Complaint volume
273 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Complaints
273 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, grouped by component category.
273 Total complaints
5 Crash reports
3 Fire reports
6 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, structure, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 5 crash reports, 3 fire reports, 6 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 140 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 13,275 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, structure, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints?
5 Crash
3 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
9 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan complaint categories?
ENGINE 23
STRUCTURE 21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21
POWER TRAIN 13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 9
SERVICE BRAKES 9
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 8
273 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2022 | SUSPENSION | The car has had 10 safety recalls with one being the suspension. The suspension problem hasn’t been fixed as the car makes a loud clunking noise when driving it. My car has been to Volkswagen twice and they stated that the car was fine and they have no solution for the sound. This really needs to investigated. I googled the noise to see what it was and there are a lot of people that are complaining about this noise. I just bought my car and I’m literally about to trade it in because of this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The automatic emergency braking activated and slammed on the brakes, for no apparent cause. There were no cars, people, animals around. And luckily, no car was behind mine. This has happened NUMEROUS times previously, especially when going through roundabouts and downhill. This issue needs to be addressed by VW. I have mentioned it to service at a VW dealer, and they just tell you to turn off the front brake assist, but that is not a solution. Plus, you would have to turn it off EVERY time you start your car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while the cruise control was activated with a vehicle in the lane directly next to the vehicle or two lanes over, the Collision Avoidance System would determine that the vehicles were too close and the Crash Imminent Braking System would activate and stop the vehicle. The issue most recently occurred while driving 70 MPH causing the contact to aggressively depress the accelerator pedal. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who informed him that there was no malfunction detected. The contact spoke to the manufacturer who informed him that the issue was known however, there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Oct 2021 | ENGINE | During the life of a 48 month lease, the EPC and emissions control module failed four times, placing the vehicle out of service for at least 40-days total. When these components failed, a message popped up stating there was a 4000 RPM max. The ability to accelerate was immediately lost, and actually the vehicle not let me exceed 2000 RPMs. I had to pull over and restart the engine in order to continue my journey. This was extremely hazardous. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | The vehicle has had multiple issues with uneven and premature wearing of the brakes. Brake shop determined it was possibly the result of defective calipers. The inside and outside pads wore completely differently on every axle. Brakes wore out prematurely at 35k. I am suspicious that this also may have been caused by the forward collision warning system's proclivity to errantly activate, thus forcefully slamming on the brakes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | This vehicle has significant, but intermittent issues with acceleration; it seems mostly when the AC is on or it is cold out (below 40). Vehicle will hesitate, or entirely not respond, to the gas pedal. When this occurs, acceleration is even less predictable (and slower) than a diesel truck. When it does not occur, the acceleration was zippy and fast. Unfortunately, this erratic lag is extremely dangerous - especially when attempting to merge on the highway. I can step on the gas repeatedly and nothing happens, but then the car will accelerate in a manner which feels out of control. Driving in "sport" mode seems to prevent this, so I am inclined to think there is an issue with how the vehicle has been programmed - versus a mechanical issue with the engine. I know some "Eco" modes tend to make cars less responsive to acceleration (in order to save fuel) but this is extreme. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This vehicle's forward collision warning system is inaccurate and dangerous. It is very prone to errant activation. At least once a month, the vehicle's collision system would detect objects that were not there (often, when there was no traffic and also no roadway barriers like guardrails). These activations would result in the vehicle slamming on it's breaks, which culminated in warped brakes and premature wear on the vehicle. It was also hazardous to any vehicles driving behind me, as well as occupants of the vehicle - due to sudden jarring. My local VW dealer acknowledged this is a common problem with no solution, and not worth doing diagnostics on. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | STEERING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My VW Tiguan was out of alignment, as happens to every car. Unfortunately, the VW Dealership informed me that I cannot get a simple alignment for $100 because VW requires calibration of the Adaptive Cruise Control any time an alignment is done. I could not find this anywhere in the Owner's Manual, nor are there any other warnings on the car or in any paperwork I signed. The VW dealership wanted an additional $400.00 (for a total exceeding $500) to provide both services. I am concerned about this 1) because VW does not communicate that this is a limitation of the ACC system, and 2) while an alignment should be the customer's responsibility to pay for, calibrating the ACC system should not. Anyone could go get an alignment done at a tire or brake shop for about $100 - what happens if they try to use their ACC afterwards and an accident happens? VW should cover ACC calibration as part of the limited warranty, and clearly warn customers not to perform one service without the other. