FROM NY TO FLA. I BELIEVE DUE TO EXTENSIVE HEAT, THEN A SMALL 3 MINUTE EAST COAST RAIN STORM. NOTHING HIT IT, IT WAS NOT IN USE, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE MOONROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED INTO A GAZILLION LITTLE GLASS PIECES SENDING SHARDS OF GLASS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING EMBEDDED IN MY ARMS, NECK, BACK, HANDS, LEGS, AND FEET AND COVERING MY SCALP AND COVERING EVERY SURFACE AND CREVICE WITH TINY SHARDS OF GLASS. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF SC WITH NO SUPPORT FROM VW, AND NEEDED TO PURCHASE A HOTEL FOR 2 NIGHTS STAY. I ALSO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT I HAVE IN THE VEHICLE OFTEN WHO LUCKILY DURING THIS TRIP WE'RE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO DONE FURTHER RESEARCH THAT VW HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS SPONTANEOUS EXPLODING MOONROOF DEFECT AND HAS NOT RECALLED THESE MODELS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS AS VW IS AWARE OF THIS AND NEGLECTED TO TELL ME UPON PURCHASE 6 MONTHS AGO. AS OF RIGHT NOW VW CORPORATE HAS NOT MADE URGENCY OF THIS DEVASTATING AND TRAUMATIC MATTER.
Structure, Mar 23, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO WORK, WITHOUT ANY OTHER VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, WHEN MY GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED SUDDENLY. THE NOISE OF IT SHATTERING WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF IN THE CABIN. I HAD MY CLOTH CEILING LINER EXTENDED SO I DIDN'T GET HIT BY THE FALLING GLASS SHARDS BUT IT STILL SPOOKED ME. I DIDN'T END UP FINDING ANYTHING THAT WOULD SUGGEST IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN OBJECT HITTING ME.
Structure, Oct 8, 2019, crash
I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE YMCA PARKING . I TURNED OFF THE PUSH BUTTON KEYLESS ENTRY.I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM AND ENTERED THE YMCA. I COMPLETED MY BUSINESS AND EXITED THE Y APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES LATER. MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED LEFT STRIKING THE REAR CORNER OF A PARKED VEHICLE,THEN EXITED THE PARKING LOT AND STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED ON THE STREET. IF WE ASSUME I LEFT MY VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION,THERE IS NO ALARM,BELL,WHISTLE OR SAFETY SYSTEM IN PLACE ON A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN TO PREVENT DRIVERS FROM A SIMILAR ACCIDENT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS A RECALL ON 679,000 VEHICLES WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 2016 TIGUAN SHOULD BE ,BUT IS NOT ON THIS RECALL LIST. A PERSON FROM VW INFORMED ME THAT RECALL WAS FAIRLY NEW AND THE TIGUAN COULD END UP UNDER RECALL YET . SHOULD THEY WAIT UNTIL MORE TIGUANS HAVE ACCIDENTS? MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY MAKES AND MODEL VEHICLES HAVE LIGHTS OR ALARMS IN PLACE,INCLUDING SOME WHEN THE VEHICLE DOOR IS OPENED.
Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Jun 24, 2019, crash
THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN BY KEYLESS IGNITION AND THE FOB WAS REMOVED WHEN I ENTERED A BUILDING. AFTER 15 MINUTES IT ROLLED AWAY AND HIT A SCULPTURE AND ROLLED OVER. I AS THE DRIVER FAILED TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK OR SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE CAR AS SOMEONE WAS SPOTTED IN THE CAR AFTER IT FLIPPED OVER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE IMMOBILIZED REGARDLESS OF THE SHIFTER AS I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE EXITED THE VEHICLE. KEYLESS IGNITION SAFETY IN RELATION TO ROLLAWAYS IN THIS MODEL IS NOT SUFFICIENT.