2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 192 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 6 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsOct 31, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Campaign 22V815000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, bodyApr 6, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
Campaign 22V226000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsMar 27, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The tire information label contains inaccurate tire dimension and inflation pressure specifications. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The incorrect specifications can result in improper tire inflations or to installing a tire of the wrong size on the vehicle. Either of these situations can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D2.
Campaign 19V241000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, springs, coil springsMar 6, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
Campaign 19V188000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelNov 26, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
Campaign 18V824000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
17 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Jul 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a pothole or an object on the roadway and the vehicle stalled. The failure had reoccurred on several occasions. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power train, Jun 13, 2026
XXX, the emergency mode kept coming on, on the dash of my daughters 2019 Tiguan. I Took the tiguan to VW and they recommended replacement of gear selector unit. This is the car my daughter drives. She recently graduated and is now going to the military, leaving for bootcamp on 6/15. The part has been on backorder for 6 months (since Dec 2025), so she has only been able to drive on short trips and can not take her car to bootcamp or to her first duty station in [XXX]. She is essentially carless due to this issue. We've been waiting on a part of over 6 months. The car is not safe to drive as it also constant message, "Only exit vehicle in P position", "Trans in emergency mode". I can't in good faith sell the car to buy another knowing it has this issue. We have been working with White Allen VW in Dayton Ohio. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Apr 3, 2025
Transmission in emergency mode. Exit the vehicle only when in P park
Power train, Jan 12, 2024
Warning sign with message, ‘Only exit vehicle in P position. Please service vehicle.’ displays. Other vw cars recalled for this ‘same issue’ but not Tiguan. Please let them recall and fix the problem.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 4, 2023
When I turned the car on to leave work, the Check Engine and EPC lights came on, the car went into "Limp Home" mode and a warning came on the dash saying "Max Speed 4000 RPMs". Immediately, I could smell fuel, so I turned the vehicle off and exited. I noticed the ground under the car was wet. My husband came to check it out and the same thing happened. We saw that fuel was flooding out from underneath the engine. As he drove the vehicle to an adjacent lot to be able to be towed, fuel spewed out from underneath the engine. We had the vehicle towed to a VW Dealership in Grand Rapids who was able to diagnose a broken fuel rail bolt inside the intake manifold after they had the same experience with a massive fuel leak. Per the service advisor, this was not the first time they've seen something like this. Given the extreme flow of fuel from the engine, I'd say I'm very lucky that this didn't happen while driving through town or at speed on the highway where a vehicle fire would be possible with fuel pouring out of the manifold onto the hot engine.
Power train, Jan 18, 2023
It has already recall for other model but not ‘Tiguan’ Recall code is ‘37M2’ Please do recall and save us from danger. Please.
Power train, Aug 26, 2022
Hi, My 2019 VW Tiguan, has the warning sign that ‘Only exit vehicle in P position.Please service vehicle’ But I found out it has recall for other vw cars for same issue but not tiguan. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 19V615 VW ACTION CODE 37M2, 37L5 At dealer, they will charge for diagnosing for $280 because it has not recalled. It should be recalled. Thank you.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Mar 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. Since the initial failure, the failure occurred intermittently and the vehicle would restart soon after failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose or duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
Power train, Service brakes, Feb 18, 2021
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SLIGHTLY SLOPED DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF. AFTER 2 MINUTES, CAR WENT BACK APPROX. 100 FEET THROUGH WALKWAY AND ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MAIN ROAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE AS IT CAN CAUSE INJURY TO SOMEONE. WHEN CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, THE REP SAYS THERE IS A RECALL ON ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, ON THE NTHSA WEBSITE IT SAYS THE UPGRADE IS FOR "UPDATE TO ADDRESS ELEVATED TAILPIPE EMISSIONS THAT WERE FOUND DURING VEHICLE TESTING".
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 7, 2021
VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING FLUIDS 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR LEAKING OIL FLUIDS, AS WELL AS NOISY BRAKES, AND A BUCKING TRANNY. HAS HAD SEALS REPLACED, BOOT REPLACED AND IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN 1/2021 IN THE FRONT, AND ALSO LEAKING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR.
Power train, Oct 29, 2020
SPORT SHIFT. THIS IS AN UNDERPOWERED AND SOMETIMES CONFUSED VEHICLE. MOST OWNERS SAY TO DRIVE IN "SPORT" MODE TO HELP IT NOT HESITATE AS MUCH WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (CAN HAVE LONG HESITATION FOR NO APPARENT REASON) AND WHEN PASSING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PER MANUAL "SPORT MODE WILL NOT ALLOW TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO HIGHEST GEAR" WHICH IS 8TH GEAR. HOWEVER ONCE IN SPORT MODE, AND CRUISING WITH STEADY SPEED AND RPM, IF YOU PLACE SELECTOR TO MANUAL MODE THE SHIFT INDICTOR IMMEDIATELY DISPLAYS 8 WITH NO CHANGE IN ENGINE TONE OR RPM. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY IN 8TH GEAR AGAINST DESIGN AND OPERATION MANUAL DESCRIPTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR FOR THE SLUGGISH TRANSMISSION RESPONSE DURING NORMAL OPERATION WHICH DOES NOT SEEM VERY DIFFERENT FROM SPORT MODE AND WILL CAUSE PREMATURE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SOME OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. DEALER SAYS THERE ARE NO CODES SO THIS IS NORMAL.
Power train, Mar 11, 2020
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTENSE THROTTLE LAG. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I STOP BUT IT IS VERY EXCESSIVE WHEN ROLLING (10MPH) AND PRESS THROTTLE. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN AS IF I AM MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND HAVE TO PAUSE WHILE OTHER CARS ARE AROUND I FEEL IT IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 2019 TIGUAN OWNERS AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. AND DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN SOME DEALERSHIPS HAVE FIXED THIS ISSUE WHILE OTHERS HAVEN'T.