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Like many other people who have complained, the same EPC engine light turning on after the engine stalls while driving. This has happened multiple times while driving on the highway while going 65mph+. The max speed 4000 rpm message comes on the dashboard. The car does not accelerate and pulling over is necessary in order to shut off the car and restart the engine. This is incredibly dangerous and the car’s speed cannot be controlled. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Epc light came on and engine started to stall | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | AIR BAGS | I was involved in a head-on collision going 35mph. The airbags failed to deploy. Due to this fact, my leg arms, and shoulder took all the force of the accident causing edema and bursitis to my left shoulder. The car was towed to one of State Farm’s Collison centers where it was inspected. There were no warnings or symptoms prior to total failure of the system. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | STRUCTURE | Driving down the Highway with my kids in the car and the sunroof shattered. No was around driving near me, nothing was hit, no other damage on my vehicle. the sunroof just exploded with my 4 children in the car. Now Im 1,000 miles away from home. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Like many other complaints, for the second time now an error appeared having to do with 40000 RPM. Acceleration is impossible and the car shakes. We had this replaced for the first time in 2019 on our model year 2018 Tiguan and now need it replaced again. The car is undriveable, unsafe for its passengers and others on the roadway when it suddenly decelerates and won't resume speed. Both times this happened on the highway. There was no advance warning lamp or messages prior to the failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while reversing out of the driveway, the rack and pinion fractured while steering the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer. The contact was informed that the bolt had fractured inside the rack and pinion. The contact called the manufacturer but was unable to reach a representative. The vehicle was not yet repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 65,000 |
| May 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | • Vehicle purchased new • First brake service • Mileage: 46,700 Over a 1-week period, I noticed an increasing grinding noise at driver side front wheel. I suspected brakes. Took vehicle to VW dealership who performed an inspection then reported (first explanation) that unknown material/debris had worked its way between rotor and pad resulting in significant wear & scoring of driver front rotor. Dealership advised replacement of all 4 rotors and pads ($ 1,700+)! When I questioned the replacement of ALL brakes, I was told (2nd explanation) the debris in the driver front brake had reduced braking efficiency such that the passenger front brake had to compensate, which subsequently resulted in excessive pad and rotor wear/scoring at that site. Okay, but then why the rear? I was told (3rd explanation), that due to the decreased braking efficiency of BOTH front brakes, the rear brakes had to compensate and that the rear pads were at 5mm, and the rear rotors were warped beyond specifications. I requested all parts be retained for my inspection. Upon my later inspection, I saw that one pad from EACH side of the respective front calipers was substantially worn beyond the other pad. I was told (4th explanation) the caliper pins may not have had sufficient lubrication thus one (inner) side of EACH front caliper was getting hung up - thus the excessive wear to only the inner pad on EACH front brake. Similarly, the inner side of each rotor showed substantially more wear and “deep grooving”. Despite the clear evidence of caliper malfunction, warranty coverage declined - EVEN THOUGH the full factory warranty was still in full effect! Outcome: Paid for all new rotors & pads (no other feasible option). Service manager recommended returning after 5000 miles to verify proper function of calipers. But Service Manager advised that if the caliper issue IS found, at that time, “(T)he calipers may need replacement manufacturer’s warranty may apply.” | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I WAS DRIVING WITH A FRIEND IN CAR DOING SPEED LIMIT AND ALL OF OF SUDDEN THE RED VEHICLE ACCIDENT IMAGE CAME ON THE CAR SHUDDERED AND THE AUTO BRAKES CAME ON THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED MY FRIEND FREAKED OUT I BOT IT IN SEPT 18 AND IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THAT I IMMEDIATELY CALLED VW | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | WE HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH OUR 2018 TIGUAN AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE. AFTER OUR FIRST OIL CHANGE WE HAD ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. DID NOT REPORTED TO DEALER TILL AFTER SECOND OIL CHANGE. THEY CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE LEAKS AND PUT US ON OIL CONSUMPTION TEST FOR LITTLE OVER 600 MILES. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD US TO KEEP EYE ON IT. WE ARE ON 3RD OIL LIGHT SO, THEY NOW PUT US ON SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I OWNED MANY VW INCLUDING 2019 JETTA WE BOUGHT FOR MY SON AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH BURNING OIL. I READ MANY COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES ABOUT BURNING OIL ON VW ENGINES, SO I REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE THAT I KNOW AND SPECIALIZED IN EUROPEAN CARS. I ASKED MY FRIEND AND MULTIPLE MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND THAT IT WILL GET WORSE WERE IT WILL BURN MORE OIL. