2009 Volkswagen TIGUAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
167 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 149 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 167 complaints (47.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 13.8% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 9.6% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 80 |
| Electrical System | 40 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
Engine: 80; Electrical System: 40; Power Train: 16; Exterior Lighting: 15; Steering: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Air Bags: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 13; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 23; 2014: 21; 2015: 20; 2016: 15; 2017: 21; 2018: 12; 2019: 11; 2020: 8; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10323685 · 2010-04-04 (April 4, 2010)
EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS, CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY/CHANGE INTO HIGHER GEAR, HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND NOW NEEDS A THIRD, WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359495 · 2010-10-07 (October 7, 2010)
VW 2009 TIGUAN STEERING FAILED ON OCTOBER 3RD, LOCKED SOLID, WAS IN A PARKING LOT. VW TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. GOT THE CAR BACK OCTOBER OCTOBER 5TH. WIFE DROVE IT TO AZ THE NEXT DAY AND THE STEERING FROZE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237628 · 2008-08-11 (August 11, 2008)
ON JUNE 13, 2008 I WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON A TYPICAL SOUTH FLORIDA DAY, VERY HOT AND HUMID CLEAR DAY. JUST THEN A PICK-UP TRUCK PUT OUT VERY FAST IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, BUT JUST BEFORE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE ROARED AND I HIT THE TRUCK VERY HARD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE TO THE GAS, BUT NO WAY, I BROKE MY FOOT BECAUSE I HIT THE BRAKE SO HARD. MY QUESTION IS THIS,IS THERE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS NEWCAR? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283832 · 2009-09-13 (September 13, 2009)
BOUGHT NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2009 IN JUNE. FIRST 4 WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE HEARD FAINT NOISES FROM BRAKES. WHILE IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR ABS SYSTEM CAME ON AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. CAR WAS UNABLE TO MOVE AND LOCKED UP TOTALLY. CAR WAS DRAGGED ONTO A TOW TRUCK AND HAD TO BE SOAPED OFF THE TOW TRUCK. VOLKSWAGEN IS STILL TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR TO UNDERSTAND THE FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346029 · 2010-07-29 (July 29, 2010)
1 OUT OF 5 TIMES I START MY 2009 TIGUAN (WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT), MY POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE LIGHT WILL COME ON. TODAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING CUT OUT AND I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. ONCE I RESTART THE ENGINE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE THE INITIAL START ONLY- IF I START IT TWICE I HAVE NO PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THE US AND NOW LIVE IN CANADA, SO MY WARRANTY IS NOT COVERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401450 · 2011-05-18 (May 18, 2011)
THIS IS A SEPARATE INCIDENT (I JUST FILLED A COMPLAINT ODI 10401437. SAME VW TIGUAIN. THE WEEKEND OF 4/30/11 AND 5/1/11 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING WEIRD. I WAS WATCHING THE TACHOMETER AND IT WANTED TO RED LINE, IT WAS SKIPPING GEARS, AND AT TIMES WANTED TO STALL OUT. THIS WAS VERY, VERY SCARY. IF I WENT TO PASS SOMEBODY THE VEHICLE WOULD SKIP GEARS AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, AT TIMES IT WOULD CATCH THE CORRECT GEAR AND WANT TO RED LINE (7,000 RPMS) I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,217 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716381 · 2015-05-14 (May 14, 2015)
I HAD PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE NEW AND FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING SHAKING, STALLING AND THEN ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 59900. MILES ON IT AND ON YESTERDAY THE SAME THING OCCURRED. WHEN I CONTACTED VW THEY SAID MY VIN # IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE I HAVE PAID FOR A FUEL PUMP FLUSH I HAVE HAD IT DONE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY ALSO AND I'M HAVING THE SAME RESULTS WHERE THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND SHUTS OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC SO THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE AND ACCIDENT COUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553847 · 2013-11-26 (November 26, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 03/18/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE PAST 2 YEARS, SHE EXPERIENCED 5-6 EPISODES, IN WHICH THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10672932 · 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)
THE COIL, THE FUEL PUMP AND THE REAR SEAL ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE COVERED FOR REPAIR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE ISSUE IS THAT THIS IS THE 3RD ENGINE FAILURE THIS YEAR, ANOTHER IN THE PAST. IF YOU GOOGLE 2009 TIGUAN REAR SEAL, YOU WILL FIND MANY MANY VW OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE AT THIS EARLY AND EARLY MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS AN APPARENT MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 97,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10672932 at NHTSA ↗