2017 Volkswagen TIGUAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
75 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 75 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 23 | 30.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.3% |
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 | 24 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Air Bags: 24; Engine: 15; Electrical System: 12; Steering: 12; Unknown Or Other: 9; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 52 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2017: 2; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 21; 2023: 9; 2024: 3; 2025: 11; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10991400 · 2017-05-24 (May 24, 2017)
VW NEW MODEL INSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE SELF DIMMING (ELECTRICALLY) BUT THEY DO NOT DIM AS MUCH AS THE MECHANICALLY (DRIVER) DIMMING MIRROR OF PRIOR YEARS. DRIVER EYE FATIGUE AND GLARE, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER DRIVERS, WITH THIS DEVICE IS MADE UNBEARABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH NEW WHITE, HALOGEN FOLLOWING HEADLIGHTS. IF THERE IS A SPECIFICATION FOR A MIRROR DIMMING FEATURE, IT IS NOT BEING MET BY VW, SINCE ANY REGULATION WOULD REQUIRE COMPLIANCE EQUAL TO PRIOR TYPE DIMMING MIRRORS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022483 · 2017-09-09 (September 9, 2017)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2017. FOR SEVEN MONTHS I'VE EXPERIENCED ESCALATING HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS: 'MODERATE HEADACHES 'MODERATE TO SEVERE SINUS AND EAR PRESSURE/PAIN 'LUNG/THROAT IRRITATION 'LIGHT-HEADINESS 'BALANCE ISSUES 'NAUSEA 'MODERATE TO SEVERE VERTIGO 'CONFUSION 'MEMORY ISSUES 'AND MOST RECENTLY MUSCLE/LIMB TREMORS/TWITCHING THESE SYMPTOMS INTENSIFY WHEN USING THE CAR'S HVAC UNIT (HEATER/AC). OR WHEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP FOR MORE THAN 15-20 MINUTES (WITH HVAC TURNED-OFF). AFTER UNSUCCESS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11022483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088947 · 2018-04-19 (April 19, 2018)
PURCHASED 05/19/2017. HORN AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK IN APPROXIMATELY 12/2017. WAS REPAIRED AND TOLD WAS A COIL PROBLEM. THEN ON 04/12/18 IT SUDDENLY FLASHED ALL THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVING AND SUDDENLY DIED ON ME WHEN I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOT LOCKED. LUCKILY HAPPENED NEAR MY DRIVEWAY!! HAD TO BE TOWED AND TOLD THEY FIXED THE BATTERY PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY IT ACTED UP AGAIN WHEREBY THE RADIO KEPT SHUTTING OFF AND COMING BACK ON! BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN AGAIN I WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091119 · 2018-05-01 (May 1, 2018)
WHILE BRAKING ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES AND THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED DURING INCIDENTS. ONLY HAPPING A FEW TIMES A DAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091625 · 2018-05-03 (May 3, 2018)
NOTHING HAPPENED, SIMPLY I RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND AN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COMPLIANCE RECALL 69V2 - DRIVER AIRBAG. THIS NOTICE WAS SENT TO ME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DECIDED THAT CERTAIN 2017-2018 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN LIMITED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 208 "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THEIR RECORDS SHOW THAT I AM THE OWNER OF A VEHICLE AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11091625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11096358 · 2018-05-16 (May 16, 2018)
MY 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN HAS 19,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST BOUGHT IT FROM A HONDA DEALERSHIP (SINGLE OWNER, LEASED) BODY IS IN LIKE NEW SHAPE. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON WHILE DRIVING 6 TIMES TOTAL, ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING (STALLED OUT) WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING OVER 40MPH AND AN EPC LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND LEFT MY FAMILY IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY. A CAR ENGINE SHOULD NEVER SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND NOW HAS ME FEELING VERY UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING IT. IT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100291 · 2018-06-06 (June 6, 2018)
RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER ON AIRBAG FROM VW. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT A RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RECEIVED THE CONFIRMATION LETTER FROM THEM AND ATTACHED IT. I HOPE THIS IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SHIP MY CAR TO KOREA.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11100291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102897 · 2018-06-20 (June 20, 2018)
RANDOMLY, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, THE CAR WILL MOVE A COUPLE OF FEET THEN LOSE ALL ACCELERATION POWER. STEPPING HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE IS TO ENTIRELY DISENGAGE AND RE-ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS COME ON AND NOTHING SHOWS UP WHEN THE REPAIR PEOPLE HOOK IT UP TO A COMPUTER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR AS IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN TURNING LEFT (DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. USUALLY, WHEN TURNING LEFT, A PERSON H…
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102897 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V955000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Side/Window | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-12-29 (December 29, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V102000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2018-02-09 (February 9, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.
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 ↗21V321000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 2021-05-05 (May 5, 2021)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
NHTSA campaign record ↗