2016 Volkswagen TIGUAN problems and owner complaints
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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11065262 · 2018-01-26 (January 26, 2018)
WHEN PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A TEARING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. FOLLOWING THE NOISE, MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED PER THE OWNERS MANUAL AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REALIZED LATER ON IN MY DRIVE THAT THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HORN ALSO DO NOT WORK. IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS ANOTHER DRIVER THAT DAY SWERVED INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING AND I HAD NO METHOD OF ALERTING THE DRIVER BECAUSE MY HORN DOESNT WORK NOR DO I HAVE THE PROTECTION OF AN AIRBAG. …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122478 · 2018-08-27 (August 27, 2018)
MY VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR VW SINCE 2011 AND THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A CRACKING NOISE THEN STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. AT THAT POINT THE STEERING BUTTON CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122478 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 11112066 · 2018-07-18 (July 18, 2018)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAD TAKEN MY CAR FOR A BATTERY RECALL ISSUE AND WAS TOLD BY VW SERVICE PROVIDER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE PROBLEM. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE SIGN POPPED UP. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A WORSE CAR IN MY ENTIRE 20 YEARS.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11133401 · 2018-10-04 (October 4, 2018)
I BOUGHT MY CAR JULY 6TH, 2018, GOT THE OIL CHANGED IN AUGUST 2018, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL OCTOBER 1,2018 WHEN THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND ABOUT 1MINUTE LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TURNING ONTO MY STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE AUTO SHOP WHERE I'D RECENTLY GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT THE NEXT DAY BUT I LOOKED IN THE USERS MANUAL AND IT SAID TO DRIVE TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT AT 8:15 ON OCTOBER 3RD. I TOOK IT AND DROPPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11133401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11412860 · 2021-04-19 (April 19, 2021)
WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. THE ONLY INJURY SUSTAINED WAS A BROKEN HEEL BY THE DRIVER, ALL OTHER PARTY'S DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ONLY COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THEIR VEHICLES. MOMENTS AFTER THE COLLISION, THE TIGUAN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE BRAKE PETAL HAD TRAPPED THE DRIVERS FOOT AND THE DOOR WAS JAMMED. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER PARTY WAS ABLE TO JERK THE DOOR UNTIL IT OPENED TO FREE THE DRIVER. THE TIGUAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS, BECOMING COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11412860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11310178 · 2020-02-19 (February 19, 2020)
I BOUGHT THIS CPO VEHICLE JULY 2018 WITH APPROX. 32,000 MILES. DROVE PERFECTLY WITHOUT ANY MAINTENANCE OUTSIDE OF TYPICAL OIL CHANGE, TIRE SWAPS, ROTATIONS, ALIGNMENTS, ETC. MID-NOVEMBER 2019 I LEAVE HOME AROUND LUNCH TIME, BACK OUT OF GARAGE AND PULL UP TO TURN ON TO THE ROAD, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND I CAN'T ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. TRY JUMPING IT, STILL WON'T START. TOW IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON VW/AUDIS TURNS OUT IT IS A FUEL PUMP MODULE FAILURE. GETS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE IN ORDER. END OF JANUARY 2020, TRY TO L…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474901 · 2022-07-20 (July 20, 2022)
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal fuel odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fuel line leak. The dealer informed the contact that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11474901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11222025 · 2019-06-24 (June 24, 2019)
THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN BY KEYLESS IGNITION AND THE FOB WAS REMOVED WHEN I ENTERED A BUILDING. AFTER 15 MINUTES IT ROLLED AWAY AND HIT A SCULPTURE AND ROLLED OVER. I AS THE DRIVER FAILED TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK OR SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE CAR AS SOMEONE WAS SPOTTED IN THE CAR AFTER IT FLIPPED OVER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE IMMOBILIZED REGARDLESS OF THE SHIFTER AS I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE EXITED THE VEHICLE. KEYLESS IGNITION SAFETY IN RELATION TO ROLLAWAYS IN THIS MODEL IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11674768 · 2025-07-19 (July 19, 2025)
Subject: Known Carbon Buildup Issue in 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI – Request for Recall and Accountability To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern and request action regarding a well-documented and dangerous issue affecting Volkswagen TSI engines, specifically, severe carbon buildup. I am the current owner of a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI, which I purchased in April 2025 with approximately 84,000 miles on it. In June 2025, I had to have the intake manifold replaced due to carbon buildup, a repair that was still covered …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11674768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11647085 · 2025-03-07 (March 7, 2025)
Electronic Power Steering fails and there is a loss of control with turning the wheel (left/right). This is a hazard especially on the road as it not only puts myself at risk but other drivers lives at risk. There is a red steering wheel that lights up on the dash which indicates loss of power steering. There have been multiple reports already of Electronic Power Steering Failure with Volkswagen vehicles. They have yet to issue a massive recall on anything which can turn potentially hazardous to peoples lives. The electronic power steering fail…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11647085 at NHTSA ↗