2020 Volkswagen TIGUAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
139 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
30,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 139 complaints (36.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 15.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 15.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 51 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
Unknown Or Other: 51; Electrical System: 33; Engine: 25; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 14; Service Brakes: 10; Visibility/Wiper: 10; Exterior Lighting: 8; Structure:Body: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 111 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 25 |
2020: 10; 2021: 10; 2022: 18; 2023: 24; 2024: 36; 2025: 16; 2026: 25
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11359751 · 2020-09-18 (September 18, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITED FOR A MINUTE THEN DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES. THE CONTACT CALLED JOE HEIDT MOTORS VOLKSWAGEN (515 RT 17 N, RAMSEY, NJ 07446, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED IMMEDIATELY. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,722 miles reported. Look up ODI 11359751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11365341 · 2020-10-20 (October 20, 2020)
BRAKES STARTING SQUEALING PERIODICALLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY, WITH ONLY 1,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. BRAKES NOW SQUEALING NEARLY ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES APPLIED LIGHTLY, NOT SO MUCH IF BRAKING HEAVILY. VEHICLE HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT. HAD ANOTHER VW DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING, IT IS NORMAL AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HANDED A BROCHURE TO CONVINCE ME IT OK.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11365341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455800 · 2022-03-09 (March 9, 2022)
Water coming in through sunroof and pooling in the back seat foot pans. Only reason I was aware was first because someone with the same vehicle told me it happened to them and second I began to see moisture and ice on the inside of the windshield. Also began to have a mold odor. This lead to corrosion of the floor pans and damage to electrical wiring. Unknown what other long term damage could be caused.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11512951 · 2023-03-21 (March 21, 2023)
ERC code popped up on Dashboard while driving in 2021 and the vehicle wouldn't go over 30 mph. Took it to the Volkswagen dealership in November 2021. Between November and February of 2022, I took the vehicle back, after having it for less than 2 hours, with the same ongoing issue. Started having the same issues after the final pick up. Fast forward to November of 2022, in addition to the ERC, my vehicle battery drained and I am unable to start the car unless I jump start it. Replaced the battery and still the same issue. The battery does not st…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11512951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11467710 · 2022-06-06 (June 6, 2022)
MY 2020 VOLKSWAGON TIGUAN STALLS WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND THERE IS NO POWER. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN 2021 AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER-THAT WORKED FOR A WHILE BUT IN THE PAST 7 DAYS (MAY 30, 2022 TO JUNE 6, 2022) IT HAS STALLED 5 TIMES WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11467710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11532378 · 2023-07-14 (July 14, 2023)
There is a major lag in acceleration. It happens randomly so taking to a dealership won’t help because they will only try one time then say they can’t reproduce the problem. From a stop or turning into a lane I can have the pedal to the floor and the car just stalls and doesn’t go. After a few seconds the car finally gets a boost then goes. Well personally those seconds could lead to a car hitting me. I have asked my local dealership many times about it and they don’t seem to care or want to look into a problem. The idea of a car is hit pedal a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11532378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421878 · 2021-06-22 (June 22, 2021)
The contact's fiancé owned a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while his fiancé was driving 30 mph when the steering wheel and the entire vehicle began to shake. The contact stated the Electronic Throttle Control warning light was illuminated. The driver was distracted by the failure, which caused her to run a red light and crash into another vehicle. All front and side air bags deployed. The driver did not sustain any injuries or seek medical attention. The contact stated his mother was seated at the rear driver side and did sustain i…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,139 miles reported. Look up ODI 11421878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11425001 · 2021-07-15 (July 15, 2021)
On three separate occasions the power steering unit lost power, after restarting the car it would work again.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11425001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11517445 · 2023-04-17 (April 17, 2023)
Transmission shifts hard while going up and down. The traffic back assist will alert when not moving and when in a parking space and when nothing is around
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11517445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11573408 · 2024-02-22 (February 22, 2024)
The car was jerking due to a faulty transmission sensor. VW instructed the dealership to clean and reinsert the old sensor, which they state is an appropriate first step. Several days later, the cleaned part failed and caused the car to jerk and stop responding while I was driving. This jerking caused the car behind me to come very close to rear-ending me. I am concerned that VW is putting old parts back in warrantied cars, which are already known to have jerking transmission problems, to run out of the warranty. With this policy, they are put…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11573408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420847 · 2021-06-14 (June 14, 2021)
One of the fuel injectors cracked along with the fuel rail leading to a very large fuel leak. There was also an oil leak at the same time, but the origin has not been diagnosed. The vehicle was towed to the dealership to diagnose the problem and attempt repair. There were no warning lights, signs, or symptoms. I started the vehicle and drove approximately 20 ft to a stop sign, going under 10 mph, and all of a sudden smelled an extreme odor of gasoline. The check engine and other driver alerts came on.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420847 at NHTSA ↗