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT VW KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THESE ENGINES,SOMETHING WITH BAD CYLINDER SEALS AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT FOR LAST 12 YEARS HOW TO FIX IT AND WOULD NOT ADMIT IT. I GUESS THIS DOESN'T HAPPENS WITH EVERY CAR, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS THEY TELL CUSTOMERS THAT IS NORMAL. THIS IS BS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. NO ONE FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT TOLD ME ANYTHING SO FAR AND I HOPE AFTER SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST THAT THEY DO NOT COME TO ME A SAY IT. THAT WOULD BE BAD. WE HAVE SERVICE REPORT WHEN WE BROUGHT A CAR FOR FIRST TIME WE REPORTED THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING STATING THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR ENGINE TO CONSUME( BURN) OIL. IF THIS IS A NORMAL WITH THEIR ENGINES THEY SHOULD INFORM AND EDUCATE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY ARE BUYING THIS CAR TO KEEP EYE ON OIL AND KEEP ADDING AFTER CERTAIN MILES. NOT EVERY CAR HAS THIS ISSUE, IT IS CASE BY CASE AND THAT IS WHAT TELLS ME THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WE WERE THINKING TO KEEP THIS CAR BUT NOW AFTER WHAT I LEARNED WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER VW. PLEASE HELP.. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | SEAT BELTS | TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V724000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | AIR BAGS | MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I WAS A CAR ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 A VEHICLE HIT ME. I WAS IN MOTION HEADING STRAIGHT AND THE OTHER CAR FAILED THE RIGHT AWAY AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I'M WONDERING IF THERE WAS RECALL OR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REVERSE CAMERA AND THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE SCREEN WILL GO BLACK WITH A POP UP SAYING "THE PARKPILOT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE". THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES WHEN I LEAVE HOME THE REVERSE CAMERA WORKS FINE, BUT WHEN I TRY TO PARK SOMEWHERE AT MY DESTINATION THE ISSUE APPEARS. SOMETIMES AN IMAGE FROM THE RVC WILL APPEAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN CUT OUT TO BLACK WITH THE POPUP OF THE PARK PILOT NOT BEING AVAILABLE. I DON'T THE HAVE PARK ASSIST FEATURE AVAILABLE ON THE MODEL I'VE PURCHASED, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CAR EVEN THINKS I HAVE "PARK PILOT". THE ISSUE "FIXES" ITSELF WHEN I'VE LEFT THE CAR ON OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BUT THE ISSUE WILL REAPPEAR AGAIN SOONER OR LATER. IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I'VE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT SAFETY FEATURE AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN USE IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | MY FRONT ASSIST FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ALMOST CHOKED ME, AND THE SUDDEN STOP JARRED ME. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN TERRIFIED EVERY SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS THIRD TIME WAS THE WORST. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTACTED VW, AND TOOK MY CAR IN. THEY TEST DROVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND TO COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS WRONG. I SUGGESTED THEM DO MORE DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THEY DID NOT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY DID DOCUMENT MY CLAIM AND GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER. IN THE MEANTIME I STARTED DOING SOME INVESTIGATIONS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVESTIGATION GOING ON. I ALSO FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 46,000 |
| Nov 2020 | SEAT BELTS | SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON AND DINGS EVEN WHEN SEATBELTS ARE LOCKED IN. MY CAR HAS 5500 MILES ON IT. I'M SCARED MY SEATBELTS WON'T WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. IS THIS A SOFTWARE ISSUE OR SEATBELT CONNECTION? | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,534 |
| Oct 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS AFTER BEING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I STEP ON THE GAS AND LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ENGINE DOESN'T REV AND THE CAR DOES NOT ADVANCE. I CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY ACCELERATES AND THEN IT DOES IT IN AN OUT OF CONTROL MANNER. I HAVE HAD TO SIT THROUGH A FULL CYCLE OF A LIGHT BEFORE IT HAS STARTED. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO A DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT, BUT EVERY TIME THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET IT TO FAIL. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A RECALL AND THE PROBLEM WAS MADE WORSE AND NOT BETTER. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE. THE ISSUE BEGAN WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND WHILE IT ISN'T CONSTANT, IT HAS BEEN A REPEATED PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,000 |
| Sep 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE 2018 I HAVE NOTICED AND REPORTED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FEELING LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT IS MAKING VARIOUS INDICATOR LIGHTS TO COME ON. MOST CONCERNING AND UNSAFE ON 9/11/20 THROUGH 9/15/20, MY CAR STALLED RANDOMLY 8 TIMES. NO ISSUE COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER ON 9/16, THERE WAS A RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL WAS FIXED ON 9/19/20, I GOT AN ALERT THAT THE 'TRANSMISSION IS IN EMERGENCY MODE', I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW GEARSHIFT. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY STALK AGAIN AND HAVE HAD NO ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL NOT AS VW NEVER IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE STALLING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,300 |
| Sep 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | CAR FALSELY READS ANOTHER CAR OR OBSTACLE IN FRONT AND BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,805 |