2016 Volkswagen TIGUAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 96 complaints (32.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 30 | 31.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.1% |
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 | 31 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
Air Bags: 31; Electrical System: 26; Unknown Or Other: 23; Steering: 12; Engine: 10; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette: 6; Structure:Body: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 57 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 17; 2020: 6; 2021: 9; 2022: 28; 2023: 8; 2024: 4; 2025: 9; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10865060 · 2016-05-16 (May 16, 2016)
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SEATBELT REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH ON MY NEW VW TIGUAN. THE FEMALE CONNECTOR THAT THE TONGUE OF THE BELT FITS INTO HAS BROKEN APART TWICE, REQUIRING AN ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE BELT. THIS WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE WHEN THE LOOP OF MY POCKET BOOK CAUGHT ON IT. THE SECOND TIME IT BROKE, ALL I DID WAS MOVE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO GET OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10865060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876984 · 2016-06-27 (June 27, 2016)
BROUGHT 2016 TIGUAN LESS THAN 10 MONTHS, NOTICED SCRAPING NOISES WHEN BREAKING AT LOCAL SPEED. ALSO HEAR CLANKING NOISE OCCASIONALLY FROM BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. SENT CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER AND FOUND THE REAR ROTORS PITTED AND RUSTED. SERVICE CENTER JUST CLEAN THE SURFACE AND SUGGEST TO REPLACEMENT WHEN NOISE RETURN. CALL VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE OPEN A CASE. ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MY CAR HAS LOW MILEAGES, CAUSE RUST DEVELOPED AND SUGGESTED TO DRIVE MY CAR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE REASON BECAUSE I US…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10876984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914402 · 2016-10-07 (October 7, 2016)
SAFETY ISSUE! LEASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY. TWO INCIDENTS WHEN ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN IT IS DARK OR FOGGY OUT. HAVE BROUGHT IN TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER 2 TIMES FOR REPAIR AND HAPPENED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE WIPERS ALSO GO OFF AUTOMATICALLY YET IT IS NOT RAINING. THEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF AND KILLS THE BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10914402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927699 · 2016-11-23 (November 23, 2016)
REAR DOOR THE REAR DOOR (LEFT) HAS A DEFECT. SINCE NEW IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED PROPERLY. LAST WEEK IT OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE RIDING OVER 45 MPH. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE DOOR INDICATOR WASN'T ON. NO INDICATION TO ME. EXCEPT FOR MY DAUGHTER SCREAMINGS. MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING NEXT TO THE DEFECTIVE DOOR WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT WAS SERVICED AT THE DELEARSHIP FOR THAT DOOR BUT IT STAYED THE SAME. IT DOESN'T CLOSE COMPLETELY.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927905 · 2016-11-25 (November 25, 2016)
AFTER GETTING IN TO THE DRIVERS SEAT ON 11/24/2016 I SHUT THE DOOR AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED ONTO ME.THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WINDOW. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET. I DO NOT HAVE AN INVOICE YET BECAUSE I DROPPED OFF MY CAR TODAY TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956625 · 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)
SIDE WALL BUBBLING ON THE CONTINENTAL TIRES TWICE. TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. I BARELY SCRAPED A CURB AND THE TIRE HAD A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL THAT GREW EACH DAY. THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE A SMALL I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH TIRES ON ANY CAR EVER.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957453 · 2017-02-27 (February 27, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR THE SUNROOF SPONTANESOUSLY SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AND THE CLOTH SHIELD WAS TUCKED AWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT AND DEAFENED MY EARS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I THOUGHT SOMEONE FIRED A GUN OR A NEARBY CAR GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT SINCE I FELT NO IMPACT OTHER THAN SOUND. BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING I WAS EXTREMELY STARTLED WHEN I LOOKED UP AND SAW AN OPEN WINDOW AND GLASS HAD FALLEN ALL OVER ME. IT HAD HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. I TRIED TO PULL OVER IN THE NEAREST EXIT AND WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11039988 · 2017-10-26 (October 26, 2017)
THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS OR HAZARD LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. ALSO WIPERS TURN ON BY ITSELF OCASSIONALY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11039988 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V464000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Reported: 2016-06-24 (June 24, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
Consequence: If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V535000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Reported: 2019-07-17 (July 17, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Consequence: Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
NHTSA campaign record ↗