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 2019 | ENGINE | VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC YOU STEP ON THE GAS AND INITIALLY THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE WHICH CAUSES YOU TO PRESS FURTHER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. EVENTUALLY VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKS VIOLENTLY FORWARD. DEALERSHIP ADVISES THAT SINCE THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE NEW. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,200 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MOMENTUM VOLKSWAGEN OF CLEAR LAKE AT (844) 894-5461 (LOCATED AT 15100 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77034) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE IGNITION LINE AND THERE WAS A SIGNAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE OCCURRED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,100. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,100 |
| Dec 2018 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | SINCE NOVEMBER 2018 OF THIS YEAR THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT IT SEEMS LOOSE AND THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES RED AND COMES ON RANDOMLY AND CHIMES. THE SEAT BELTS LOOKS AND FEELS CHEAPLY MADE. IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE LOOSENESS OF THE BELT IS NORMAL.THEY CLAIM WHEN THEY DRIVE IT THE RED SYMBOL NEVER COMES ON OR CHIMES. IT IS NEVER PICKED UP AS A CODE ON THE VW CAR NET OR ON THEIR MACHINE. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? I WANT THESE SEAT BELTS TO BE REPLACED. IT ONLY COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND DRIVING THE CAR.THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. I AM STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,671 |
| Dec 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | WHILE DRIVING, NO OBJECT OR ANYTHING IN THE FRONT, THE CAR EMITS A BEEP, RED FLASHING COLLISION SIGNAL, AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKE. THE DAY IS CLEAR, SUNNY, AND DAYTIME. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. TWO TIMES, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE WE HIT A WALL. IT CAUSED WHIPLASH AND MY NECK WAS STIFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,995 |
| Dec 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED WITHOUT OBJECTS/ANIMALS/OTHER VEHICLES IN SIGHT THE CAR EMITS A BEEP ALONG WITH THE RED FLASHING CAR COLLISION SIGNAL ACROSS THE FRONT PANEL THEN OCCASIONALLY SLAMS THE BRAKES WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT MYSELF(DRIVER) AND PASSENGERS ARE LUNGED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MOSTLY DURING SUNNY DAYS ON MULTIPLE TYPES OF ROADS SUCH AS INTERSTATES AND CITY STREETS REGARDLESS OF TURNING OR DRIVING STRAIGHT. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2018 | STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I PURCHASED MY TIGUAN SE 4MOTION IN JULY 2018 AND SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ACCELERATION AND NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE B PILLAR. THE ACCELERATION FEELS LIKE A TURBO LAG FROM THE START WHERE THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO RESPOND CAUSING A SMALL "STALL". THIS HAPPENS IN BOTH DRIVE AND SPORT MODES. WHEN ACCELERATING UP-HILL THE VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH FINDING THE PROPER GEAR AND CONSTANTLY SEARCHES FOR A GEAR TO SETTLE ON. THE B PILLAR NOISE SOUNDS LIKE LOUD CLICKING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND RUTS IN THE ROAD AND EVEN MAKES A NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR TO ITS FULLEST. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10 |
| Dec 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING "HEADLIGHTS" ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD CONSIDERING THEY PROVIDE VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN RAIN. I BARELY MISSED HITTING AN OBJECT IN THE STREET THAT WAS LESS THAN 30 FEET TO THE RIGHT AND IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH. THERE IS ZERO VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN AT NIGHT. I WOULD RATE THESE HEADLIGHTS A 1 OUT OF 10 WHEN MOVING AND A 3 OUT OF 10 WHEN STATIONARY. I FEEL THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO INFERIOR THAT THEY POSE A REAL DANGER TO ANYONE DRIVING A VW TIGUAN. THE LACK OF VISIBILITY IS SO DEFICIENT IN ILLUMINATION THAT I AM NOT GOING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT UNLESS NECESSARY. TOO DANGEROUS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Nov 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | ACCELERATOR POSITION AND ENGINE RESPONSE ON THIS VEHICLE IS VERY INCONSISTENT SLOW TO RESPOND FROM STATIONARY POSITION MAKING THE VEHICLE UNPREDICTABLE AND OFTEN UNSAFE. DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR PRODUCES INCONSISTENT RESULTS OFTTIMES THE VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO START MOVING, THEN OTHER TIMES FROM STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARDS WITH EXACT SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATOR INPUT. THESE EXPERIENCES ARE IN ALL MODES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 550 |
