2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 140 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 5 involved a crash. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
Seat beltsSep 23, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.
Improperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. Owners are advised: No one should occupy the third row seat due to the safety risk. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen number for this recall is 69BA.
Campaign 20V579000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsAug 26, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.
Campaign 20V505000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Jan 9, 2026
While Driving Breaks got hard to push and car system made “beep” alert with words “Break booster fault” displayed on instrument panel. Pulled over and error went away. Checked brake booster and lines. Can not get it to duplicate. Read on Volkswagen forums online that this is happening to others. Car shops unable to duplicate as well but reports online state that is has happened again after being cleared by Auto Shop.
Structure, Service brakes, Mar 7, 2024
I am getting 2 warning messages- fault electronic parking brake and error driver door contact switch. The car seems to think my door is open and therefore turns on the emergency brake for safety. This has happened when I am parked and also when I am driving.
Seat belts, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 6, 2024
Please see attached documents
Service brakes, Jun 22, 2023
Just took my 2020 VW Tiguan in for routine maintenance and was told that my rear brake pads and rotors were down to 3&4 millimeters and had to be replaced. The front brakes were both at 8 millimeters and are fine. This appears to be a very strange wear pattern in that front brakes should take the most pressure. If the rear brakes brake harder than the front it could cause loss of control and “fishtailing “.
Service brakes, Jun 9, 2023
While just start the car and drive it for 2 or 3 minutes a loud alarm sound and my dash lit up in red saying "BRAKE BOOSTER FAULTY" the car brakes feel week and two minutes later it disappear and the brake returns to normal. my mechanic said that it is something that only the dealership can fix because it looks like a problem that must to be recalled. it is a safety issue that can lead to an accident on the freeway.
Service brakes, Air, Jan 18, 2023
The contact rented a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated driving 60 MPH, the vehicle independently pulled across the lanes of the highway with the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact was not able to control the vehicle. The contact was able to exit the highway and was able to get the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed back to the car rental office. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available.
Service brakes, Aug 30, 2022
Uneven and excessive pad wear that was reported to be "normal" by the dealer. Photo of pads from passenger side of vehicle attached. One is almost unworn and the other is down to metal.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, May 3, 2022
Automatic emergency brakes engage when pulling into/out of slightly sloped ground. My vehicle has come to a halt while in the middle of a highway multiple times after pulling out of a parking lot where it is slightly sloped. The most recent time was 5/3/22, but it has happened on 5 previous occasions. The emergency sensor believes the ground in front of me is an obstacle. I am now careful to only pull onto the highway when there are absolutely no cars coming for a good distance because my brakes will engage while I'm halfway into the road. The slope I'm talking about is not extreme or severe. No one else is having this issue in the spots where it happens to me.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 9, 2022
My tiguan is having the same issue at the vw Atlas. Emergency Braking system applying the parking break. Errors with the door sensor, start-stop, hill assist, and parking break.
Service brakes, May 10, 2021
THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A LOT. A POP WAS HEARD AND THE BRAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER. I HAD VW TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ORDERED A NEW BRAKE BOOSTER AND REPLACED IT. ON MAY 7, 2021 THE SAME SYMPTOM HAPPENED AND I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGAIN TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THEIR LOCATION. I AM WAITING FOR A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DIAGNOSIS.
Service brakes, Oct 20, 2020
BRAKES STARTING SQUEALING PERIODICALLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY, WITH ONLY 1,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. BRAKES NOW SQUEALING NEARLY ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES APPLIED LIGHTLY, NOT SO MUCH IF BRAKING HEAVILY. VEHICLE HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT. HAD ANOTHER VW DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING, IT IS NORMAL AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HANDED A BROCHURE TO CONVINCE ME IT OK.