10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 51,847 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.
Powersteering fails intermittently, steering wheel wobbles without user intervention occasionally (at red light). Issue seems released to electrical power steering rack or control box, but VW does not seem to acknowledge this is a frequently reported problem. When does it happen: 1. after parking car, power steering is completely off, slowly driving for 20-30 sec so far brought it back. However, steering is not accurate (sometimes very light and wobble starts). After overnight parking things seem fine 2. on highway, after 20 mins drive steering became rather erratic with difficulties to keep car on the lane, after exit and stop engine and restart things were fine again. Happened several times. Can send video showing wobbling of steering wheel...
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
I drove to a friends house and about two hours later got in the car and started to drive then 10 of my exterior lights all went out the same time. My footwell lights I cannot dim or brighten through the controls and back up sensor stopped working. I had no headlights while I was driving at night at around 11pm. All this happened at once at the same time. All of the bulbs were fine. I replaced them. They weren't even blown. Fuses were fine. This is a real safety hazard and can lead to crash if not looked into.
- Sauk Village, IL, USA
I have been having this truck for 13 months now I have more than 20 payments still to make on this truck every time it rains the truck gets filled with water in the passenger side fills more than 5 gallons of water depending on how bad it rains my heated seats don't work am assuming it's due to the water damage and my back lights continue to blow out I am actually fighting a ticket due to this matter there is water damage on top of the roof top and feel I got rip off with this junk
- Chicago, IL, USA
The sunroof of the car leaks when it rains or snows. Any precipitation will get into the vehicle. The drains are cleared and Volkswagen has said the sunroof drain tubs deteriorate and water does not make it outside the vehicle. Instead, all the water leaks into the foot well of the vehicle and has caused mold and other electrical issues. The dealership quoted us $3,650 to fix the issue of putting in new tubes and replacing the carpets. However, not the entire car has mold and needs the seats replaced as well.
- Doylestown, PA, USA
Headlights go out about every month and need replacing. One goes out, is replaced and then the other. I've had the car for a year and have had to replace 4 times.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
On 6/3/17. Out of the blue while driving in the neighborhood, the car seemed to " hesitate" - wanting to turn off - lasted about 20 seconds then it was fine until I arrived to my destination, parked the car.. 4 hrs later ready to go back home, the car didn't start. Called aaa, checked battery- fine, possibly alternator. Although aaa guy said the "craking "noise when trying 2 start the car; didn't think was alternator either. He was prepping up the car 2 B towed; the lights on dashboard starting flashing, started with brake light; later all the lights were flashing for seconds & car went completely dead. Today, 6/5/17 the mechanic told me didn't find any compresion in engine. Would have 2 tear down 2 see what exactly failed. Said timing chain could have jumped time. This is a car with only 88.000 miles. I bought it last year- may2016- exactly 3 mo. Later I had 2 replace entire brake system; couple months after that I had to get a new entire flush system. Also I had to spend on getting a key lock kit to replace breaks a rotate tires.,alignment- car wasnt alignt & other minor expenses. What are my options with this car" I have a loan on a vehicle that requires a new engine and doesn't even have 90 000 miles. "please help.
- Bexley, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the exterior lighting failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the a fuse for the exterior lighting overheated and caused the fuse panel to become damaged. The fuse panel needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the repair for NHTSA campaign number: 13V569000 (electrical system) was previously performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
- Dublin, OH, USA
Steering wheel electronic controls stopped working for a few minutes. Next time the car was started, the air bag error light came on. There is a louder than normal "brushing" friction noise during steering, and a metallic ping upon the first turn of the steering wheel after startup that was reported to two VW dealers multiple times over the last two years. Dealers claimed not to hear anything. Issues were not addressed. Reading the symptoms described by the clock spring/airbag recall, I believe there is a connection to the issues I've been having, that have now resulted in a permanent airbag malfunction warning.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vehicle left turn indicators flash when turn signal control arm placed in the position to make a right turn. This problem occurs whether in motion or stationary and every time the control arm is placed in the right turn position. I believe the defective component is the entire turn signal control arm assembly.
- Pinehurst, NC, USA
Emailed to to VW customer care on 9/26/15, one could argue these are safety related, the fuse box was melted. The engine timing chain slipped & caused engine damage that would have been more expensive to repair than the cost of a new engine. To customer care: We've had significant problems with our 2010 Tiguan - does VW offer any financial help with these (factory defects?) - replace fuse box: $550, 8/16/2013 parts & labor, odometer was not stated on invoice - new engine: $6,866.16, 05/13/2015 parts and labor, odometer 66,539 miles the dealer offered no warranty coverage & their price was high so we went elesewhere - do not plan to buy or recommend VW in the future considering these large issues I have the receipts, will scan & E-mail if that helps - service location: Volks & rings, 13669 warwick blvd, newport news, va 23602 - volks & rings phone: 757-874-0018 [xxx] [xxx] yorktown, va 23693 cell: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
- Yorktown, VA, USA
Following second time of changing both headlamps bulbs, only one bulb turned on, after opening the fuse box on the engine compartmen, it was discover the 30amp fuse melted on one side of the blade however the fuse its self did not melt inside as its design and the socket of the fuse box appears to suffer a hi heat temperature witch deformed the plastic surounding the fuse.