| Nov 2018 | SUSPENSION | RATTLING NOISE OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE WORSE AT LOW SPEEDS. VOLKSWAGEN TEC TOLD ME THAT WAS JUST THE WAY IT'S BUILT. I SMELL SOMETHING FISHY BREWING WITH THE SUSPENSION AND VOLKSWAGEN CLAIM THAT IT'S A NORMAL NOISE IS BEYOND ME I'M DEBATING ON GOING FOR A LEMON LAW REFUND IF IT'S NOT RESOLVED | Crash: No Fire: No | 40 |
| Nov 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE | THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! I HAD VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 411 MILES CAR HAS STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT SHUTS OFF FOR A SOLID 4 SECONDS BEFORE IT DECIDES TO ACCELERATE. GAS MILEAGE READS 100MPG, WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE... LOUD WIND NOISES AT 50 MPH AND A POP NOISE COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD AT 50 MPH . THE START STOP OPTION TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN THE ROAD IS ROUGH OR SLIGHTLY BUMPY! | Crash: No Fire: No | 517 |
| Nov 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | PANORAMIC MOONROOF LEAKAGE.WATER DRIPPING INSIDE VEHICLE ABOVE HEAD ON REAR RIGHT SIDE AND GOING DOWN INTO SEATBELTS COMPARTMENT.VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.WATER DRIPPING IINSIDE SEAT BELT COMPARTMENT IN MY OPINION MAY CAUSE SHORT SINCE SOME ELECTRICAL GOING THRU SAME COMPARTMENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 981 |
| Nov 2018 | STRUCTURE | B PILLAR RATTLE/CREAKING METAL SOUND, BOTH SIDES, BUT WORSE ON PASSENGER SIDE WHILE IN MOTION. SOUND IS ALWAYS PRESENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 17 |
| Nov 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | HEADLIGHT SENSITIVITY WHEN IN AUTO MODE IS SUPER SENSITIVE. HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON AND OFF DEPENDING ON ORIENTATION TO SUN AND WHETHER BRIEFLY IN SHADE SUCH AS DRIVING UNDER A BRIDGE OR UNDER TREES FOR EVEN A FEW SECONDS. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS BECOME ACTIVATED AND DE-ACTIVATED BY THE AUTO SYSTEM CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO MISINTERPRET WHAT THE CAR IS DOING (I.E. BRAKING) WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. NO METHOD OF ADJUSTING AUTO ON SENSITIVITY OR DELAY IS PROVIDED IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I NOTICED THIS BECAUSE MY ANDROID AUTO NAVIGATION KEPT SWITCHING FROM NIGHT MODE TO DAYLIGHT MODE. THIS CAUSED ME TO CHECK THE HEADLIGHT ON INDICATOR LIGHT WHICH MATCHED THE STATUS OF THE NAV SYSTEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | CAR MAKES NOISE THAT IS AUDIBLE WITHIN THE CAR AND IS PARTICULARLY LOUD BY THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 204 |
| Oct 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | PANORAMIC SUNROOF LED AMBIENT PANEL LIGHTS RECALL RESULTING IN DARKER LIGHTING INSIDE VEHICLE WHICH MAKES ME MORE AFRAID AT NIGHT AND WAS A FALSE ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE AS THE ORIGINAL LIGHTING WAS WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO THE VEHICLE UPON LEASE AGREEMENT.NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO REPAIR THE LIGHTING DEFECT CAUSED BY RECALL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Oct 2018 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | PURCHASED A 2018 VW TIGUAN SEL IN FEBUARY 2018. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE (SO FAR) AND BRINGING IT BACKI TOMORROW. HAS STAYED IN SHOP FOR 5 WEEKS SINCE PURCHASE. SERIOUS HESITATION WHEN ACCERLATING. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF HER LIFE !! (AND SO AM I) THESE CARS MUST BE STOPPED BEING SOLD...WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.... | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2018 | STRUCTURE | ON OCTOBER 11, 2018 I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A SIDE STREET TRAVELING 30 MILES AN HOUR I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I TURNED AROUND AND SAW MY SIDE MIRROR BROKEN AND SMASHED INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR WINDOW. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. IT WAS ISOLATED TO THE SIDE MIRROR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THEY LOOKED AT THE SIDE MIRROR. THEY CAME BACK TO TELL ME THAT SOMETHING HIT MY CAR LIKE A ROCK OR STICK. I WAS SURPRISED AND SAID REALLY THE ROCK OR STICK ONLY HIT THE SIDE MIRROR AND PUSHED THE MIRROR INTO THE WINDOW? I SAID I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFROST, LANE CHANGE OR POWER MIRROR WIRING CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND ESTIMATED TO COST TO $1100. I HAD DEALER ORDER A NEW MIRROR. I SCHEDULED THE SERVICE AND CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT THE PART WAS READY. AN HOUR WAITING FOR THE CAR TO BE SERVICED THE SERVICE ADVISOR GOT ME FROM THE WAITING ROOM TO TELL ME THAT THE NEW PART THAT WAS ORDERED FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND PAINTED TO ORDER WAS DAMAGED! TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD A REPLACEMENT MIRROR THAT HAD BEEN ORDERED FOR ANOTHER CUSTOMER. SINCE THAT CUSTOMER HAD NOT SCHEDULED A TIME FOR SERVICE IT WAS GOING TO BE SENT OUT TO BE PAINTED FOR ME. I LEFT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH MY BROKEN MIRROR. WHILE DRIVING HOME I REALIZED, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SIDE MIRROR, THE REPLACEMENT MIRROR CAME IN DAMAGED, AND ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A SIDE MIRROR. