10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 45,540 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.
A few days prior to this incident, I noticed a crunching noise as I would turn the steering wheel every now and then. As I was turning right to pull into my driveway, I heard the clock spring crunch and finally give up. Airbag light on. Airbag error when I start the car. Steering wheel buttons and horn unresponsive.
- Smyrna, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, she saw water leaking from the sunroof. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sunroof drain tubes needed to be flushed out. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was stalling while driving at various speeds. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the headliner and both frontal air bags clock springs assemblies needed to be replaced due to water intrusion. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting repairs. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number:?15V483000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000. The contact stated was astonished at $4,700 to pay and receive the vehicle, after 3 months of paying the rental of the car filing a comprehensive liability with the insurance company. And to receive the vehicle not in the same condition as prior to the repairs. The contact stated that they were forced to pay out of pocket for a rental car since the dealership does not provide rental vehicles. They are confused as to why there wasn't a recall on the leaky sunroof when the manufacturer was aware of it and when there is currently a class action lawsuit involving this issue.
- Boston, MA, USA
The clockspring in the steering wheel snapped which controls airbags and turn signals. This repair is under warranty because of a faulty part but VW has been backlogged for 11 months now on this part and still no end in sight. I see brand new vehicles coming out of VW but this part has been neglected even though its a safety concern that is purely their fault. If I am in an accident while this under warranty repair has been neglected I could severely injure myself.
- Goodyear, AZ, USA
My 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has had an airbag light on the instruments display since early March of 2022. At the same time lights on the steering wheel no longer illuminate and the horn does not function. I had earlier received a recall notice and took the car to my dealer for analysis on March 14. The service technician determined that the clock spring was defective and on and ordered the part which he said may be a week or two. I have checked with my dealer's part's department every month since then, and no part has arrived. I have been told that it is a supply issue. I am especially concerned that I have had several very close calls on limited access highways when a car has nearly veered into my car from a lane either from the left or the right, and I have no horn to alert the other driver who for some reason has failed to see me. I also am concerned that having a collision and having to airbag could be a very serious accident causing severe injury or death. This vehicle in unsafe and will not pass inspection.
- Putnam, CT, USA
The clock-spring in our VW Tiguan broke/snapped disabling the electronics on the steering wheel - including the vehicles horn and airbag which are both safety features. There are numerous other people having a similar experience on Twitter. We are being told by VW that the vehicle is still safe to drive which is frankly, insulting. The VW dealership/Indigo Auto Group in San Rafael, CA has verified this as an issue and there is a clock-spring shortage with no ETA on resolution.
- Mill Valley, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that he had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool showed no open recall.
- Crownsville, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his spouse was driving approximately 65 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with a clock spring failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,222.
- Manchester, CT, USA
The air bag clock spring keeps breaking in my Tiguan 2013. This deactivates the air bag as well as all other features in the steering wheel such as the horn and electronic controls. Risk of injury is high when the air bag does not deploy in a collision. Also, I cannot use the horn to alert others of a hazard unable to prevent a collision. VW has replaced the part 4 times but this does not solve the problem. Part keeps breaking. There's no warning to driver before air bag clock spring it breaks again.
- Hicksville, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that air bag error message was displayed. The electrical system on the steering wheel was blank. The contact was unsure if the horn was operable. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was invalid.
- Carlsbad, CA, USA
Steering wheel made clicking noise, suddenly the airbag light came on and no steering wheel controls would work while driving down the highway. Looked up that it could be the recall on the clock spring stating debris could get into the area and cause a failure. Spoke with VW of America, states the vehicle is only covered up to 120,000 (my mileage at time of call to VW was 135K). Given this is a known issue for these vehicles and the investigation even needed to be re-opened in 2018, you think the company would care about the safety of their customers as I am now driving a vehicle with an airbag that won't deploy upon impact (possibly fatal).
- Saint Helens, OR, USA
I turn the car on one afternoon and the frontal air gave me error on the screen and I do not know why, I am extremely nervous driving my car because I heard there was a recall about these air bags before, I am a health care worker and I need my car to get to work so I don't have a choice but to drive
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
Volkswagen-Tiguan, 2013 - clock spring is out. By the look of the the complaints, this a common problem. Cost - $650 for replacement - but, replacing can cause a further problem according to local vk dealer, where the whole steer electrical system will have issues which will lead to another $1500. Dont have a choice than to fix. A cost vk should be paying for on recall. Oh wait mine was not in the recall..previously allowed. Others continue to have issues.
- West Fargo, ND, USA
On July 13,2020 I was driving on a main city street the air bags on the passenger side deployed. I did not hit anything nor was I hit.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
I was driving my Volkswagen 2013 Tiguan down I-95 with my toddler daughter N the car when all of a sudden the steering wheel jerked very hard almost crashing us into another car. When I pulled over to safety the steering wheel light was on the dash lighting up along with a light that says epc. I did not feel safe driving the vehicle so I called a tow to come pick us up. About a few weeks later I was told my Volkswagen that they did not see the problem after coming there multiple times and having to pay the diagnostic fee each time that there was no issue because the light will go on and off. I told it to another shop where I paid 1,200 to replace the whole steering wheel. After that was fixed another problem just pops up out of the blue which is the airbag light. My horn no longer is working nor is my cruise control which is dangerous. So I can no longer drive this car with my children inside because I do not feel safe.
- Plantation, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel features became inoperable. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 56,000. The VIN was not available.
- Taylors, SC, USA
The airbag, horn, steering wheel and steering wheel controls on my 2013 VW Tiguan stopped working twice in the last 1 1/2 years and just stopped working again. The clock spring was replaced which solved the issue but this is the 3rd time this issue has happened in 1 1/2 years. This is a serious safety issue since and I don't feel safe letting my wife drive this vehicle anymore. Something needs to be done about this issue. Stories like mine are all over the internet and the vehicle should be recalled.
- Danville, CA, USA
Had the clock spring break on our 2013 VW Tiguan - made a grindingish noise when making a standard turn and the airbag light came up on the dashboard. Steering wheel electronics (horn and controls) stopped working.
- Greenville, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. While driving, the contact heard a crunching sound coming from the steering wheel. In addition, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and all the control buttons on the steering wheel failed to function. The contact called mossy Volkswagen at (760) 745-7551 (located at 1695 auto park way S, escondido, ca 92029) and was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags) regarding the clockspring. The vehicle was later taken to city Volkswagen (located at 2205 morena blvd, san diego, ca 92110, (833) 207-1264), but was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.
- La Mesa, CA, USA
An airbag error message went on while my wife was driving in June 2018. She noticed that the after the airbag error cane on that the controls on the steering wheel and the horn stopped working as well. We took the vehicle to dirito brothers VW for servicing and they said the clock spring failed and needed to replaced. They replaced the part which resolved the issues until today when the airbag error light came on again and the steering controls and horn stopped working again. That is a second failure in 3 months. My wife drives my kids in this vehicle and it's unsettling to think that there is an obviously defective part that renders her airbag and horn useless putting them in harms way. I have an appointment with dirito brothers to replace the part again but have lost confidence. I noticed many articles and blog posts about this issue as well as an NHTSA investigation into it. Please re-investigate this issue. I can't imagine that I'm the only person complaining. Thank you.
- Danville, CA, USA
- Las Vegas, NV, USA