Complaint volume
176 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
176 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
176 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are unknown or other, electrical system, forward collision avoidance. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 6 crash reports, 1 fire report, 5 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 63 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 11,386 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
176 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2020 | POWER TRAIN | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,000 |
| Oct 2020 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF. THE DRIVER CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER RESIDENCE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF PANEL HAD SHATTERED. THE DRIVER STATED THERE WAS NO IMPACT THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER CHAPMAN VOLKSWAGEN OF TUCSON LOCATED AT 4500 E 22ND ST, TUCSON, AZ 85711, (520) 445-4090 AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. *LN | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Aug 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | MY VEHICLE'S FRONT ASSIST COLLISION SENSOR WILL ENGAGE ITSELF WHILE GOING DOWN SOME DRIVEWAYS REGARDLESS OF HOW SLOW OR ANGLED I TRY TO EXIT (I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT MY EXIT AND TURNS ARE SAFE FROM ANY ONGOING TRAFFIC SO THE SENSOR IS ONLY BEING TRIPPED FROM GROUND IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR). I HAVE BEEN ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS AND ALMOST HIT FROM THE SIDE WHEN THE THE SENSOR ENGAGED WHEN I WAS MORE THAN HALFWAY OUT INTO THE FIRST LANE TO MAKE MY TURN. I HAVE ENGAGED SEVERAL VW SERVICE TECHNICIANS ABOUT A PERMANENT FIX BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AFTER HEARING OF SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX. IT IS THE DRIVER'S RESPONISBILITY TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE FRONT ASSIST COLLISION SENSOR EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU INTEND TO DRIVE THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| Aug 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | THE FRONTAL BRAKING ASSIST. IT LOCKS UP EVEN WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF. IT WILL JUST BRAKE VERY SUDDENLY., CAUSING THE CAR TO LOCK UP. THERE DOESNT EVEN HAVE TO BE A REASON FOR IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE YEAR I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MOTION, AND CITY STREET. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Aug 2020 | STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY CAR HAS HAD A WATER LEAK FROM THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF. I SAW THE WATER COMING IN FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SEATBELT HOLES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO GET FIXED, I WAS NEVER TOLDWHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND HAD TO ASK FOR OFFICIAL PAPERWORK. APPARENTLY THE SUNROOF DRAIN LINES WERE "KINKED AND CLOGGED." MY CAR WAS IN SERVICE 7/28/20-7/30/20 FOR THAT ISSUE. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT MOLD GROWTH ON THE REAR FLOORBOARDS AND SMELLED OF MILDEW. I NOTICED SEVERE CONDENSATION ON ALL INTERIOR WINDOWS 8/4/20 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET MY CAR LOOKED AT 8/6/20. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR RIGHT AWAY SINCE I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY DRY THEM WITH A TOWEL. I WAS THEN TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK, BUT THERE WAS STILL WATER ENTERING THE CAR AND THE FLOORBOARDS WERE WET. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE. ANOTHER CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WHILE I WAS THERE, I WITNESSED THE MOLD MYSELF. I RESEARCHED MY VIN AND THERE WAS NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FROM VW. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,177 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | SINCE MY 2019 VW TIGUAN WAS SERVICED IN EARLY JULY 2020 THE HORN HAS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN LOCKING THE CAR USING THE REMOTE. THE HORN SOUNDED ONLY SOMETIMES WHEN LOCKING THE CAR BY THE REMOTE. AFTER RECOGNIZING THIS IT WAS NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY TIME THE HORN WORKED ABOUT HALF THE TIME IT WAS PRESSED. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT TODAY (8/11/2020) AND THE HORN WORKED WHEN THE CAR WAS LOCKED BY THE REMOTE ON ARRIVING HOME. ON TESTING THE LOCKING AGAIN THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND WE TESTED THE HORN BY PRESSING IT AND THERE WAS ALSO NO SOUND AGAIN. I AM RETURNING TO THE DEALER IN STONE MOUNTAIN, GA AGAIN ON 8/12/2020. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS ONE CANNOT WARN PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER VEHICLES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 2019 VOLSKWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT ASSIST AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT ASSIST SYSTEMS MAY FAIL IF THE VEHICLE GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT AS LITTLE AS 1/1OOTH OF AN INCH. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THRUSTS FORWARD. *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED ITSELF BRINGING MY CAR TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE STREET, ON THE FRONT ON MY CAR, OR IN FRONT OF ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Jul 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED TWICE IN SIX WEEKS WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING LOT ONTO A CITY STREET. THIS HAPPENED AT 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. BOTH TIMES WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING RIGHT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP 1/3RD TO 1/2 THROUGH THE TURN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,400 |
| Jul 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN UPON THE VEHICLE CEASING FORWARD MOTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND UPON MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN TO INTERMITTENT SPEED WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SET TO FULL SPEED. THE CONTACT CALLED GRAHAM VOLKSWAGEN (801 W 41ST ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57105) AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Jun 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH ON TOP OF AN OVERPASS. FILE A CASE WITH VW AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE. CASE NUMBER WAS [XXX]. WE WERE TRAVEL ON RT 13 IN VIRGINIA THROUGH A SMALL TOWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Jun 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | I WAS BEGINNING TO MERGE SOUTH ON I75 BUT PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER BEFORE MY SPEED REACHED APPROX 50 MPH AND I WAS LESS THAN .2 MILES ON THE RAMP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER WHEN I COULD SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS ON THE DASH. UPON EXITING THE CAR I SAW FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE I WAS GETTING MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR, A FEW MEN HAD STOPPED TO HELP WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE CHIEF THOUGHT THAT THE CAUSE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SOME SOFT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, BUT DO KNOW THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR UNTIL JUNE 4TH. IT WAS A 2019 ;EASE THAT I HAVE BEEN LEASING LESS THAN A YEAR. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I ROLLED IT OFF THE LOT. IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/31 FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. *TR | Crash: No Fire: Yes | 11,000 |
| Jun 2020 | VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED CAUSING GLASS TO FALL IN ON MYSELF AND MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,900 |
| Jun 2020 | ENGINE | NEW 2019 TIGUAN S 4MOTION PURCHASED IN FEB 2020 AND HAS ABOUT 8K MILES. ALREADY HAVING ISSUES WITH HARD SHIFTING (BOTH UP AND DOWN) AND HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHUG/STALL AND ALMOST CAUSE A CRASH 2 TIMES NOW BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE AFTER ABOUT HALF HOUR OF DRIVING. HARD DOWNSHIFT IS NORMALLY AROUND 20-30MPH AND UP SHIFT 30-40. NEVER JERKED BEFORE AND NOW IT'S HARD AND VERY UNSAFE. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Mar 2020 | ENGINE | VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY DIES UPON ENTERING TRAFFIC LOCALLY OR HIGHWAY DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST THREE TIMES THEY'VE DENIED THE LAST REQUEST FOR A REVIEW BUT IT HAS BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Mar 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | DRIVING IN WINDY CONDITIONS, 4 SEPARATE TIMES ON ONE DAY, SENSOR WENT OFF. RED CAR GRAPHIC ON MY SCREEN WITH "SIDE IMPACT" WAVE LINES ON THE SIDES AND CAR AUTOMATICALLY BRAKED SUDDENLY. HAPPENED IN CITY, WHILE IN MOTION. NO OTHER CARS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AT TIME OF SENSOR WARNING AND BRAKING. 3 OF 4 TIMES HAPPENED AS WAS DRIVING NORTH INTO A STRONG NORTH WIND. NEVER HAD THIS WARNING THROWN BEFORE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,300 |
| Feb 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED. CAR STALLS AND DOES NOT RESTART. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,467 |
| Feb 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I HAD A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE AND AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK IT DIDN'T START AND WAS LEAKING GASOLINE MASSIVELY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,700 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | I HAVE BEEN HAVING SERIOUS STALLING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR...SINCE THE 1ST DAY I RECEIVED IT. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR WOULD REFUSE TO ACCELERATE LIKE GETTING ON AND OFF EXITS ON EXPRESSWAY...CHANGING LANES ETC...IT ALSO STALLS AND THE ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING..THE CAR HAS A LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST WHICH PULLS THE CAR FROM 1 LANE INTO THE OTHER VIOLENTLY...I AM HOPING TO GET THIS CAR REPLACED WITH ANOTHER LINE FROM VW ONLY BECAUSE MY LEASE IS 5 MNTHS OLD...THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP ME BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, MAYBE IF SOMEONE DIES THEY WILL GIVE A RAT'S [XXX] ABOUT THIS ISSUE...AN ISSUE THEY HAD I. 2014....EASE LOOK INTO THIS..FAMILIES CAN DIE FROM THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | PURCHASED CAR IN JULY 2019 AND THE CARNET HAS NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AFTER CALLING CUSTOMER CARE AND CARNET I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER TWO SEPARATE VISITS AND LEAVING MY CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS I WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH CUSTOMER CARE SINCE AUGUST 2019 AND FOLLOW UP EVERY FEW WEEKS, AS THEY TYPICALLY FORGET TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PROMISED UPDATE EVERY TWO WEEKS. EACH UPDATE IS THE EXACT SAME --- THERE ARE NO UPDATES AT THIS TIME AND NO TIMELINE FOR A FIX. THEY ALSO WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. THE CARNET APP HAS NOT WORKED CORRECTLY -- KICKS ME OUT REGULARLY, SAYS MY CAR IS UNLOCKED WHEN IT IS LOCKED, UNABLE TO SEND DESTINATIONS FROM THE APP TO MY CAR, ETC. THE BUTTONS IN THE CAR ALSO DO NOT WORK WHEN PRESSED, WHICH MEANS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IT WILL NOT WORK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES | TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS. #1 ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CARS EMERGENCY SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITH NO CARS OR ANYTHING IN PROXIMITY. VW JUST CLEANED SENSORS . IT HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THAT WHILE PARKING THE CAR. #2 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THE BRAKES PULSE WHEN APPLIED. WE WERE TOLD JUST WAIT FOR 1 YEAR SERVICE AND IT WILL BE LOOKED AT. THE TIGUAN WENT IN FRIDAY MORNING AND WE WERE INFORMED THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. VW NORTH AMERICA RECOMMEND ROTORS AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TROUBLESOME ISSUE WITH ONLY 10000 MILES LES THAN I YEAR OLD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Dec 2019 | ENGINE | THE PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE OF MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2.0T STARTED LEAKING WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, NEARLY STRANDING MY FAMILY. IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE ANY VEHICLE USING A FRAGILE, UNPROTECTED PLASTIC OIL PAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY THE TIGUAN, WHICH IS MARKETED AS A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND THE CAR-NET IN MY CAR HASN'T WORKED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VW MULTIPLE TIMES AND I JUST KEEP GETTING THE 'THEY'RE WORKING ON IT ' WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SITE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25 |
| Nov 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NO ONE IN BACK OF ME. SUDDENLY THE CAR BRAKED AND THREW ME FORWARD. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY HAD NO ANSWER AND TOLD ME TO DISABLE THE BRAKING SENSOR WHICH I DID. I FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE SINCE I FELT THIS WAS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SENSOR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. AGAIN THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE SUDDEN BRAKING. THIS IS A LEASED CAR AND WHEN I TURN IT IN I JUST WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SENSOR IS TURNED OFF FOR THE NEXT PERSON WHO LEASES IT AND HAS NO IDEA IT IS TURNED OFF. IN SUMMARY, I WAS GOING AROUND 35-40 MPH WHEN THIS BRAKING OCCURRED WITH NO REASON WHATSOVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,600 |