2013 Volkswagen TIGUAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
139 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
53,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 94 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 139 complaints (42.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 56 | 40.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 10.1% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 59 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Steering | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
Air Bags: 59; Electrical System: 34; Engine: 29; Steering: 27; Unknown Or Other: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Power Train: 6; Service Brakes: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 45 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2013: 6; 2014: 11; 2015: 5; 2016: 11; 2017: 14; 2018: 27; 2019: 10; 2020: 12; 2021: 11; 2022: 12; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 6; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10549968 · 2013-10-29 (October 29, 2013)
MY FIRST ISSUE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 1 MONTH INTO MY 3+ YEAR LEASE WITH UNDER 1,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE, AS THEY COULDN'T FIT ME IN FOR SERVICE WITH A LOANER FOR 2 WKS!! THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF IN 2 DAYS WITHOUT AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT 5K MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOME. I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY AND THE CAR DIED. THE CAR HAD A CHECK ENGINE (YELLOW LIGHT ON) AND A RED LIGHT. I HAD LITTLE TO NO CONTRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,838 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573710 · 2014-03-20 (March 20, 2014)
I PURCHASED A 2012 VW TIGUAN AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AND MODULATOR WENT BAD.. AFTER THAT I WENT THROUGH 2 OR 3 MORE FUEL PUMPS ON THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. UNSATISFIED WITH THE CARS PERFORMANCE I VOICED MY OPINION TO THE DEALERSHIP; ASKING TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THEY CONTACTED VW WHO AGREED TO PLACE ME IN A 2013 MODEL AND GAVE ABOUT $4500 TOWARDS MY COSTS OF THE UPDATED MODEL; WHICH I STILL LOST CONSIDERABLE MONEY ON BECAUSE OF A VERY LOW TRADE IN VALUE; BUT I WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491854 · 2013-01-08 (January 8, 2013)
THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT APPROX. NOV. 26. PROCEEDING UP A STEEP HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL DID NOT RESULT IN INCREASED SPEED. NEEDED TO SHIFT TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON DEC. 27. PROCEEDING DOWN A STEEP HILL AT APPROX. 45 MPH. POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 45MPH. PAVEMENT IS DRY, VISIBILITY IS MILES. SKY IS OVERCAST. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HILL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DECELERATION FROM 45 TO ~ 30MPH. PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL DID NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865373 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
I WAS ONE THE HIGH WAY 1, AND I DROVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DIED. THE WHEEL WAS EVEN LOCKED. BASICALLY, I WAS STOCKED ON THE HIGHWAY! THEN, I RESTARTED MY CAR ON THE HIGH WAY 1, AND IT WORKED AGAIN. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY ISSUE, AND THE SAME ISSUES HAPPENED TO ME TWICE WITH TWO MONTHS. NOW, I HAVE TO REPORT THIS IN ORDER TO PROTECT MYSELF.
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567996 · 2014-03-09 (March 9, 2014)
VEHICLE CUT OUT, AND ENGINE DIED. SOMETIMES THE EPC LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, OTHER TIMES IT IS SIMPLY A LOSS OF POWER AND THEN ENGINE CUT OFF. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. OFTEN DURING ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10621184 · 2014-08-10 (August 10, 2014)
CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH ME AND A TWO YEAR OLD STRAPPED IN HER SEAT. MOST HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE IN MY WHOLE 48 YEARS OF LIFE. YOUR DEALER DID NOTHING AND SAID IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD. CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES EVER SINCE FOR STALLING WHILE ME DRIVING! WILL START CLASS ACTION SUIT THROUGH AN ORLANDO LAW FIRM OF DEBAUBIEN, KNIGHT, MANZARIS, SIMMONS AND NEAL UNLESS CAR IS REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503614 · 2013-03-19 (March 19, 2013)
BRAKE BECAME STIFF AFTER PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL APPROX 1/3 OF THE WAY AND THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A FULL STOP. AT THIS POINT ONLY PRESSING DOWN WITH FULL STRENGTH FORCES THE PEDAL DOWN FURTHER AND STOPS THE CAR. THE USUAL OPERATION IS A SMOOTH BRAKE PEDAL WHICH CAN BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AT SEEMINGLY RANDOM INTERVALS, SOMETIMES ONE OR TWO TIMES A DAY, WITH OTHER TIMES GOING A FEW DAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS CANNOT FIND A FAULT WITH THEIR USUAL METHOD OF TESTING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10538012 · 2013-08-29 (August 29, 2013)
I AM A STATE TROOPER WHO INVESTIGATED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THE CRASH WAS A 2013 VW TIGUAN. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE. THE SWITCH, VERY SIMILAR TO A POWER WINDOW SWITCH, IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS ADJACENT TO THE CUP HOLDER. THE DRIVER, REACHING FOR THE CUP ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH ACTIVATING IT. THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP IN A TRAFFIC LANE OF AN INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING STRUCK IT IN THE REAR CAUSING EXT…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568738 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
AFTER TURNING MOTOR ON, AND BACKING UP, THE CAR IS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE,. ON 4 OCCASIONS NOW I HAVE HAD TO RESTART THE CAR AND TRY AGAIN. THE ACCELERATOR SEEMS PROGRESSIVELY UNRESPONSIVE. YESTERDAY, THE CAR STAYED IN GEAR, AND ON LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND THEN DIED. I HAD TO RESTART WHILE VEHICLES DROVE AROUND ME. THANKFULLY IT WAS A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I'M VERY WORRIED NOW TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT COULD HAPPEN IN A BUSIER ENVIRONMENT AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CHECKING ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED TO OTHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,570 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568738 at NHTSA ↗