Power train, Oct 29, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK SWIFTLY. DEFINITELY A LAG GOING ON THAT IS FELT IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. EVERYTHING ELSE IS GREAT WITH THE CAR
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2019
VEHICLE FREQUENTLY SHAKES/SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY UNDER LIGHT/NORMAL ACCELERATION IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD AND EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING SITUATION. I PURCHASED IT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1300 MILES ON IT - THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY. UNDER LOAD, SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND AS THE VEHICLE REACHES APPROXIMATELY 9-11 MPH AT 2000RPM, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AS IF THE ENGINE IS BEING LUGGED OR IS MISFIRING. THIS REALLY ONLY OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO WARM UP AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SOME TIME IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ON. THE SHAKING/SHUDDERING HAS MADE ME EXTREMELY DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE ALREADY BECOME PHYSICALLY SICK TO MY STOMACH ONCE. I HAD TO CUT OFF 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH THE SHOULDER SO I COULD AVOID GETTING SICK IN THE CAR - THIS WAS ON 7/8/2019, A WEEK AGO TODAY. SEVERAL PASSENGERS WILL NO LONGER RIDE IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER TWICE OVER THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH THEIR EFFORTS TO DIAGNOSE IT WERE MADE IN GOOD FAITH, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE IT. I HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS OF THIS ISSUE THAT I ATTEMPTED TO SHARE WITH THE DEALERSHIP UPON DROPPING IT OFF THE SECOND TIME, WHICH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME HE DID NOT VIEW AFTER I PICKED THE CAR UP. I ALSO RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION/AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (CAR-NET), IS COMPLETELY NON-FUNCTIONAL DUE TO A SOFTWARE BUG AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL UNTIL VOLKSWAGEN COMES UP WITH AN UPDATE FOR IT (PER THE DEALER). I AM EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR THESE REASONS AND CONTINUE TO FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH EVERY TIME I USE IT TO COMMUTE TO OR FROM MY JOB, WHICH IS JUST OVER 30 MILES FROM MY HOME.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 3, 2019
PURCHASED CAR JUNE 30, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON WAY HOME FROM DEALER. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, BRAKE POWER BOOST FAILURE FLICKER ON SCREEN, AUTO START/STOP NOT FUNCTIONING, RESTART CAR ALL GONE. NEXT TRIP TIRE PRESSURE WARNING, UNABLE TO RESET. HAD TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS HEADING TO DEALER ON THE WAY HOME, CAR WENT BLACK, LOST ACCELERATION, NO RESPONSE FROM THROTTLE WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON BUSY FREEWAY. HAD TO COAST ACROSS FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO BE SAFE. RESTART CAR, DROVE TO DEALER. TOTAL AMOUNT OF MILES ON CAR 152. PURCHASED SUNDAY EVENING 6:30 PM IN REPAIR AFTER NEAR COLLISION TUESDAY EVENING 5:00 PM.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 1, 2019
I BOUGHT THE TIGUAN BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH HIGH HOPES FOR OUR FAMILY SUV. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION A FEW TIMES, BUT COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM SO SOON AFTER BUYING THE CAR. WHEN I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING CAR ISSUE AND NOT USER ERROR, WE HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 1200 MILES. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING WHEN I WAS TURNING LEFT DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH MY 12 MONTH OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. LUCKILY THE DRIVER COMING TOWARDS ME ON THE MAIN ROAD SLOWED DOWN WITH ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO MAKE MY LEFT TURN AND COAST RIGHT INTO A NEARBY SUBDIVISION. I PRESSED MY FOOT ONTO THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AND IT TOOK ABOUT 20 SECONDS FOR IT TO KICK INTO SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE FIXED. AFTER 9 DAYS IN THE SHOP, THEY CLAIM THEY DROVE THE VEHICLE 80 MILES AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEREFORE, THEY WANT ME TO PUT MY FAMILY BACK INTO THE CAR THAT IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY TRIED TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS THE "TURBO LAG" THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WHICH, IN THE LONG RUN, A MANAGER ADMITTED TO MY FIANCE AND I IS UNTRUE ISN'T EVEN WHAT WE ARE EXPRESSING AS THE PROBLEM. AFTER TALKING TO 3 MANAGERS, WE FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE WHO IS HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO SYMPATHIZED WITH OUR ISSUE AND IS LETTING US USE A LOANER UNTIL VOLKSWAGEN CALLS US BACK, BUT THIS IS ONLY AFTER I SHOWED THEM ALL OF THE OTHER REVIEWS ON THIS WEBSITE THAT STATE OUR EXACT ISSUE. NOW WE WAIT TO SEE IF VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO THE RIGHT THING OR IF THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AS TERRIBLE AS THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT IT WHEN WE WENT IN WITH A REAL AND TERRIFYING ISSUE. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WILL BE A RECALL. UNSAFE AND SCARY.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2019
UPON DRIVING MY NEW 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN THIS PAST WINTER. IT WAS A VERY COLD WINTER DAY, WHEN STARTING MY CAR IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. , THEN STARTED TO GO, IN REVERSE . I PUT IT INTO D DRIVE .. I WOULD PUTT ( GO AND STOP) LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS . THERE WAS PLENTY OF GAS IN IT . IT CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE EPC YELLOW WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT SIGNAL IS ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION . I HAVE NOTIFIED MY DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM. THE STATE IT WILL DO THAT WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUT. IT IS NOW SPRING TIME. IT HAS DONE IT TWICE