2014 Volkswagen TIGUAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 84 complaints (51.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 39 | 46.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 43 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Air Bags: 43; Electrical System: 22; Steering: 20; Engine: 11; Unknown Or Other: 9; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 7; 2018: 23; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 20; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10583978 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
WHEN I GOT INTO MY 2014 TIGUAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD I DIDN'T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT AND FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE WHILE I WAS SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS FINE THE REST OF THE DRIVE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS GIVEN A LOANER. I WAS TOLD THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HARNESS. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT BACK YET SO NOT SURE IF THAT FIXED THE ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584039 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
ON APRIL 15, 2014, I WAS AT A GAS STATION WAITING TO PULL INTO AN AVAILABLE PUMP WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE. THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT SIGNALED. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, AND RESTART THE ENGINE. AS SOON AS I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE CHECK ENGINE SYMBOL WAS ILLUMINATED. I DROVE HOME AFTER FILLING UP ON GAS. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, APRIL 16, 2014, I CALLED OPEN ROAD VOLKSWAGEN OF MANHATTAN AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014. FOR THE REMAIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10659480 · 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)
I DRIVE MY NEW CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TO THE BRAKES, TWICE I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE IS LIKE SOMETHING IS STUCK, THE CAR DIDN'T STOP, I BRAKE FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE CAR IS STOP, ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT, I PARK MY CAR IN THE WAY OF AN EMERGENCY, AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE BRAKE CAN BE USED, BUT AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS, I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661637 · 2014-12-02 (December 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V441000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 2/25/15*CN UPDATED …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681858 · 2015-02-06 (February 6, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE, CAR SUDDENLY DISPLAYS STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION INDICATOR AND WHEEL LOCKS. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE AND SHUT OFF CAR. I TURNED CAR BACK ON AFTER WAITING 5 MINUTES STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO RETURN TO NORMAL, WITHIN ONE BLOCK OF EXITING INTERSTATE WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD, PURCHASED BRAND NEW 7/12/2014. VERY SCARY. I NOTICED SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF THIS VIA VW COMPLAINT SITE. SEEMS THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY VERY COMMON AND SOME KIND OF DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807982 · 2015-12-02 (December 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED INTO REVERSE, THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA WAS VERY DARK AND LIMITED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND THAT A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS LODGED THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893482 · 2016-08-05 (August 5, 2016)
WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE, PRESSING THE "SET/-" SWITCH IS SUPPOSED TO DECREASE THE VEHICLE SPEED IN 1 MPH INCREMENTS FOR EACH PRESS OF THE SWITCH. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECREASE SPEED GRADUALLY FOR UPCOMING SPEED LIMIT CHANGES, OR WHEN VEHICLES PULL-IN A BIT TOO SOON AFTER PASSING, MY TIGUAN WILL OFTEN QUICKLY INCREASE THE "SET" SPEED BY BY 2-4 MPH WHEN THE "SET/-" SWITCH IS PRESSED. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PHENOMENA AND THE DEALERS TELL THEM IT IS NOT A SAFETY CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10911171 · 2016-10-03 (October 3, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG STOPPED WORKING THE HORN STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I FOUND OUT THAT THE HORN WASN'T WORKING AS I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY SOMEONE MOVING IN TO MY LANE AND DIRECTLY TOWARD MY CAR. LUCKILY, THEY SAW ME AT THE LAST MINUTE. , ALL COMPUTER COMMUNICATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN STOPPED WORKING. LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW THAT THESE ISSUES WERE CAUSED BY A BAD CLOCK SWITCH. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10911171 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V441000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V483000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2015-08-04 (August 4, 2015)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V329000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 2018-05-16 (May 16, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
NHTSA campaign record ↗