- Shenorock, NY, USA
I bought the VW Tiguan because it was rated #1 for safety but the morning of Friday July 25 2014 as I was leaving to work I started my car but the power steering was gone completely. I could drive forward and back but the steering wheel did not move at all as iand the power steering failure light came on in the dashboard. The Tiguan is almost 4 yrs old with 73,000 miles. The age is the issue with this problem. This has me very concern because what if I was driving on the freeway and the power steering failed then" I could only imagine what could have happen. What if my children were with me" this problem is unacceptable, inexcusable and life threatening. This is a very serious safety issue with the Tiguan. At the VW dealership's car shop I was told that they never heard of such problem with the Tiguans. I searched on the web and it turns out there are several hundred 2009-2011 VW Tiguans owners that had that same problem, I got an estimate to fix it of $2,045. I called VW customer service and they where very nice and told me that they were going to see if they could help me with the repair. Next day I get a call from them and told me that they were not going to do anything about it because my Tiguan had more than 70,000 miles and way out of warranty. This power steering problem has nothing to do with the Tiguans age. Other people that have had this same experience and only had their Tiguan for 2 months with 1,800 miles on and the problem keeps recurring! warranty or no warranty this is a design flaw and should be covered by VW. Also in my opinion this is an issue worth a major recall but so far VW seems to be waiting for the first deaths to occur before they will react. There is always possibility that in traffic, the power steering really could go any moment. I am now very scared to be driving the Tiguan it's not safe and I don't feel safe!
- Houston, TX, USA
2010 VW Tiguan, with repeated engine failures associated with power steering module, boost solenoid / engine coils, wiring harness, fuse re-call, loss of power / thrust / electrical panel instability, beginning in July 2013 upon the limited wolfsburg platform. Service was provided by a VW dealership, 16 days prior to the August 2013 accident. The car was not returned to me until October 1, 2013. (almost 8 weeks) a rental car was applied, but there was significant out of pocket expense for taxes / fee's for a 2 month rental. The VW upon return Oct 1, 2013 then broke down again on Oct 9th, for electrical failure again. The car was towed back to VW dealership for repair. I was given a complimentary loaner car. The VW was then returned and then ran without significant incident until March 16th, of which the engine failed for engine coils, and was towed back to the VW dealership for service, the car then experienced another electrical mechanical failure on 3/25, resulting in a 2nd front end collision. I received a not at fault decision on the first accident, per the commonwealth of MA.
- Beverly, MA, USA
Warning message "check front left headlight". tested the light and it was not working. Purchased a new bulb, replaced the bulb and the new bulb was not working. Tested the bulb and it was good. Opened the fuse box under the hood and noticed the 30 amp fuse (top left corner of box) was burned/melted. Attempted to remove and was unable to remove. In addition the corresponding 15 amp fuse was burned out but not melted. Contacted the dealership and was informed that my particular vehicle was not involved in the NHTSA investigation for faulty fuse box. Researched further and discovered that Tiguan models from 09-12 were under investigation. In addition to the front headlight I also replaced the right rear light which was also out. I did not test the existing bulb on this light. Just replaced. I would like for this to service a formal complaint to the NHTSA regarding what appears to me as an unsafe condition in the fuse box.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the passenger's side headlights, turn signals and brake lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the fuse box had overheated. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 13V569000 (electrical system, exterior lighting) however the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
- Bluemont , VA, USA
Right headlight and high beam out, right turn signal out, left front parking light out and left rear turn signal out all at the same time.
- Vancouver, WA, USA
Fuse at fuse box under hood melted (not blowing) a 30amp fuse.several light warnings came on after occurrence. Headlamp, marker lights, tag lights did not work.
- Dallas, GA, USA
While driving the fault indicator light came on saying that the right front headlight was out. After parking for a period of time and restarting the car, the mmi was indicating numerous faults with about half of the lighting on the right side of the vehicle. I took the vehicle to a VW dealer that did a diagnostic test and the result was that a fuse had melted into the fuse block and that was causing the light outages. The entire fuse block needed to be replaced and the total repair with labor was just over $600. I called VW North America on 12-6-2013 and they say there is no recall for that issue on my VIN and that of course if there is one in the future that I could possibly be reimbursed at that time for some or all of my expenses.
- Castle Rock, CO, USA
While driving headlights stopped working, brake light stopped working, and license plate lights stopped working. Brought in to service and they said fuse box overheated causing a poor electrical connection. They told me it was dangerous to drive vehicle, as if I wouldn't have caught it this early it could have lead to more serious issues like power steering or even brakes to go out. Then on 9/4/2012 battery went dead and had to have it replaced. Then on 10/13/2012 the right side headlight stopped working again, they replaced and worked fine until now. On 11/30/2013, headlight stopped working again, checked fuse box for bad fuse, fuses look fine but car will not start. Having it towed in the dealership. Pretty sure it's fuse box again.
- Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- Van Nuys, CA, USA