2019 Volkswagen TIGUAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
189 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
2,891 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 189 complaints (29.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 45 | 23.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 15.9% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 55 |
| Engine | 39 |
| Unknown Or Other | 38 |
| Service Brakes | 24 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 18 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
Electrical System: 55; Engine: 39; Unknown Or Other: 38; Service Brakes: 24; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 18; Power Train: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Exterior Lighting: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 53 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (53). 126 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 25 |
2018: 2; 2019: 30; 2020: 22; 2021: 16; 2022: 17; 2023: 29; 2024: 26; 2025: 22; 2026: 25
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 30 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 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 11155365 · 2018-12-01 (December 1, 2018)
NEW CAR WITH 9 MILES SAT IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. IN THE MORNING,THERE WAS SPOTTING CONDENSATION INSIDE ONE OF THE LIGHTS(DRIVER SIDE). DROVE IT TO THE DEALER AND BY THAT TIME CONDENSATION HAS OCCURRED INSIDE BOTH OF THE LIGHTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11162269 · 2018-12-18 (December 18, 2018)
BOTH HEADLIGHT HAVE EXTENSIVE CONDENSATION WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. INCIDENT OCCURRED OVERNIGHT WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN A CLOSED PARKING LOT. CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM THE DEALER LOT TO THE CUSTOMER'S PARKING LOT A NIGHT BEFORE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE CONDENSATION COVERS THE LED MODULES OF THE TURN SIGNAL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SAME HOUSING, AND DEPENDING ON THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND HOW LONG THE CAR WAS OPERATING, THE CONDENSATION MOVES UPWARDS TO THE FRONT OF THE LOW BEAMS. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THIS INCIDENT IS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11162269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11179811 · 2019-02-13 (February 13, 2019)
THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND THE CAR BLOCKED. THE GEAR WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO THE TOWED, AND AFTER GETTING IT IN THE TRUCK I REALIZED THAT ONE SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING. THE CAR HAS ONLY 1700 MILES. A SIMILAR BUT LESS SEVERE EVENT HAPPEED THREES DAYS BEFORE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,776 miles reported. Look up ODI 11179811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183563 · 2019-03-01 (March 1, 2019)
THE FIRST DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2019 TIGUAN SEL HOME, I OPENED THE PASSENGER DRIVER-SIDE DOOR AND THE HANDLE GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO BACK IN...MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2-DAYS LATER TO GET THIS FIXED. DURING THE 2-DAY WAITING PERIOD, I WAS STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE ON A FOUR-LANE, LIGHTED ROAD TO MAKE A U-TURN. WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDDLE TO GO THE CAR JERKED FORWARD, AND WENT TO A STANDSTILL FOR ABOUT 5-SECONDS WHILE MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY PRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE. THIS CAUSED THE TWO ONCOMING VEHICLES TO HAVE TO SCREECH TO A STOP; AND THE VEHICLE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 230 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194689 · 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)
UPON DRIVING MY NEW 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN THIS PAST WINTER. IT WAS A VERY COLD WINTER DAY, WHEN STARTING MY CAR IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. , THEN STARTED TO GO, IN REVERSE . I PUT IT INTO D DRIVE .. I WOULD PUTT ( GO AND STOP) LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS . THERE WAS PLENTY OF GAS IN IT . IT CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE EPC YELLOW WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT SIGNAL IS ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION . I HAVE NOTIFIED MY DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM. THE STATE IT WILL DO THAT WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUT. IT IS NOW SPRING TIME. IT HAS DONE IT TWICE
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208380 · 2019-05-18 (May 18, 2019)
MY BRAND NEW 2019 VW TIGUAN FWD NEXT DAY AFTER BUYING SHOWED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT RELATED TO TRANSMISSION AND BREAKING AND A UNKNOWN SOURCE OF RATTLING SOUND. I NOTICED WHEN I COLD START THE TIGUAN AND LET IT IDLE FOR 3-4 MINUTES THE NORMAL ENGINE SOUND SLOWLY GOES DOWN BUT A LOUDER AND MORE NOTICEABLE RATTLING SOUND COMES UP. IT IS HEARD WHILE DRIVING ALSO. IT'S CONCERNING BUT WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING IS THE THAT THE TIGUAN HESITATES WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. I NOTICED IT HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. NOT ONLY IT HESITATES TO AC…
Owner-reported narrative. 26 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208709 · 2019-05-20 (May 20, 2019)
BIG MANUFACTURER DEFECT ISSUE ON TIGUAN WINDSHILED. BOUGHT NEW 2016 VW TIGUAN ON 2016 APR, WINDSHIELD BROKE IN TWO WEEKS, WHILE I'M DRIVING IN A LOCAL WAY, SLIGHT TURING RIGHT, CROSSING TRAFFIC @45 MILE/H, (HWY 75 TO EAST EXCHANGE, ALLEN, TX, 75002) NO TRUCKS SEEN. BOUGHT NEW 2019 VW TIGUAN ON 2019 MAR, WINDSHIELD BROKE IN APR, WITHIN A MONTH. A QUIET HIGHWAY, NO BIG TRUCKS PASSING BY, AND SPEED @ 65MILE/H.(HWY 75 @ RENNER) ASKED DEALER TO REPORT AS QUALITY OR DESIGN ISSUE, WITH NO RESPONSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11216926 · 2019-05-30 (May 30, 2019)
FRONT COALITION SENSON AND WARNING LIGHT GOES ON FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED DISABLELING THE SENSON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TO 6 TIMES ON VARIOUS DATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AND I HAVE TO STOP TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO RESET THE COMPUTER BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN OFF BY ITSELF TOO!. DRIVER SIDE MIRROR LIGHT COALITION SENSON WAS ACTIVATING ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY CARS AROUND. NEVER NOTICED THIS HAPPENING BEFORE, BECAUSE I LIVE IN QUEENS NY AND I USUALLY DRIVE TO THE CITY AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,116 miles reported. Look up ODI 11216926 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V824000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
Reported: 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Consequence: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V188000 · Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs
Reported: 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Consequence: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V241000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The tire information label contains inaccurate tire dimension and inflation pressure specifications. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: The incorrect specifications can result in improper tire inflations or to installing a tire of the wrong size on the vehicle. Either of these situations can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V226000 · Structure:Body
Reported: 2022-04-06 (April 6, 2022)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Consequence: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V815000 · Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Reported: 2022-10-31 (October 31, 2022)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
NHTSA campaign record ↗