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PICTURES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,200 |
| Oct 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AROUND TACOMA, WA. NO APPARENT CAUSE. THE SUNROOF IS PANORAMIC AND ONLY THE FRONT HALF SHATTERED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Oct 2018 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE SEATBELT COLUMN. HAVE BROUGHT IN MY CAR AND SENT RECORDINGS OF THE NOISE AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE NOISE THEY NOW HAVE IT FOR THE 3 MRS TIME AND I HAVE SHARED U TUBE LINKS AND THE VW FORUM TO SHOW THEM THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE THE ISSUES | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Oct 2018 | STRUCTURE | INTERMITTENT CLICKING EMINATING FROM DRIVERS SIDE B PILLAR WITH OCCASIONAL CREAKING FROM VEHICLE FRAME IN THE SAME AREA. QUESTION AS TO SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES FRAME. THE CLICKING IS VERY IRRITATING AS IT IS NEXT TO DRIVERS EAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2018 | ENGINE | EVERYTIME I DRIVE WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, IT FEELS LIKE ENGINE IS GOING TO DIE. I CAN FEEL SMALL JERKING, LIKE CAR IS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. FUEL TANK IS FULL. I READ MANY COMPLAINS AND FORMS, VW DOESN'T CARE. I CONTACTED THEM VIA TWITTER, NO RESPONSE YET. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2018 | STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | SINCE BRAND NEW THERE IS A RATTLE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE PILLAR. TAKEN TWICE TO VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE AND THE RATTLE STILL THERE. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FORCING ME TO RESTART MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. COLD STARTS VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE WELL, FEELS LIKE WHEN SOMEONE IS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME AND MISSES THE CLUTCH AND THE VEHICLE JUMPS. TAKEN TWICE TO VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING IS WELL. AS SOON AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT IT BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING. WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AT AN INTERSECTION OR THAT THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH POWER DUE TO LAG WHEN NECESSARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| Oct 2018 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR OCCASINGLY SURGES UNDER HEAVIER THROTTLE PRESSURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE DEALERS ARE TELLING US THIS IS 'NORMAL' BEHAVIOR. I SEE THAT MANY DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED BEFORE WE GET TAKEN SERIOUSLY? VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE NOW. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2018 | POWER TRAIN | FROM A STOP, AND AT LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES VERY BADLY. AT TIMES, WITH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FOR 2-3 SECONDS OR MORE--IT JUST COASTS. IN OTHER SITUATIONS, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE AT ALL, AND THE ENGINE REVS TO HIGH RPM. THIS HAS LED TO NEAR ACCIDENTS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS: WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN, MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AFTER MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN, OR ATTEMPTING TO GET TO SPEED ENTERING A FREEWAY. FURTHER, THIS IS NOT HOW THE VEHICLE BEHAVED ON THE TEST-DRIVE. IF IT HAD, I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT. TO DATE, THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT MORE THAT 3 WEEKS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER THIS PERIOD OF SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME, AND I WAS TOLD THAT VW HAD DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A "FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE", AND THAT NOTHING MORE WOULD BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND A BAIT-AND-SWITCH. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | THE BACKUP LIGHTS ON THIS CAR ARE ALMOST NON-EXISTANT AND EVEN WITH THE CAMERA ITS DIFFICULT TO SEE TO BACK UP. I WORRY THAT NO ONE NOTICES I AM BACKING UP AND THERFORE THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |