10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,300 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Oct 312019

Tiguan

  • 165,000 miles
I crashed due to brake failure on 10.31.2019. I made a right turn from a light. Traffic came to a stop. I pushed the break and it did not hold. It felt bumpy. Breaks did not hold even when I pushed it all the way to the floor. I ended up rear ending the car infront of me going 15mph. What's going on there? something needs to be done about that asap.

- Royal Oak, MI, USA

problem #4

Nov 152014

Tiguan

  • 82,500 miles
A liquid was accidentally spilled on the parking brake, which is located next to the cup holders. Now the car is saying there is a "parking brake failure", indicating this electronic equipment is not sealed from spills even though it is located next to the cup holders.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #3

Aug 272013

Tiguan 4-cyl

  • 23,000 miles
My wife's vehicle was parked yes she spilled water on that area, thank god it was parked. From what I have read about these particular E brakes they seem a very bad design. I knew when we purchased the car in 2009 just knowing autos this was a terrible design and feature especially the placement. I read enough online after today this has to be a recall I have had previous recalls on both my VW seat belts, misc. Sensors both a couple of times each yes VW took care of it but this situation is far too dangerous.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #2

Dec 292012

Tiguan

  • 41,000 miles
First, this exact same scenario also happened in October 2010. The first incident occurred when I was driving the vehicle, and now this time, when my husband was driving the vehicle. Both of us, each have 30+ years of driving experience and neither of us have ever been involved in a crash or experienced this type of loss of control in a vehicle, ever. Both incidents occurred while turning a corner at approximately 5 to 15 mph in approximately 1- 3 inches of new snow. The car slid with total loss of steering and brakes, smashing into the curb, breaking the axle, control arm, steering knuckle, etc... there was no control whatsover. This was not ice. This has never ever happened before with any other vehicle we have ever driven. The car did not correct itself even when the steering wheel was released. We believe there is a deficiency in the esp monitoring system. The esp system totally failed while turning. The esp sensors did not detect the situation and did not react at all independent of the driver. The esp system did not use the vehicle's braking system to "steer" the vehicle back on track. The esp did not initiate any braking intervention at all. It was like all systems just totally malfunctioned. Horrible. Someone is going to be seriously hurt. I am thankful another vehicle or person was in the area.

- Ivyland , PA, USA

problem #1

Jul 052012

Tiguan

  • 40,000 miles
Grinding sound when braking, now seems to have evolved into brake failure, all of a sudden the brake red light it on and the parking brake is on, and will not go off even when directions are followed to disengage parking brake. Yellow P light on. Car seems to lurch forward at times or hesitate at others. Will have to take to local dealer.

- Oxford, MS, USA